<p>I think Kdog’s issue is that since the student eventually pays for the loan, that loans should be considered part of EFC…since the family (the student) is/will be contributing that money.</p>
<p>While a person can certainly make a rational argument for that, it’s not how colleges consider student loans. The same argument could be made for Work-study…the student is making the contribution.</p>
<p>“Aid” does not equal grants. Aid is just that…“help”. Schools believe that the family has the primary responsibility to pay for college, and they offer some “help”…grants, loans and work-study.</p>
<p>That said…if UMich promises to meet need, it shouldn’t gap from FAFSA EFC when the family’s financial picture doesn’t include anything that CSS Profile uniquely looks at. Otherwise, UMich is using CSS profile in kind of an unethical way…to “bump up” FAFSA EFC and then “claim” to meet need.</p>