How is my eligibility determined?
Financial need is the basis for determining your eligibility for financial aid. Financial need can be defined as the difference between what the college indicates it costs for you to go to school, called the cost of attendance, and what you and your family can be reasonably expected to contribute to help you pay these expenses, called the expected family contribution (EFC). The lower your EFC and the higher your cost of attendance, the greater will be your need for financial aid.

The information you submit on your FAFSA is analyzed according to a formula that has been developed by Congress to determine your EFC. The formula calculates the EFC by taking into account, among other things, your total family income and benefits, tax-filing status, the number of people in your family, the number of family members in college and some of your family's assets. The formula recognizes that only a portion of your and your family's income and assets may be considered available for educationally related expenses.

To get a quick estimate of your EFC without actually filing a FAFSA, you may use one of these quick and easy EFC Calculators:

An important factor used in calculating an EFC is your dependency status. Certain questions on your financial aid application(s) will determine whether you are a dependent student and must report your parents' income and resources along with your own, or an independent student who reports only your own (and your spouse's) income and resources.

Although the College attempts to assist you in meeting your cost of education to the fullest extent possible, the primary responsibility of paying for school rests with you and your family. However, most students who apply for aid discover that there is at least one financial aid program they can benefit from. Therefore, be sure to apply for financial aid each year, even if you think that, because of your economic situation, you might not be eligible.

You and your parents can learn more about how to plan for college expenses from this Student And Parent Resource Page.