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To qualify for need-based aid a student must have a significant amount of financial need, which is determined by the federal government based on the FAFSA. Using the information submitted on the FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education calculates a figure called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Most federal aid is need-based. The three most common types of aid are grants, loans, and work-study funds. Grants are a type of financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Generally, grants are for undergraduate students and the grant amount is based on need, cost of attendance, and enrollment status.
In cases in which a student qualifies for merit-based (rather than need-based) financial aid, the student and their family may pay less than the EFC. A well-to-do family's EFC may exceed the cost of attendance at a school, and in that case the student does not have financial need, as defined by the federal financial aid system.
Each institution has its own definition of meeting the full demonstrated need. Some schools meet this need through grants and/or merit or talent scholarships alone, while others may include loans and work-study programs. As a result, a student's financial aid package can differ greatly between schools that claim to meet full demonstrated need.
The ISIR is also sent to state agencies that award need-based aid. Students can file an appeal with their college financial aid office in order to seek additional financial aid if their current financial situation is no longer the same as the financial information they provided on FAFSA (i.e. their parent recently lost their job).
Held-up financial aid packages are finally rolling in after FAFSA issues pushed the typical May 1 enrollment deadline deep into June at some schools. College decision day passes many students by ...
The Pell Grant, a need-based aid, like the Voucher, can only be used for authorized school expenses at qualified schools, and, like the Pell, the money follows the student, for use against those authorized expenses (not all expenses are covered). [96] [97]
The Education Department did not release a statement to NBC News by the time this article was published. NPR reported Tuesday that the department is still assessing how to handle the mistake.