<p>Even if the NPC is not that accurate for a given situation, how is it less accurate than general assumptions based on average amounts of financial aid given (especially when there is no way of knowing if the student’s family is “average” in terms of financial aid)?</p>
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<p>Yes.</p>
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<p>I don’t know how you can tell if one is more or less accurate than the other. The poster in question maybe knows through some means that his family’s financial situation is average for those applying to that university. Perhaps determining the average financial aid for those most similar to him is more accurate than using the NPC. I don’t see how you can clearly say that in every situation the NPC will give a truer estimate than gathering information about actually awarded aid. I don’t see how you can even say it in this individual’s case but I haven’t actually seen the topic.</p>
<p>Not everyone that applies for financial aid gets a need based award. The ranges from one student can be completely different. EFC is rarely the same, since no family situation is exactly the same. </p>
<p>The financial aid budget for a college can change from year to year, as can state and local funding. A public university can take in more students from out of state or international. </p>
<p>My D goes to a public OOS. Our EFC was 5 times what my daughter’s friend had at her OOS public - but we got more actual need based aid, dollar for dollar. Doesn’t make sense, right? </p>
<p>Some schools have more money to spend.</p>