runnergurl

I haven't filled out FAFSA yet, but I was just wondering how much having other siblings in college impacts how much your parents have to pay. Also, if I have a older brother in college now (freshman), then a junior sister and sophomore brother in highschool do you the siblings not in college but will be in a few years impact how much my parents pay for my freshman year next year. Basiclly, at one time 4 children will be in college. Thanks!

4kidsdad

In most cases, the EFC's parental contribution will be divide by 4

runnergurl

Thanks! But when I am a freshman only me and my brother will be in college. So is it divided by two or by 4 then?

KKmama

It is divided by 2. The formula is based on expenses and assests for the prior year (ex. 2012 income for the 2013-2014 school year). It doesn't matter what anticipated expenses are.

Both of my sisters, my brother and I were all in school for a 2-year period. That was a big help for obtaining financial aid for those 2 years.

cptofthehouse

Be aware that there are no guarantees that ANY of you will get aid in those proportions,

When you fill out the FAFSA, the parent's portion of the EFC will be 1/2 the usual number when there are two kids in college.. 1/4 when all four of you are in college. However, that is the FAFSA EFC which only is a marker for qualifying for federal and some state aid in terms of what is guaranteed. The cut off for PELL is an EFC of about $6K so even with four kids, getting much that way is not that easy. Eligiblilty for unsubsidized Staffords do not depend on income.

Colleges that use just FAFSA do not tend to meet 100% of need, so in some cases it won't matter how low your EFC is, if the colleges chosen to do not give out the money. It does make it possible to get more money since you have the EFC to justify it, but it, by no means, guarantees it.

Those schools that tend to guarantee to meet need are not as generaous with what they feel is the parental contribution and will tend to take 60% of what the parent is expected to pay for one child rather than half. They also tend to be more selective in admissions as well.

Does your brother go to a school that meets full need?

Erin's Dad

It doesn't affect how much your parents have to pay at all (except in the case of schools that meet full need). The largest determinant of what your parents will have to pay is each school's Cost of attendance.