<p>^^ sure, you should not be estimating from FAFSA for ANY CSS profile+ school (must fill out CSS and school calculates need any way they want). For many many families, their EFC will be significantly different based on FAFSA than on CSS, which takes many more assets into consideration. Unless you have virtually no CSS additional assets, you should never rely on FAFSA information at a CSS school. That is like estimating your taxes based on the wrong tax bracket and then being surprised later on that you owe significant amounts of money. </p>
<p>This isn’t new and getting vastly different financial aid packages from schools isn’t new. It is a huge reason kids apply to 10+ schools and probably should. </p>
<p>Every family should decide on a range of schools they can afford and those they think they may get enough aid from to make reasonable (by estimating with calculators)— realizing that these later schools may disappoint you with their packages making them unaffordable.</p>
<p>In addition, what they determine is affordable could be vastly different than you based on your spending habits, where you live (cost of living), debt load, comfort level, and whether you are willing to change all these things. You definitely shouldn’t expect college costs not to impact your lifestyle greatly unless you have saved for the entire cost or already go without most things.</p>