<p>How does number in college work? For instance when I was using a financial aid calculator and put number in college as one it said my parents should contribute 80,000 but when I put 2 people for number in college they only should contribute 40,000. My family will have 2 people in college when I am in my third year of college.</p>
<p>What you saw was the contribution for YOU (one of the two kiddos in college). If your EFC with one in college is $80K, then if there are two, the EFC for EACH OF THEM will be roughly $40K. It’s not usually identical as the income and assets of the students are typically not identical. But the total family EFC is basically divided amongst the number of student enrolled in college at the same time.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that both you and your sibling would have to attend schools that meet need for you to get the full benefit of having 2 in school. That would mean, pretty much, that you both have to be top students.</p>
<p>Your fin aid calculator used the Federal Methodology (FAFSA). The Institutional Methodology (CSS Profile) used by most private colleges is less forgiving for multiple children in college. It calculates the per student contribution at 60% of total EFC rather than 50%, meaning you and your parents would be expected to contribute $48,000. Make sure you understand which methodology each college uses.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your parents. By having an EFC of $80K they are somewhere north of the top 1% of earners in the US. If they don’t want to pay the full amount for a college I hope you are looking at merit aid options. FA will not be applicable.</p>