A couple of things I’ve picked up here on CC that might be helpful. Forgive me if it’s too basic. Google the name of each school you’re looking at and the phrase “common data set.” Ex: “Pepperdine common data set” That will get you to a document that gives you the real facts about the stats of kids who go to a school, instead of a lot of rumors. EFC is expected family contribution, and if you’re managing a middle-class life in an urban area in CA, then chances are good your EFC is about five times what you can actually afford to pay. They don’t seem to accurate account for the cost of living in California on that calculator. You can run a basic calculator at FAFSA, I think, but you can also run a separate one on each college’s website to see approximately how much they will expect out of you. Also, personal opinion: I agree with others that there’s no need to go out of state if you live in CA. Have the younger one really study for the SAT and ACT so they get good scores and can get into the best UC or CalState possible. She can go out of state for grad school, when she has a better sense of things and the cost is usually irrelevant. Good luck! I’m just starting out too, but I think it’s good to gain as much knowledge as possible. People here are super nice!