The information on your FAFSA is used in a standard formula that calculates how much you and/or your family can contribute toward your educational expenses for the academic year. This figure is called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).  For undergraduate students, this figure is used to determine your eligibility for a Pell grant and other federal grants.  For all students it is used in the following calculation to determine your Financial Need. 

Cost of Attendance – EFC – Resources = Financial Need

The Cost of Attendance is determined by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Aid.  It includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.  You may view the figures used to determine Cost of Attendance.  Your EFC and any other financial resources (such as scholarships, tuition and fee exemptions, veterans benefits, etc.) are subtracted from your Cost of Attendance to determine your Financial Need.  The Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Aid uses the Financial Need figure to determine what types of financial aid you will be awarded.  You must have Financial Need to be awarded “need based” federal aid programs.  If the sum of your EFC and resources is greater than the Cost of Attendance, you are not eligible for the "need based" programs, but you may be eligible for those programs which are not “need based.” Click here to view Types of Aid. 

To learn how your financial aid award package is created, click here.