When to run EFC calculators

ucbalumnus
Tue, 25 Nov 2014 07:50:29 +0000

Ideally, net price calculators should be run by parents in the early planning stages, perhaps with various income and assets scenarios, in order to get an idea of what kind of savings goals the parents should aim for. Once the student is a high school senior making his/her college application list, the net price calculators should be run to help determine whether each college is realistic on need-based aid, or if merit scholarships need to be targeted (which can move some schools to a more difficult category – e.g. a school that is a safety for admissions may be a match or reach for the needed merit scholarships).

If your income is variable, run the net price calculators with both an average case level of income and a worst case for financial aid level of income (i.e. at the high end of the range of income you may earn).