<p>First - if you are not happy with or are in disagreement with your FA - call the FA office and ask them specifically how they came to your number. It may be wrong.</p>
<p>EFC - whether institutional or Federal, is paid by the Family (regardless if it is paid by cash or a parent plus loan). EFC is not part of the FA package - it is the Estimated Family Contribution.</p>
<p>Student then, depending on income of family, may qualify for Perkins Loans (extremely needy) and subsidized Stafford Loans.</p>
<p>Other students, who may get smaller grants, may also be offered unsubsidized Stafford Loans. Students not getting any FA still can get unsubsidized stafford loans.</p>
<p>NONE of the Unsubsidized Loans are considered in the 20,000 cap. Only Perkins Loans and Subsidized Loans are capped at 20,000 total.</p>
<p>If the Cost of Attendance at the School is 56,000 and your EFC is determined to be 60,000 - then you do not qualify at all for FA. You will be offered Unsubsidized Stafford Loans and told to pay the rest. How you pay for your EFC is up to you.</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>Student EFC = 15,000</p>
<p>COA = 56,000
EFC = 15,000 (paid by family)
Perkins = 2,500 (in students name)
Sub Stafford = 3,500 (in students name)
Work Study = 2,000 (for student to do)
Grant = 33,000 (does not have to be paid back)</p>