Outside Scholarships Lowering Financial Aid?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

Hi there!

I’m an incoming freshman at Vanderbilt University. Recently, I received my final invoice and realized that my university-provided financial aid had been lowered by $5,000, coinciding with my $5,000 of outside scholarship money that I had earned.

My “estimated student contribution” was $1,756, which they subtracted from first, then they took it out of my actual need-based grant.

I understand the thinking on this, as I know they would like to share the wealth and give out the money where it’s needed; however, it’s very frustrating for me to have put in the work on all those scholarships for it to not make any difference at all in what I have to pay.

Is there any way to change this?

Thank you!

2

Nope, unfortunately there’s no way to change it. This is how outside scholarships work at any university when you’re receive need-based aid. You received a specific amount of need based aid because Vanderbilt calculateed a specific amount that your family can pay and agreed to cover the rest. Receiving an outside scholarship increases the amount that your family can pay.