Is this a normal EFC for my income bracket?

[sk8rmom]

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I’ve also won $21000 in outside scholarships ($6000 first year, $5000 for other three) and although that will only reduce the student portion at least that can be added along with what I can make during the school year and at summer jobs. I’m working on some other scholarships (big and small) too just to see what happens.

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<p>You may want to find out how your schools will apply these. Most schools view outside scholarships as reducing need so, up to the point where the need is 0, they will not actually reduce your EFC. Instead they normally replace loans, work study, and any grant aid that the school offers. Lots of students are surprised and unhappy to find out that the scholarships they worked so hard for serve to save the school money, but don’t reduce the family’s portion at all! If you have merit scholarships and outside scholarships that exceed your calculated financial need (COA-EFC), then they may serve to replace your EFC.</p>