Financial Need

Financial aid programs were developed on the premise that the student and spouse, if married, or the student’s family, have the primary responsibility for financing a college education. Financial aid is available to supplement the student’s and family’s resources. Most aid dollars are awarded on the basis of a federal need analysis formula established by the U.S. Congress. The formula measures each family’s ability to pay for college expenses and is calculated using all the questions and answers on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The result is the student’s Expected Family Contribution (prior to 2024-25) or the Student Aid Index (starting with 2024-25).

The following formula is used to determine an individual student’s need for financial aid at Schoolcraft College:

Cost of Attendance – Expected Family Contribution or Student Aid Index = Financial Need

Students may be awarded up to their total need from various financial aid programs. Depending on eligibility, an award package can include any combination of grants, scholarships, work-study and loans.

The FAFSA is based off of income and resources for the prior-prior year. Example, the 2024-25 FAFSA will use 2022 income information. If your family has experienced a change in income since the year used on the FAFSA, you can submit a Special Circumstances Appeal for review. The form is available on our forms page.