Adjustments to financial aid awards may be necessary for a variety of reasons, the most common are:
- Change in enrollment level (no longer full-time, or attending only one semester, etc.)
- Change in grade level (this affects loan eligibility)
- Change in "EFC" as calculated from original FAFSA (financial aid application) data
- Receipt of other aid, such as scholarships, veterans benefits, tuition grants, tuition waivers, etc.
- Change in Domicile classification
If you receive a "revised" financial aid notice, changes to your aid may have been made in response to one or more of the above circumstances. Changes in aid may result in a financial aid "overaward," which is generally defined as either (1) need-based aid in excess of financial need or (2) total aid in excess of cost of attendance.
"Need" is calculated by deducting the "EFC" (expected family contribution) from the Cost of Attendance. Cost of Attendance is determined annually based on weighted average tuition, fees, books, and living or "maintenance" allowances in accordance with federal guidelines and local rates. Example: Suppose Cost of Attendance is $11,800 and your EFC is 3568. "Need" is $8,232. You may have received "need-based" aid up to $8,232, and you or your parents may be eligible to borrow up to $3,568 through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford or PLUS loan programs.
Suppose you have received $8,232 in need-based aid (the full amount for which you are eligible) and then receive a scholarship for $2,000. Your "resources" have now been increased by $2,000, or put another way, your EFC is now increased by 2000. Now $2,000 in need-based aid must be deducted from your financial aid awards because your NEED has been reduced to $6,232.
When aid must be reduced, generally loans or federal work-study are deducted first. In effect, a scholarship which does not need to be paid back is substituted for a loan (which requires repayment). If all need has been met by a combination of state and federal grants, some of those grants may be reduced if other forms of aid are given to you.
If you have received a "revised" financial aid notice and none of the above situations describes your circumstances, you may wish to call the office to discuss your new award package with your counselor. Please feel free to contact us between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.