<p>No that is not the way it works. Schools that use CSS use it for their own institutional aid and use FAFSA for Federal aid. FAFSA itself does not cover anything - it is a form you complete that the school uses to calculate and award federal aid.</p>
<p>Federal aid will nowhere near cover the cost of a private school - it does not even cover the cost of 4 year public schools and they do not award more money because you are at a more expensive school. Federal grants aid is quite limited. The largest grant is the Pell which for 2008-2009 school year was a maximum of $4731 and to get the maximum requires a 0 FAFSA EFC. Whether you go to your State U or a private school the maximum Pell remains $4731 (unless the school cost less that $4731 in which case th Pell will be reduced accordingly). As the EFC goes up the Pell goes down until, once the EFC reaches 4042, the Pell becomes 0. Other than that there is the SEOG which is difficult to get. The maximum varies by school based on how much SEOG funding they receive and how they decide to award it. The maximum possible is $4000 but most schools set their maximum much lower in order to offer it to more people. Then there is the ACG - requires Pell eligibility and certain Academic criteria - and is for freshmen (max $750) and sophomores (max $1350) only. That is followed by the SMART grant which also requires Pell eligibility and is a maximum of $4000 for 3rd and 4th year students only and is for certain degrees.</p>
<p>Other than that federal aid consists of loans and work study both of which have maximum amounts.</p>