FAFSA EFC Question

[ServiceFirst]

My FAFSA was just processed, and I unusually had a 00000 for my Expected Family Contribution, which I had never gotten in the past.

I'm concerned this might have been due to an error, but I re-verified all my responses and they are correct. My financial circumstances have not change extensively since undergraduate, but I'm wondering if anyone had a similar experience? Perhaps applying to graduate school is different in terms of the amount of financial aid available?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Well as an undergrad, you may have included your parents info.

For grad school, parent info is not used to determine EFC

 

[ServiceFirst]

Well as an undergrad, you may have included your parents info.

For grad school, parent info is not used to determine EFC

Ah that does make sense, I always submit my parents information, so I assume this time it's because the FAFSA only used my numbers to calculate EFC?

 

[3toedsloth]

Ah that does make sense, I always submit my parents information, so I assume this time it's because the FAFSA only used my numbers to calculate EFC?

Yep. Your parents aren't expected to contribute to graduate school, when calculating the amount available for loans. Your EFC is calculated only on your own assets and income.

 

[RockMcat520]

does not everyone get the same amount of loans regardless of the EFC?

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Ah that does make sense, I always submit my parents information, so I assume this time it's because the FAFSA only used my numbers to calculate EFC?

FAFSA EFC for an unmarried grad/med school student is calculated using only the student’s info. The school may want parent info for institutional aid, but that info would not be used to calculate EFC