Just like any other large consumer purchase, college tuition prices are negotiable. The sticker price you see is very rarely the price you pay. Data collected by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) revealed that colleges discounted tuition for the 2018–19 school year by over 50 percent.This year, because of the pandemic, you can anticipate that many (but not all) colleges will be even more flexible in order to lure students due to low application numbers based on the fact that families are struggling financially.

When you appeal your financial aid award, you are simply asking for more money. Don’t be afraid to do this; the college will not be offended or react by rescinding their offer of admission. They may say no, but it does not hurt to ask. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by appealing your award.

What Should You Appeal?

There are two types of financial aid awards you can appeal: need-based aid and merit-based aid. You must, however, have a good reason to appeal.

You might appeal need-based aid if your financial situation has changed since completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or if there is something you need to clarify beyond what the school saw on the FAFSA.

To appeal merit-based aid, your student should have a reason to increase the aid such as other higher award offers from other schools or an improved academic performance.

Merit-Based Aid

There are some reasons to appeal merit-based aid. If the college is keen to attract your student, they may sweeten the deal by providing more aid if you ask. Depending on how their freshmen deposits are looking (fewer students than expected accepting admission offers), the college may be inclined to increase merit aid to attract more students. Make this appeal through the admissions office.

If your student decides to appeal merit aid, you should provide the college with information to support the request:

• Other colleges have offered you more money and are more affordable. Use these offers for leverage by asking your first-choice college to at least match the award, thus assuring you will accept their offer of admission.
• Your student’s test scores have significantly improved since they applied, making them eligible for more merit aid.
• Your student’s GPA has improved since applying and might give the college a reason to increase their aid.

“At many schools, it’s a buyer’s market,” explains Lynn O’Shaughnessy, author of The College Solution, a book aimed at helping students find the right school at the right price. “You’re going to be more likely to succeed [in getting more financial aid] if you’re looking at a private school than at a public school. They’re more eager to fill their spots.”

Need-Based Aid

Based on the information you provided on the FAFSA, the college has evaluated your ability to pay. Appeal your student’s need-based award if there has been a change in your family circumstances or your family’s finances. The financial aid office will evaluate your situation and make a determination based on the information you provide.

Some reasons to appeal may include these changes in a family’s ability to pay for college:

• Loss of income due to job loss or another factor
• Divorce
• A one-time infusion of income such as a salary bonus or inheritance inflated your income in a prior year
• Long-term care of a family member
• Natural disaster
• Illness or disability
• Increase in childcare expenses due to parent returning to work
• Family education costs such as private elementary or secondary school tuition or a parent returning to college
• Death or incarceration of a parent causing a loss of income

Examine your student’s academic situation as it relates to merit aid and your family’s financial situation as it relates to need-based aid. Determine whether an appeal might increase your financial aid award amount.

How Should You Appeal?

Write a financial aid appeal letter either to the admissions office or the financial aid office. Since every family’s circumstances are different, every letter will be different and should be personally crafted. You can, however, follow these simple guidelines:

• Gather all documentation necessary to make your case.
• Use proper grammar and mechanics.
• Do not make demands and remain humble.
• State your reason for appeal clearly.
• Be specific including dates, figures and amounts.
• Provide documentation along with the letter to substantiate your appeal.
• Open and close with gratitude.

Some colleges use a Special Circumstances Form for financial aid appeals. The form asks questions to add to the financial picture derived from the FAFSA. You simply list your reason in a few sentences or even just fill in bubbles and submit it to the financial aid office. Based on the information provided on this form, the college may adjust your student’s award.

The College Essay Guy provides examples of financial aid appeal letters in “How to Write a Financial Aid Appeal Letter“

When Should You Appeal?

Once you compare your student’s financial aid awards and determine you are eligible to appeal, craft your letter to the college or colleges. Just remember that May 1 is the decision deadline and once you accept admission, positive appeal decision will be less likely.

How Can You Win an Appeal?

If you presented a clear reason for requesting more need-based aid, the odds are in your favor that the college will find some money to supplement your award. If you are requesting more merit aid, don’t expect an avalanche of money. A few thousand dollars, however, can make the difference between having to take out substantial student loans or being able to attend with minimal debt.

The more selective a college is, the less likely they will be to offer more merit aid. If your student is at the top of the applicant pool and a stellar student, the college may be more likely to offer additional aid.