How To Write a Financial Aid Appeal Letter in July 2025

Financial aid, including student loans, can help you cover the costs of higher education. But sometimes, the financial aid award letter you receive from a school doesn’t match the total amount that you need to pay for college. A June 2024 survey by ScholarshipOwl found that 90% of college-bound students find themselves in this position.

If you’ve received a financial aid package from your school that won’t cover the cost of your education, you can write an appeal letter to your school to request more funding. This guide explains when it is advisable to appeal a financial aid package and how to write a successful financial aid appeal letter.

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When to write an appeal letter

The appeal process can sometimes take weeks or months, so it’s best to submit your appeal letter as soon as you know you’ll need more funding for school.

Here are some situations when it makes sense to appeal your financial aid award:

• You made an error on your FAFSA: A mistake on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) could lead to a lower aid amount. 
• Your family’s financial situation has changed: A recent medical diagnosis, job loss, or decrease in income may mean your family’s finances look a lot different than when you initially completed the FAFSA.
• You’re going through a divorce: Married students may experience financial hardships and a drop in household income during or after a divorce. A parent getting divorced can also cause financial issues.
• Your parent or legal guardian dies: The death of a parent or legal guardian can affect your finances significantly.
• You have an ongoing financial commitment: The FAFSA doesn’t initially take certain ongoing financial commitments into account, such as paying medical expenses for a child with a disability.
• You’ve added a new family member to the household: If you welcome a new family member after submitting the FAFSA, you may want to appeal as your household finances have likely changed. 
• You’ve lost your home or business: Catastrophic losses as a result of natural disasters or other extenuating circumstances can also affect your ability to pay for school.

What to include in your appeal letter

Before getting started, contact your school’s financial aid office to find out what guidelines they have for appealing a financial aid package. For example, the appeal may need to be in a certain format or have specific supporting documentation attached.

A financial aid appeal letter is generally most effective if it contains the following information:

• Detailed reasons for appealing: Begin your letter with your reason for writing the appeal. Make this clear, transparent, and succinct.
• Amount and date of the award: It’s typically helpful to include information about when you received the award and how much it was for.
• A polite request: Respectfully request that the financial aid office reconsider your initial award amount.
• How much more aid you need: Break down how much more money you need to attend school and what expenses that money would cover. 
• Documentation to substantiate your appeal: Students are generally required to submit evidence that supports their request. This can be in the form of bank statements, medical bills, layoff notices, etc. 
• Thank the school for its consideration: You can end your letter by thanking the financial aid officer for taking the time to review and consider your appeal.

Tips for writing a financial aid appeal letter

These tips can help you write an effective financial aid appeal letter:

• Write the letter yourself: Writing from your point of view can help you make a stronger case than if a parent or other family member wrote the letter for you. Additionally, writing from the heart will help your letter come across as more genuine.
• Be concise: Keep your financial aid appeal letter to one page.
• Consider your tone: It’s best to remain humble and respectful in your request, rather than overly assertive or aggressive.
• Proofread: Not only should you proofread your letter, but you should also have a family member or friend read the letter to check for misspellings or errors before you send it.

How to submit your financial aid appeal letter

Take the following steps to appeal your financial aid award:

1. Contact your school’s financial aid office: You may be able to find information on the appeals process on your school’s website or within your financial aid award paperwork. If not, reach out to your college’s financial aid office by phone or email to find out its process for appealing your financial aid award.
2. Write your financial aid appeal letter: Follow the guidance in this article to write an effective appeal letter.
3. Include supporting documentation: You’ll likely need to include documentation of your circumstances for your appeal to be approved. Gather what you need ahead of time so you can submit your appeal as soon as possible. Even if your school doesn’t require documentation, having it ready if they request it can speed up the process.
4. Complete any additional forms: Your school may require you to complete other forms as part of your appeal. Be sure to fill these out accurately to avoid delays.
5. Submit your appeal: Your school’s financial aid office will tell you how to submit your financial aid appeal letter. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
6. Follow up: If you haven’t heard anything, follow up a week after sending in your appeal to ensure it’s been received and nothing is missing.

Financial aid appeal letter example

If you’re not sure where to begin, you can use this sample financial aid appeal letter and adapt it to meet your needs:

What to do if your appeal doesn’t work

If your financial aid appeal is approved, your school’s financial aid office will update your FAFSA, and you’ll receive a new financial aid package. 

If your school denies the appeal, this decision is usually final. However, there are some other options you can consider to help you fill the gap in funding: 

• Apply for scholarships: If your appeal is unsuccessful, you can apply for scholarships offered by private organizations or groups. These are funds that you don't have to repay. The Department of Labor’s free scholarship search tool is a great place to start. 
• Utilize the work-study program if you qualify: The work-study program lets you work part-time, typically on campus, to earn money for your tuition and other expenses. In many cases, the work can be directly related to your field of study if it’s possible. 
• Emergency tuition assistance: Some schools will help students cover their educational expenses during periods of unexpected financial hardship. Check with your school to see what programs it might offer. 
• Consider private student loans: If you’ve exhausted all of your options, consider private student loans. These are loans issued by banks, credit unions, or other financial institutions that can help cover your costs, but they usually have higher interest rates than federal loans.