<p>Some schools do require a student contribution regardless of a zero EFC or low income/assets. Some formulas do have certain fixed components. As Brown Parent writes, playing with the NPC can give you some idea what affects the contribution requirements. You can see the break point on income/ assets, by running scenarios through the formula. If your situation is not coming out to what your package is, you can bring that up with the fin aid officer, who may, as Kelsmom says, share some infor with you.</p>