Sunshine State Sue Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 I'm asking this for a friend. I have never filled out the CSS (thank goodness!). I understand it is more intrusive than the FAFSA. Friend's FAFSA EFC is $19,000. CSS EFC is $10,000. Friend is surprised at the large difference and we both would have expected CSS > FAFSA. Friend thinks they filled something out incorrectly on FAFSA but has no clue what that might be. Any thoughts? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 (edited) The CSS uses a different formula, considering more things than the FAFSA. What all is asked for depends on the school. There is more personalized information, and I would assume that the purpose is to create a more accurate picture of the family's actual financial situation. So they calculated a different EFC based on their data and formula. (Not sure whether the formula itself is school specific, or just the data gathered.) I don't see any reason why the CSS number should automatically be greater than the FAFSA - it asks about the value of the house, how much you own, and your medical cost, and you can list extenuating circumstances like parents in a nursing home. Lots more data to be considered, compared with the FAFSA/ If the CSS would always come to the same result as the FAFSA, the CSS would be unnecessary. Edited March 1, 2017 by regentrude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie of KY Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 My FAFSA EFC is greater than my CSS EFC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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