Need help making a plan- What to do if my parents cannot afford the EFC?

UG debt accrues interest all those years while still going to school. Really not smart to not take advantage of merit or low cost options. Take a gap year if necessary. You missed some good opportunities with your late inquiry.

I am quite shocked you didn’t seek out information earlier. If you would have asked on this site a number of months ago, you would have learned and had a lot of great options as financial safeties.

We know a high stat brother and sister who were OOS for U WI (but a parent grew up in WI, so family around). Sis was first and she got in-state tuition; I think brother (slightly lower stats but a few years later when things tightened even more) got a little departmental scholarship and paid OOS tuition.

Agree about UAB and UAH at this point. Let us know how things work out.