FAFSA aid package $11K less than expected - Can we negotiate for more financial aid?

Yes, you can absolutely negotiate! It's called a \

Thank you so much for this! I had no idea that \

lol good luck with that. i tried \

While the system isn't perfect, many schools DO have appeal processes that work. It often depends on the school type (private schools typically have more flexibility than public ones) and how you approach it. Just saying \

Have u looked at CSS Profile schools??? Many provide WAY more aid than just FAFSA schools! My daughter got a \

We actually did fill out the CSS Profile for two schools, but they haven't sent their packages yet. I didn't realize the formula was that different! That gives me some hope for those schools at least. Do you know if it's too late to submit CSS Profile to other schools? We're already in April...

The exact same thing happened to me last year with my son. When we toured, they said

Actually, a high difference between estimated and actual cost IS grounds for appeal at many schools. The discrepancy itself can be the special circumstance, especially if it was a financial aid officer who provided the estimate. Did you specifically mention that in your appeal? Also, did you try speaking directly with the financial aid director rather than just the front-line staff? That often makes a difference.

Financial aid professional here! A few points everyone should understand:\n\n1. FAFSA results (your SAI) are a starting point, not the final word\n2. Schools have discretion to adjust aid based on documented circumstances\n3. Private schools typically have more institutional aid flexibility than public ones\n\nFor your situation, I recommend:\n- Appeal based on the significant discrepancy between your tour estimate and actual package\n- Document those medical expenses carefully (they can be grounds for adjustment)\n- Look into Parent PLUS loans if necessary (though be cautious with these)\n- Check if your daughter's program has specific departmental scholarships for engineering students\n- Consider asking for a one-year provisional scholarship that's contingent on maintaining a certain GPA\n\nDon't give up! Many families successfully navigate this gap.

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I didn't even think about engineering department scholarships - I'll have her email the department chair today. We're definitely going to appeal, and I'll make sure to gather all our medical bills from last year. Would it be better to focus on the discrepancy in the estimated vs. actual cost, or on the medical expenses? Or both?

just wanted to say that when i was applying for colleges (like 5 years ago) i had this problem too and my mom kept trying to call the financial aid office for WEEKS and never got through. it was literally impossible. eventually she just drove to the campus (3 hours away!!) and showed up in person. turned out they had tons of additional scholarships that nobody had told us about! so sometimes you just have to be super persistent.

This is such a common problem with FAFSA and financial aid offices! If you're having trouble getting through on the phone, I recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that gets you through to FAFSA agents without the wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ\n\nI tried it after being disconnected four times trying to resolve my son's verification issue. It actually worked and saved me hours of frustration. The service connected me to a real FAFSA agent who helped resolve our aid package issues.

Ok but NOBODY is talking about the fact that the school LIED to you during the tour?!?! They quoted you $20k knowing it would be $31k??? That's a HUGE difference! You should absolutely bring this up in your appeal and maybe even speak to the admissions director because thats seriously misleading!!

I wouldn't frame it as \

did u check if your kid qualifies for work-study? my roomate gets like $3k per semester from that and it doesnt interfere with classes that much

There is a work-study option in the package, but it's only for $1,800 per year. Better than nothing I guess, but nowhere near enough to close the gap. I was hoping for more honestly.

One thing to consider is that schools usually offer better packages to first year students to get them in the door, then reduce aid in subsequent years. It's called \

omg this happened to me!! freshman year i got decent aid then sophomore year they cut my grants by like $4k for no reason! when i asked they said something about \

Don't forget to look into outside scholarships even this late in the game. Check with your employer, local community organizations, professional associations related to engineering, etc. Also, has your daughter considered the co-op programs many engineering schools offer? Those can significantly offset costs because students earn real engineering salaries while gaining experience. My son's co-op paid $24/hour and it counted toward his degree requirements!

That's a fantastic suggestion about co-ops! I just checked the school's website and they do have a co-op program for engineering students starting sophomore year. That could definitely help with years 2-4. We'll keep looking for outside scholarships too - haven't tried checking with my employer yet. Thank you!

Hey Levi! I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help. My family went through almost the exact same situation two years ago - our aid package was about $9K higher than expected. What really made the difference for us was being super organized with our appeal. We created a detailed spreadsheet showing the original estimate vs. actual costs, included copies of all our medical bills (we had some unexpected expenses too), and wrote a formal letter explaining our situation. The key was being factual and respectful, not emotional. We also scheduled an in-person meeting rather than just submitting paperwork. It took about 3 weeks, but they ended up increasing our aid by $6K per year! Don't give up - persistence really pays off in these situations. Your daughter's engineering program is worth fighting for!