Question 1

What is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?

Accepted Answer

The EFC is a number calculated from your FAFSA that determines your eligibility for federal financial aid. Starting 2024-2025, it was renamed to the Student Aid Index (SAI). A lower EFC/SAI means more aid eligibility.

Question 2

How is the EFC calculated?

Accepted Answer

The EFC considers parent and student income, assets, family size, and number of family members in college. Income protection allowances are subtracted before calculating contributions. This calculator uses a simplified version of the federal methodology.

Question 3

What is the Income Protection Allowance?

Accepted Answer

The IPA is the amount of income a family needs for basic living expenses. It varies by family size and is subtracted from total income before calculating the expected contribution. For a family of 4, the IPA is approximately $29,770.

FAFSA EFC Calculator

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