The Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

General Information

The Expected Family Contribution or EFC is a measure of a family’s financial strength.  It is the amount of money the government perceives a family can contribute to their student’s educational expenses for a particular year. It is an estimate, NOT the amount the family is expected to pay.

The EFC is calculated using information provided on the FAFSA and a formula established by law.  A family’s income (taxed and untaxed), assets, benefits, size, and the number of members who are attending college or career school are all considered in calculating the EFC.

How We Use the EFC

We use the EFC to determine financial need by first calculating the cost of attendance (the total amount it costs to go to school each year at Virginia Tech) and then subtracting the EFC, any Pell Grant, and other outside assistance. The remaining amount is the student's financial need. We use this value to determine the financial aid award (such as the Direct Stafford Subsidized Loan.)

Since the EFC formula is applied to each family’s own unique financial information, it is impossible to say how much a student can receive in financial aid without applying.  The College Board Website is a good resource for estimating your EFC if you have not filed your FAFSA for the current aid year.