Expected Family Contribution
The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) consists of two parts: a calculated parent contribution and a fixed student contribution.
Parent Contribution
The parent contribution is calculated based on the information you submit when you fill out the FAFSA and CSS Profile. We look at your family's income, assets, household size, and other factors and calculate this figure.
Our formula is complex because we try to take into account each family's individual needs. In addition to income, assets, and household size, we include consideration for:
- Taxes you pay (federal, state, local, FICA, etc.)
- Standard medical expenses (and exceptional ones, if you itemized and submitted your Schedule A to us)
- Private school primary/secondary tuition for siblings
- College expenses for siblings in college
- Basic living expenses
- Your need to save for college for younger children
Learn more on our Awarding & Policy page.
Yes. Students resubmit their aid application (FAFSA and CSS Profile) every year, and we reevaluate aid based on their family's updated income and asset information.
If your family's situation stays relatively the same, you can expect your aid to remain similar year to year as well.
Having a sibling in college. If the Duke student has a sibling enrolled full time in a four-year undergraduate program, we multiply the calculated parent contribution by 60%. This results in significantly more aid!
If the sibling is older and graduates from college first, the Duke student's calculated parent contribution will go back to 100% when the sibling graduates.
Student Contribution
The student contribution is a fixed amount each year, and it depends on the student's year in school:
| First-year | $2,600 |
| Sophomore | $2,900 |
| Junior | $3,000 |
| Senior | $3,000 |
If a student participates in certain summer programs (for example, DukeEngage), the student contribution may be waived and replaced with grant aid during the following academic year.