Hi guys, I got in the honors program EA with merit aid. However, according to their FA letter, I did not receive ANY need based aid except for 8k/yr in loans but my need based aid (not including loans or merit) as according to their calculator is around 36k (Our family makes around 70k with no investments, interests, and average assets and one average priced house that we live in). I called their FA office and all they said was that Northeastern is an expensive school (sure…everyone knows). Evidently, something is wrong. I checked the FAFSA and CSS profile and filled the FA calculator according to the info provided on there, and it came out to be 36k again. What should I do? Would an appeal still be possible?
They do not guarantee to meet all aid. You called the school, and they pretty much told you the school is going to cost you a lot.
You can’t afford the school, so you should focus your attention toward other schools now.
What is 36k? Your EFC?
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I would call back and ask if they can please review your calculstor results and help you understand the discrepancy.
No. My EFC is around 9k/yr and I received no need based grants. According to the FA calculator, I would receive about 36k/yr in need based grants, which evidently isn’t full need but added with the merit aid I received, I would probably receive somewhere close to full tuition.
Your merit aid replaces any need-based aid. So there’s that. Assuming you got the “Dean’s Scholarship,” then that amount comes out of your need-based aid.
Did you submit your paperwork on time?
I would call back on Monday with specifics and ask to be put through to a financial aid counselor. If there is really no need-based aid, then it may be a tech error.
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@whitespace Thanks, I will. I received the 20k/yr honors merit, which is far less than 36k/yr anyways. But the financial aid calculator indicates clearly that the 36k calculated need based aid is without any merit aid and I remember someone saying that need based and merit are stacked and if they exceed the full cost of tuition, the student only receives full tuition and will have to pay for room, board, etc. In the meantime, I am also sending them an email with pics of my FA calculator.
That’s a good plan.
Just be aware that at Northeastern, need-based aid and merit aid do NOT stack.
For example, I have the $30k/yr merit but only get about $7k/yr on top in need-based aid because the merit money reduces your “need.”
I have a lot of experience negotiating and re-negotiating with the NU financial aid office. Message me if you’re having issues after they get back to you. And email is good, but follow up with a phone call. They’re inundated right now.
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Merit and need aid do not stack.
@Bjklw2a definitely call your financial aid counselor to understand the difference in NPC versus your offer however if the NPC showed 36k and you received 20k in merit then you would only get 16k in need based aid.