<p>How does living off campus affect the EFC?</p>
<p>from what I can tell it affects the EFC because the cost of on campus room and board is not subtracted from the EFC.
If you stay off campus your costs will probably be lower for housing, however financial aid may see more money available for tuition.</p>
<p>I can answer this from the scope of UCSC.</p>
<p>I am a first-year. I have financial aid, which covers housing and 'fees' and all of that good stuff. They pay for it, but the "cost of attendance" is not the same as one living on campus -- in fact, my "cost of attendance" is about $3k less than it would be if I lived on campus. I have the same award I would've had if I'd lived on campus (I had to change the arrangements after my award was given), just it would've been reduced if it had covered more than what they say I need for this new off-campus budget (ie, if they'd given me $21k in aid and now said that living off-campus should only cost me $19k, they'd make the aid worth $19k).</p>
<p>I do get a check cut to me every quarter for the "extra money" paid by Financial Aid that doesn't go directly to paying the fees and whatnot (all those 'transportation,' personal items, off-campus rent, etc. costs on the list).</p>
<p>In essence, the EFC (that is, your contribution) remains unchanged. If living off campus makes the COA less than your EFC, it means you have to foot the entire bill (though in that case, the COA on-campus would probably only be covered in loans).</p>
<p>Sorry--slow learning group here.</p>
<p>Could you clarify this? Are you saying that if my daughter goes off -campus next year, our EFC would be higher?</p>
<p>Your EFC will not change unless your income changes. Your EFC is a "fixed" number that the FAFSA determines -- your school has no say in what your EFC is.</p>
<p>The school DOES have a say in how much aid it gives you BASED off of this EFC. If your EFC is $15,000 and the school's Cost of Attendance is $15,000, you're not going to get need-based aid. If your EFC is $15,000 and the Cost of Attendance for on-campus is $17,500, then you'll probably get aid to cover that $2500 gap (assuming a university covering all demonstrated need). If your daughter lives off-campus (EFC still $15,000) and the school says that the Cost of Attendance for off-campus students is $14,500, then you're going to be expected to cover the costs. </p>
<p>Basically, EFC has nothing to do with on or off campus. They ask you that question on the FAFSA so that the school receiving your EFC will know whether to use the (often higher) on campus Cost of Attendance number or the (usually lower) off campus Cost of Attendance number.</p>
<p>What happens if we change our mind about living on/off campus?</p>
<p>There are three categories- on campus, off-campus, off-campus living with parents. At our school, on & off campus are budgeted the same, though living off-campus (not with parents) is actually more expensive than on-campus.</p>
<p>Your EFC is determined by FAFSA, the school may then adjust your EFC by there own formula, once that final number is determined, that is the amount you are supposed ot contribute. This number can be realistic or not, depending on the schools formula. I have never spoken with any one who had a school come up with an EFC any lower than the FAFSA derived number.</p>
<p>A school can either provide aid (including loans) for all your need or they can "gap" you and prvide whatever amount the wish and expect you to find the rest elsewhere.</p>
<p>WHether the location of on/off campus affects your aid depends on the school's policy.</p>
<p>Teal, it depends a lot on the school, when you decide, and what you're switching from. For example, at my school, it was relatively easy for me to switch from on-campus to off-campus before the housing forms were due. It may've gotten more difficult if I'd waited (I would at least have forfeited the deposit). It probably would've been bad for my financial aid if I'd guessed off-campus and then switched to on-campus (because on-campus at my school is more expensive than off, and this would have been <em>after</em> the financial awards).</p>
<p>So, as always: when in doubt, ask the school.</p>
<p>Thanks, I figured it would be better to put on-campus over off campus on the fafsa. I'm still waiting for financial aid letters to come</p>