<p>If the sub loan is only for $2000, that means the Cost of Attendance - the Expected Family Contribution is only $2000. The school would not be able to offer you any need based aid in excess of this $2000, because the rules won’t allow awarding need based aid for more than the amount of need … which is COA-EFC. You would be requesting non need based merit aid. That in turn would reduce your sub loan.</p>
<p>Your child is eligible for a combined $5500 in sub+unsub loans. So if she was offered $2000 sub, she is eligible to borrow $3500 unsub. That is very common for families with mid-high EFC’s at lower cost schools.</p>