<p>But to be fair - I remember the first time I used the EFC calculator - it shocked me… They think I can afford that much, only if everyone else stops eating for 4 years…</p>
<p>But hang in it often ends up working out, even if most of it is just that we somehow get over the shock… (of parents plus loans)…</p>
<p>But as everyone else said $40k (if unprotected) will add to your EFC at the 5.6% (but remember thats every year that it’s there that you file the FAFSA) so 5.6% a year is likely a lot more than your making in a mm. Consider other investments if you can, including retirement accounts.</p>