<p>Exactly.</p>
<p>And it doesn’t sound like she’s low income if she thinks her EFC will be around fifteen to twenty thousand a year. </p>
<p>Those with EFCs above about five thousand often don’t get ANY aid beyond student loans. </p>
<p>I think the OP thinks that schools have piles of money that they hand out after students file FAFSA.</p>
<p>When schools report that they give out millions in aid, they are often MOSTLY talking about LOANS and Work study. The “free money” is often Pell Grants which only low income students qualify for.</p>
<p>The OP’s D has a dream to be educated here and the OP wants it to happen. Before the dream gets out of hand based on incorect info, the OP needs to explain to her D:</p>
<p>How much the OP will pay each year.</p>
<p>That most schools give LITTLE aid and will GAP funding (do not meet need).</p>
<p>That her stats aren’t likely high enough for MIT, etc. Those schools only accept a tiny percentage of applicants and those admitted either have tippy top test scores or they have some hook (URM status, etc).</p>
<p>That she needs to apply to a couple of financial safety schools in case her top schools don’t work out. Her financial safety schools are ones that give ASSURED merit for her stats.</p>