How outside scholarships affect aid

<p>I've emailed the financial aid office about this, but no one has replied.</p>

<p>I received a pretty good scholarship, but am wondering if outside scholarships will reduce it. In fact, if I'm receive a lot of happy letters in the next two month, MSU scholarship plus outside private scholarships might cover more than the cost of attendance. :] Does anyone know if MSU refunds the extra money?</p>

<p>No, you must refund MSU generally. As a rule, once you fill out fill out the necessary free application for federal student aid (FASFA) detailing your/your family's income and ability to pay, every scholarship lessening your tuition/R&B burden of paying is figured and the amount. If a private scholarship + MSU's scholarship takes you over the full cost of a year, you must report to MSU and, I would expect, be required to pay them back -- unless that money can be pushed forward reducing the amount MSU owes in a subsequent year (if it's a multi-year scholarship)... that's my best guess, having helped kids get scholarships; but double check this.</p>