<p>Can I ask how much your family earns? That will give me a clearer idea.</p>
<p>Blue and Gold is for families that earn up to $80,000.</p>
<p>I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Your EFC is 0, so your income is well below $80k.</p>
<p>Besides, the school is saying that you have a 4500 contribution. They expect you to earn that. That means that they won’t reduce your aid if you earn that.</p>
<p>We have an income of about 30k. So income and everything remains the same this year (except for the addition of a summer job to help pay for college), I should be able to receive the same amount of financial aid?</p>
<p>Oh yes…do NOT worry. </p>
<p>Your family’s income is WELL below the amount for Cal Grant and Blue and Gold. You do NOT have to worry that a few thousand in summer earnings will affect anything. Again, you can earn up to about $5k in non-work study earnings and it won’t hurt your EFC. And work-study earnings don’t change EFC either. </p>
<p>Again, the school put in a “student contribution” for you. They expect you to earn some money…it wouldn’t make sense for them to have that expectation and then take away aid for next year.</p>
<p>Schools expect students to earn some of their costs…like personal expenses and such. They do not want to be paying for your toothpaste and shampoo or your pizza out with friends. YOU have to earn that money.</p>