I have an EFC score of 21319. My parents filed jointly and make a combined income of $100,000 exactly and they have no investments whatsoever. My parents also recently separated and I live with my mother, who only makes around $60,000 a year. Every other year I've received federal aid and NY TAP, however, this year the school verified my FAFSA and decided to give me an EFC score way higher than I've ever had.

This is particularly strange, since literally a few days ago I peeked into my mothers phone when her bank account was open and saw that she only had $3,000 in savings, not enough to even pay for my semester. Ever since my EFC score shot up like this, I also stopped receiving my scholarship since it requires me to get at least $1 from FAFSA.

What in the world is going on here? How can my EFC be so high when my family literally has no means of financing my education at all?

I spoke to the financial aid office and they say it's because of my household size changing from last year, from which it decreased by one after my dad left. How can my dad leaving lead to an INCREASE in my EFC?

I go to Baruch College in NYC.