I ran both and am getting vastly different answers (on the order of $18,000 per year). Why is this happening? I know the NPC is more accurate (which is pretty bad bc it’s the higher result), but in the unlikely event that I get in, could I possibly appeal my FA based on the Intution result?
Those are just estimators. Mine wasn’t close, but until you complete the FASFA you just don’t know. I’m sure many other factors come into play than the calculators allow for. You’ll know the final FA amount when it’s time to choose a school.
Thanks! The difference is a lot and my family would prefer not to pay the NPC amount if I do get in.
@hopefulperson
I hear W is reasonable with financial aid, but last year some of the admitted students found it to be less than what they hoped for.
That isn’t going to help. Your FAFSA EFC is not your cost to attend any college. Each college has their own FA calculations. The school NPC is your best bet. Appealing based on some other calculator will get you nowhere. Appeals usually only work if you provide additional factual info (eg, medical expense info) they didn’t get the first time around. One other thing that occasionally works is if a comparable college (say U Chicago or Williams) had a better cost of attendance for you. Colleges hate to be asked to “match”, but if you ask for a review of you FA because your cost of attendance is lower at this other school (and you should name it), some schools will adjust s bit. Some schools won’t, though. And it must be a comparable school to have any chance of helping.