Understanding what it will cost to attend UMKC is an important step in understanding how much and what kinds of financial aid you will need.

Cost of Attendance

Estimated Cost of Attendance

Financial Need

Financial Need is the amount of need-based financial aid you are eligible to receive. It is calculated by subtracting your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is based on the information reported on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), from the Cost of Attendance.

This formula determines how much need-based aid you are eligible to receive. 

Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

EFC is the amount that the federal government determines that you and your family can contribute towards your Cost of Attendance. EFC is not an amount you or your family will be billed — it is only used to assist with determining a student’s financial aid awards. It is derived from an assessment formula that is applied uniformly to all aid applicants and considers the financial information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

EFC comes from two sources.

  1. Parent contribution – An estimated amount based on your parents' assets, including cash, checking, savings, money market accounts, investments and real estate holdings, as well as business equity, that your parents can contribute toward your college costs for the year. Allowances for living expenses, based on family size, taxes paid, the number of siblings in college and asset protection for retirement, are built into the formula.
  2. Student/spouse contribution – An estimated amount that you and your spouse can contribute toward your college costs for the year. It is based on your income and a percentage of your savings and other assets.

Independent students do not have to provide parental information on the FAFSA; EFC will be based upon the student/spouse contribution. Independent health professional students are required to provide parental information only if they wish to be considered for certain types of aid from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Get Help Staying Financially Fit