Most NPCs are accurate if you work at a job with a steady income from year to year. If you work at a job with a back-ended payout most schools do not care that the money should be for retirement and not tuition. So if you work at a company with a lower salary and get a huge bonus in year 5 to make up for the lower salary in years 1 to 4 most schools do not care if the bonus year is also your FAFSA year. btdt