Paying for a college education is a major financial commitment. While much easier said than done, restructuring your finances can help modestly. Student aid is calculated based on a formula called ...

Do 529 plans affect financial aid? The short answer is yes. An increase in the means to fund higher education naturally means the beneficiary is eligible for less need-based aid.

Do 529 plans affect financial aid? The short answer is yes. An increase in the means to fund higher education naturally means the beneficiary is eligible for less need-based aid. However, assets ...

So, if a family has a 529 account with $10,000, this raises the expected family contribution by at most $564 and reduces the federal aid package by the same amount.

However, assets in a 529 plan have a lesser impact on financial aid packages than income does. A student’s federal financial aid is based on an estimate of what a family can contribute annually ...

The Department of Education already announced that the rollout will be delayed for a second year in a row.

Learn the key differences between the Student Aid Index (SAI) and Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to maximize your financial aid eligibility.

Understand what your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) means, how it's calculated, and its role in determining your financial aid eligibility.

Under the old FAFSA system, the Education Department would take into account a family’s income, wealth, and some of their expenses in order to calculate the “Expected Family Contribution.” ...

Big changes are coming this month to FAFSA. While many students and families may be eligible for more financial aid, others will likely have to pay more.

The way the funding is being calculated is different. For families who are familiar with the term Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, that is no longer part of the FAFSA form.