That financial aid award letter isn’t a take-it-or-leave-it deal. It’s a starting point.
If the money a college offers you doesn’t cover what you actually need, you can file a financial aid appeal — basically a formal request asking the school to reconsider and give you more. According to College Board’s BigFuture, if the college accepts your appeal, they can increase your federal financial aid or the aid they offer directly from their own funds.
So what actually makes an appeal work? A couple of things. If your family’s financial situation has changed — a job loss, a medical bill, something big that wasn’t reflected on your FAFSA — that’s solid grounds to appeal. Also, if another school has offered you a better package, you can sometimes use that as leverage. Bold.org notes that a strong award letter from a competing school can be enough to get your top choice to bump up their offer — though there’s no guarantee, so don’t count on it as your only plan.
Every school handles appeals differently. Some have a specific form. Others want a written letter explaining your situation. Either way, be honest, be specific, and don’t just say “I need more money” — explain why.
And if you’re appealing based on a merit scholarship, that part might go through the admissions office instead of financial aid. Worth asking when you reach out so you’re talking to the right person.
The worst they can say is no — and appealing is almost always worth trying.