<p>Have you or your parents used an on-line financial aid calculator? Here’s one example:
[FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator - Finaid)
Speaking very generally, a family with $60,000 in income, no other children in college and large amounts of financial assets might get little or no financial aid. A family with $100,000 in income, 3 kids in college and few financial assets might get substantial aid. Swarthmore, and a very few other schools, promise to meet 100% of demonstrated need (with no loans, in Swarthmore’s case). Of course the schools calculate what they determine to be your family’s Expected Family Contribution and therefore your family’s “demonstrated” need. Some families find the college’s calculation reasonable, some do not.</p>