The U.S. Department of Education uses a need analysis formula set by Congress, along with the information reported on your application to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC measures your family's financial strength to pay for college, and is used by schools to determine your eligibility for federal student aid during one school year. Your EFC is not the amount that your family will have to pay for college nor is it the amount of federal student aid that you will receive. It is a number used by the school to calculate the amount that your family will be expected to pay for college and the amount of federal student aid you are eligible to receive.

If an asterisk '*' displays next to the EFC it means the application has been selected for verification. Verification is a process where your school verifies certain data reported on your FAFSA. To complete this process, your school may ask you for documentation that supports income and other information reported on your FAFSA.

If a 'C' displays next to the EFC, it means that information on your Student Aid Report (SAR) is questionable and needs to be corrected.

For more information about the EFC see - Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid at www.studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html or call 1-800-4-FED AID (1-800-433-3243) to request a free copy of Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid. If you are hearing-impaired, contact the TTY line at 1-800-730-8913.

Table of Contents | Frequently Asked Questions | Customer Service