<p>You can get a decent estimate of your EFC using last year’s tax information. You don’t have to wait until this year’s taxes are filed.</p>
<p>You are in-state for Illinois so you should be looking at Illinois public universities and community colleges as your financial safety schools. A quick search with CollegeMatchmaker at the College Board website should help you find which of these places would offer you good options. If you can’t find a financial safety school that you like, take some time to come up with a good plan for what you will do if you can’t get into any college/university that you can afford for next fall.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>