Expected Family Contribution EFC

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is an index number that college financial aid staff use to determine how much financial aid you would receive if you were to attend their school. The information you report on your FAFSA is used to calculate your EFC. 

The EFC is calculated according to a formula established by law. Your family's taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) all could be considered in the formula. Also considered are your family size and the number of family members who will attend college or career school during the year. The EFC Formula guide shows exactly how an EFC is calculated.

Important changes for the 2024-2025 FAFSA - 2023-2024 is the last year of the EFC. In 2024-2025 the EFC changes to the Student Aid Index (SAI). To learn more about this change visit Federal Student Aid's FAFSA Simplification Act page.

How is your financial aid package determined?

What is Need-Based Aid and how does my school figure out how much I'll get?

What is Non-Need-Based Aid and how much does my school figure out how much I'll get? (This links to the same page as above. Non-need-based aid information is further down the page.)

Estimate your EFC at the College Board Website if you have not filed your FAFSA for the current aid year.