The Knowledgeable Consumer, The Expected Family Contribution

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
You can use FAFSA on the Web to calculate your estimated EFC. The estimated EFC will print on the confirmation page after you submit the application. The Department of Education will calculate an official EFC once they receive all required signatures and process your FAFSA. Your official EFC will be on your Student Aid Report (SAR). Your EFC is dependent on your adjusted gross income (AGI), and the cost of the school. It is advisable to state you will be living on campus in all cases even if you live in the city where the school is located. It makes a difference. The EFC includes how much your expected contribution will be (how much you should be able to pay). It is used to determine how much financial aid you need. As an example; if you EFC is $5,000.00 and the school costs $25,000.00 per year (including room and board), your school will use this to try to get you $20,000.00 in financial aid. That of course is no guarantee but that is the goal. To help you estimate your EFC, there are a few calculators out there. One we have found to be fairly complete is located at:
http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml

How much financial aid am I eligible to receive?
Your eligibility for aid depends on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), your year in school, your enrollment status, and the cost of attendance at the school you will be attending. Your school’s financial aid office will tell you how much you can receive.

For more information on eligibility, visit the financial aid office at your school or look at “Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid” at this link

· Have a valid Social Security Number (unless you’re from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau).

· Be registered with Selective Service if you are male and 18 to 25 years of age (go to www.sss.gov for more information).

· Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate or pass an exam approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

· Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program at a school that participates in the federal student aid programs.

· Not have a drug conviction (see next section if you have) for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, loans, or work-study).

· You must not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal student loan.

· You must demonstrate financial need (except for unsubsidized Stafford Loans).

Other requirements may apply. Contact your school’s financial aid office for more information.

I’ve been convicted of a drug offense. Does this mean I won’t get any aid?

The question on the FAFSA regarding drug offenses asks about convictions for possessing or selling illegal drugs (not including alcohol and tobacco) if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study). When answering this question, do not count convictions that have been removed from your record. Also, do not count convictions that occurred before you turned 18, unless you were tried as an adult.

· To determine whether a drug offense affects your eligibility click here to go to the Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet.

After you fill out the Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet, your responses will result in one of these answers:

Answer	Means
1, Based on the answers you provided in this worksheet, we have determined that your answer to question 23 on the 2009-2010 FAFSA is: No	Eligible. Your eligibility for federal student aid is not affected.
2, Yes (partially during the year)	Partially eligible. You will become eligible for federal aid during the school year. You can become eligible earlier in the school year if you complete an acceptable drug rehabilitation program. See below
3, Yes/Don't Know	Ineligible / don't know. You are not eligible for federal aid for this school year unless you complete an acceptable drug rehabilitation program. You may still be eligible for state and school aid.

Even if you are not eligible for federal aid, you may be eligible for state aid or aid from your school financial aid office. If you become eligible for federal financial aid (for example, if your eligibility date arrives or if you complete an acceptable drug rehabilitation program), notify the financial aid administrator at your school. If you are convicted of possessing or selling drugs after you submit your FAFSA, you must notify your financial aid administrator immediately. You will lose your eligibility and be required to pay back all aid you received after your conviction.

An acceptable drug rehabilitation program must include two unannounced drug tests. It must also:

· Be qualified to receive funds from federal, state, or local government, or a state-licensed insurance company.

· Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court, or a state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor.

If you are independent, you may qualify for financial aid that a dependant student usually might miss out on. In order to qualify as independent, you cannot appear on any tax return as a dependant. You must live alone or with a relative other than your parents.