🏫 College Advising

What does Expected Family Contribution or Student Aid Index represent?

A Total cost of attendance
B An estimate of how much the family can contribute to education costs, used by schools to calculate financial aid eligibility
C The amount of loans offered
D Tuition only

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

SAI (Student Aid Index, formerly EFC): calculated from FAFSA data (income, assets, family size, household info). COA minus SAI = financial need. Schools use need to award grants, work-study, loans. SAI can be negative (indicates high need). Not actual bill.

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