Need More Financial Aid? Learn about the Appeal Process

Did you know that when you receive a financial aid offer from a college, you can ask for additional funds? This is called appealing, a process that requests a reassessment of the student's eligibility for need-based or merit-based financial aid, and/or a request for an increased amount of either type. Most colleges have defined processes so that you know how to appeal properly.

Reasons a Student Can Appeal

Here are some reasons that colleges believe warrant an appeal:

• A decrease in income (due to a change in employment, or a previous singular occurrence that inflated family income like a one-time 401k withdrawal)

• Paid medical expenses not covered by insurance (these usually must exceed 4% of family income to be considered)

• A change in the parents' marital status since completing the financial aid applications

• An error in reporting information on the financial aid applications (be sure to correct the errors on the applications themselves first)

• Unusual financial circumstances that may not have been conveyed on the financial aid applications

Reasons a Student Should Not Appeal

Here are circumstances that often would NOT warrant a secondary review of eligibility:

• A student or parent unwilling to borrow federal loans

• Consumer debt that impacts a family's available income for college

• A parent(s)' unwillingness to contribute to college costs (however, you can still submit an appeal detailing your family situation)

How to Appeal for More Aid

Here are the steps you can take to appeal:

Step 1: Contact the college(s) and ask if they have an appeal process. Some colleges will immediately say they do not adjust offers, but many do. And some offer a process halfway through the year for current students to request additional spring semester funds.

Step 2: Follow the appeal process. Some colleges may have a form to complete, while others ask for a simple letter. It's best to submit an appeal as soon as possible, as a school may run out of appeal funding. Know that you are more likely to receive additional funds if your financial or household situation has changed significantly.

Step 3: Fill out the "appeal request form" or submit your letter, making sure your request is respectful, provides as much detail as possible as to your situation and your request, and stresses that the college is a top-choice school. If your needs are high, then it is less likely that a college will be able to meet them. If your needs are more moderate, i.e., $3,000–$5,000, then your appeal is more likely to be successful.

Step 4: Include any additional documentation that might be helpful, such as tax or bank statements that highlight changes in your financial situation.

Step 5: Await the college's decision. If you don't hear back within two weeks or the college's time frame, give the financial aid office a call to check in. If you don't have an answer to your appeal letter before May 1^st, make your decision based on your current financial aid offers.

How to Appeal Based on Merit

If you'd like to appeal to a college to ask about consideration for a merit scholarship, the type of financial aid awarded based on the student's achievements rather than finances, you can often do that. It's a good idea to share the merit scholarship offers you received from other schools. Keep in mind, however, that merit funding, awarding policies, and the applicant pool vary from school to school, so a student who may be a strong applicant and merit scholarship recipient at one school may not be as strong a candidate at another.

Final Thoughts

Many colleges offer students the best financial aid offer they can up front, based on the information provided. Be prepared that if nothing has changed in your situation, then you may not receive additional funds.

To learn more about appeals, you can watch the recording of our What to Know about Financial Aid Appeals webinar anytime. And if you have any additional questions about appealing your financial aid offer, reach out to us at (800) 449-MEFA (6332) or collegeplanning@mefa.org.

Watch Our 2-Minute Video, Appealing Financial Aid Offers