Expected family contribution (EFC) will be determined when you fill out your free application for federal student aid (FAFSA). It is based on your income tax return from the previous year.
Grants are normally given on an as-needed basis. During the 2008 to 2009 school year, Pell grants for full-time students ranged from almost $900 to more than $4,000, depending on financial qualifications.
If you're still living at home, your parents may be able to qualify for loans for you. This is because, as a minor, they can still claim you as a dependent, so when you fill out your FAFSA, it will be based on their income, not yours.
There are two types of federal loans for which you can qualify. Federal unsubsidized loans are ones in which interest accrues while you are in school. Subsidized loans are ones in which the government pays your interest for you while you're in school.
Scholarships may require proof of income, but many are simply based on minority status, your GPA or the major you've chosen to pursue.
Even if you don't qualify for other forms of financial aid, most students are able to qualify for work study programs. With work study, the college or university provides you with a paying job to help pay for your education.