Introduction

Appealing a financial aid award is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you get the best deal for your education. If you feel that your financial aid award is insufficient, or if you think there might have been an error in calculating your prize, then it’s worth exploring whether or not to appeal.

What is the financial aid appeal process?

The financial aid appeal process allows students to ask colleges and universities to reconsider their financial aid award decisions. It will enable students who believe they’ve been unfairly denied due to something beyond their control (like a change in family income) or because of some other reason (like being from an underrepresented minority group) will be given further consideration by administrators at their schools.

How do you appeal a college’s decision on your financial aid award?

Appeals are often made by emailing admissions counselors and going through official channels like email threads with them or talking on the phone with them about why they think this would be appropriate for their situation; however, some schools require written appeals sent via snail mail instead of emailing them directly if they want paper copies instead of digital ones sent digitally over email as evidence that what they’re saying here was said authentically since emails can be easily forged nowadays!

What is the financial aid appeal process?

Appeals are a normal part of the financial aid process. It’s important to note that appeals are only sometimes successful, but they can be made by students and parents at any time during the year.

Appeals can be made for any reason. Examples include:

• You received only some of your aid because you submitted an application on time or completed all required documents (such as a FAFSA).
• Your family experienced an unexpected financial hardship since submitting your original FAFSA. This could include medical costs, job loss, or circumstances beyond your control, affecting how much money comes into your household each month.

Who can make a financial aid appeal?

The financial aid appeal process is available to students, parents, guardians of dependent students, fiancés, and legal guardians.

• Parents: You can appeal if you are the parent or stepparent of an eligible dependent student (the student’s natural or adopted child). Suppose you have recently divorced or separated from your spouse or partner. In that case, we will use your most recent federal income tax return information to determine whether you qualify for aid during the upcoming academic year. For example, if one parent filed taxes separately from their spouse/partner but lived together during the calendar year 2018 with no break in living arrangements from January 1st through December 31st, 2018, then both parents would be considered married as per IRS rules regarding filing status and thus eligible for financial aid consideration as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements.*

How do you appeal a college’s decision on your financial aid award?

If you disagree with a college’s decision on your financial aid award, you can appeal it. Your first step will be to determine the college’s appeal process. You’ll need to contact the financial aid office and request an appeal form (you can also request one online). Please complete this form and submit it to the financial assistance office in person or by mail. If they deny your appeal again, you may be able to ask for another review by submitting another written request within 30 days of receiving notice of their decision on your original appeal request.

What are the steps in an appeal process?

The first step in the appeal process is ensuring you have a complete picture of your financial situation. If you need to figure out how much money is available for you to use, take a look at our guide on understanding your financial aid award letter.

Next, ask for a meeting with the financial aid office at your college or university and explain your situation to them in detail–they can help clarify any misunderstandings or errors that occurred during processing. If extenuating circumstances (such as medical bills) weren’t included on the original FAFSA but should have been disclosed, provide documentation supporting these claims so they can be considered during the appeal process (e.g., receipts). Finally, wait patiently until either: 1) A decision has been made regarding whether or not they will grant additional funding; 2) You receive notice from them stating why they won’t grant any additional aid at this time; 3) You hear nothing back from them after several weeks’ worth of attempts at contact.*

How long does it take to resolve an appeal?

It depends on the school. Some schools will have a quick turnaround; others can take months to resolve an appeal. If your appeal is denied and you want to continue pursuing financial aid, consider contacting other schools that offer similar programs (if any) and requesting their financial aid package.

You’ll need to be patient during this process because it may take some time for them to respond with their decision on whether or not they will accept your appeal request.

You can appeal a financial aid award if you think you’ve been denied because of something beyond your control or due to other reasons.

The financial aid appeal process allows students denied economic aid to ask the school to reconsider their application. The appeals process usually occurs after you’ve received your initial award letter and decided it doesn’t meet your needs or if you think something beyond your control has contributed to the decision.

If you want to appeal a financial aid award because of something beyond your control (like an illness), check with the school’s financial aid office about how long they’ll keep accepting appeals. If there isn’t a deadline, submit one as soon as possible so they can consider it before making final decisions about other applicants’ awards.

The steps in an appeal process vary from school to school but generally include the following:

• Filling out an online form or writing up an email explaining why there was something unfair about their initial decision; 2) Attaching supporting documents such as medical records or letters from employers/teachers/etc.; 3) Waiting for them to review these materials and respond telling whether they’ll change anything based on what was submitted by email (or sometimes over phone calls).

Conclusion

If you think you have been denied financial aid because of something beyond your control or other reasons, it is essential to appeal. The process can be time-consuming and confusing, but it’s worth it if it means getting the money you need for school.