When Grandma Offers to Help Pay For College ???

Erase all doubt or confusion Krak and have her send it this way!

Grandma is not part of the immediate family. Have her hold on to the money until the bill comes. You don't want the money to be part of the family assets.

You get your EFC from wherever you want.... loans on your own, dug from a hole in the backyard, or a nice gift from grandma! Consider yourself lucky!!

What a lovely, generous woman. Have her contribute the maximum tax-free gift amount allowable each year to a good higher education state savings plan in your son's name. Earnings on the account won't be taxed so long as all procedes are used for education, and there won't be gift taxes if done correctly. Check with a tax advisor. Win/win IMO.