• Direct costs: tuition, fees, books, materials, room and board for those living in SFT Facilities, and
• Indirect costs: transportation, personal expenses.

Your Estimated Contribution

The federal processor determines the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from information provided on the FAFSA. To get an idea of what your EFC would be, you can use this online calculator. This is a free service and does not provide exact numbers. It is only an estimate of how much you may be able to receive and how much you might need to contribute.

Be prepared to answer questions about your income and financial status.

SFT, like all colleges and universities, bases its financial need analysis on the federally mandated formula called the Federal Methodology, or FM. You can get a booklet describing the formula in detail by writing to:

Federal Methodology
Federal Aid Student Aid Programs
P.O. Box 84
Washington, DC 20044

You may also call 1-800-4-FED AID or go to the U.S. Department of Education website for students at www.students.gov.

In summary, the EFC (expected family contribution) indicates the amount you and your family are expected to contribute toward your education. It includes factors such as taxable and nontaxable income, assets (savings, etc.), benefits (for example, income from Social Security or unemployment insurance), and the number of family members in college. The amount calculated is subtracted from the cost of attending SFT, yielding your financial need:

Estimated Educational Expenses minus (-)
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) =
Financial Need

If you are concerned about paying your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) don’t worry, that's where financial aid can help. There is even a program to borrow this amount and defer payment. At SFT, we do everything we can to help you obtain your certificate, with minimal "out-of-pocket" expense.

The Financial Aid Office will attempt to “package,” that is, combine financial aid programs — scholarships and grants, loans, and work — to meet your need.

The actual mix of your aid package varies according to need and academic ability. If your family’s financial situation changes significantly, call us at 212-645-0030 ext 4090, write to us, or e-mail us at finaid@sft.edu and request a review based on the new circumstances. We cannot promise an adjustment, but we may be able to offer some options.