<p>There is no income ceiling as such in FAFSA. FAFSA produces a number called the EFC (Estimated family Contribution). Schools use the EFC and their COA (Cost of Attendance) to calculate your ‘need’. COA - EFC = ‘need’. How or if that need is met depends on the school and their financial aid policies. Some (not may) promise to meet full need without loans. Some promise to meet full need but will include loans. Some (many) do not promise to meet full need at all so may have a gap (unmet need) as well as the EFC.</p>
<p>With an income of $80k your EFC will be in the 14,000 range meaning you will *not *qualify for federal grant aid such as the Pell grant or the SEOG (Pell requires an EFC of < 4619 this year). You will qualify for federal loans such as the Stafford loan which all students qualify for (max for a freshman $5500). If your school has their own institutional grants you may or may not qualify for those. Depends on the school.</p>