Financial Aid

Tips From FAME for Appealing Financial Aid Offers

You may be wondering if you should appeal your financial aid offer(s). Submitting an appeal allows you to request a reexamination of your financial aid offer by the school’s financial aid office and advocate for your specific circumstances. Most appeals are done to reflect income changes, but appeals also provide an opportunity to share details that impact your financial situation that weren’t asked about on your financial aid application. Here are some tips to get the financial aid appeal process started.

1. Know the Appeal Process

Before you start drafting your appeal, understand your school’s specific process. Check the financial aid office’s website or contact them directly for clear instructions on initiating an appeal. Some colleges have formal documents you need to complete, while others may want you to send an email. If you are appealing at more than one school, be sure you understand the appeal process at each school, as it often varies by school. 

2. Think About Your Reasons for Appealing

• There are a variety of reasons why financial aid offers may be adjusted. Here are some common situations that might warrant an appeal:
• Change in Financial Circumstances: If your family has experienced a significant change in income due to job loss, illness, loss of a parent, or other unforeseen circumstances, explain the situation in detail.
• Unexpected Expenses: If there are unexpected non-discretionary family expenses (medical bills and related expenses, significant housing repairs, funeral costs, etc.) that were not reflected in your original financial aid application, it’s important to share this information.
• Multiple Family Members in College: The FAFSA asks how many family members are in college, but that information doesn’t impact the eligibility formula. If your family is financially supporting multiple college students, let each school know how much financial support the family is sending to the other school(s) and ask whether they will consider it.
• The amount of financial aid offered makes attending that school a financial hardship: If you’ve done all the work to figure out how to pay the bill on your own but are still short on funds to make it happen, explain your plan to cover costs and then ask if there is currently or could be more aid available from the school. Schools want to see that you’ve incorporated various means to pay the bill, including parent/family assistance, summer earnings, reasonable federal student loans, etc. 

3. Provide Documentation

You should provide documentation to validate your claims. This could include recent tax returns, pay stubs, medical bills, letters of termination or furlough from employment, out-of-pocket school expenses for other family members, or any other evidence that supports the appeal.

4. Be Clear and Professional

Your communication should clearly state the reasons for the appeal and include specific figures for any financial changes. It’s okay to mention offers from other schools, but don’t try to “bargain.” Instead, share that information in terms of your reality and how it is impacting your decision-making. Including a note of gratitude for your current financial aid offer and for the financial aid staff's time in reviewing your appeal is appreciated and helpful. 

5. Don't Delay

If you plan to appeal, submit your request as soon as possible once you receive your financial aid offer, especially if you are still considering multiple schools. You want to give the financial aid office time to review and get back to you before you need to commit to schools. But keep in mind that if a change in your situation occurs after you receive your bill or start classes, it’s not too late to appeal, and you’ll want to follow up with your school as soon as possible.

Submitting a financial aid appeal does not guarantee that your financial aid offer will increase. However, the only way to know whether your circumstances could result in additional aid is to contact your school(s). You may find that adjustments vary by school, so reach out to each school still on your list. For more information on appealing your financial aid offer, download FAME’s Overview of Financial Aid Appeals

Examples of Appeals Letters