<p>I think an EFC of about $3000 is lowish. </p>
<p>Anyway…keep in mind that an EFC is just a number to figure out what federal aid you’d get. It’s not the most a family has to pay. Often families have to pay more. </p>
<p>But, if that’s about the most that your family can pay, then you really need to look at schools that will either meet need (UVA, UNC, Duke, etc) or schools that will give you VERY large merit scholarships. </p>
<p>You may need to expand your geography since money is an issue.</p>