<p>Im just wondering, since schools require you to file the FAFSA each year and submit your w-2 forms with it, will making alot of money working cause them to give you less aid? I feel like they would reduce your aid with the expectation that the money you made working goes towards college. Is this true?</p>
<p>Yes, it can. If you are getting need based scholarships, it would be wise to do the numbers to make sure you don’t just slip out of range for the PELL or other awards. Find out how much you can optimally earn along with your parents financials so you don’t go over. Talk to your financial aid office and run the numbers through with him and get his advice.</p>
<p>For FAFSA students have a certain amount of income protection before income affects the EFC. Currently it is a little over $4000 when you factor in allowances for FICA etc. This excludes any WS earnings which do not affect the EFC at all. Anything over the protected income 50% goes to the EFC.</p>
<p>If parents earn a low enough income that the student qualifies for the automatic 0 EFC then the student income will be ignored by the FAFSA EFC formula.</p>
<p>All the above is for FAFSA EFC only. Schools that use CSS may treat student income differently.</p>
<p>Students get an income protection allowance (about 3,800 as I recall); amounts under that don’t increase the FAFSA EFC. And work study isn’t counted in the formulas.</p>
<p>So in general, I’d recommend that students who might be eligible for need-based aid limit their income to around 4K, unless part of it is WS.</p>