I think @mom2twogirls is looking for specific suggestions for schools that allow stacking of different forms of financial aid from different sources.
The rub is…schools don’t usually GIVE need based aid for the family contribution. They expect the family to cover that.
So…if the student receives need based aid…outside scholarships usllynreduce financial need…and therefore need based aid is reduced.
The best bet for a family who cannot pay their EFC…look for colleges where their student will get merit aid. Then take the Direct Loans to help cover the family contribution.
When you say you can’t cover the EFC, are you talking about a $70,000 college…or an instate public university…or a community college?
The Direct Loans would cover the cost of tuition at many community colleges and if they student could commute…there wouldn’t be room and board costs.