<p>I just got accepted to Lehigh a few days ago and couldn't be happier, but when I checked my financial aid award notice, I saw that I am only getting $5,500 a year in loans. How could this be possible? I am very confused and upset over this. My family is most definitely not rich and I don't understand how they can expect us to pay so much money. Online I saw that the average first year financial aid package is about $35,000, so I would greatly appreciate it if someone could explain to me why I have received basically nothing. </p>
<p>My son was within $100 of the net price calculator for his financial aid package. It was what we expected–not beautiful, but doable. Now just waiting for letter to see if he got into IBE.</p>
<p>@PhillyUnion4</p>
<p>I would wait until you receive your paper financial aid package. There are different types of loans available (some from the university, some from the government, etc.), so you may be viewing it incorrectly. I would contact financial aid if there’s concern.</p>
<p>We just got our financial aid package and we are just amazed at how generous it is. Our family income is ~75k and we really cannot afford to send our son to Lehigh. So we are just delighted that in addition to the $8000 federal loans and work study grants, Lehigh is providing a $30,100 grant. In addition to these grants and loans. our son is getting $12000 from external scholarships leaving us with ~$10,000 that we have to pay for this year. I just hope that the financial aid award will be about the same for future years. </p>
<p>My son saw on Lehigh’s portal that he was accepted, but where do you find the financial aid award?</p>
<p>@tweetymommy </p>
<p>Does the financial aid package you view online show just the loan or does it also include the grant money because for me all i see is the loan? Im hoping that when I receive the financial aid package in the mail I will see more than what is show online.</p>
<p>In the accepted students portal, click on Banner at the top right side of the page. The financial aid award would be there.</p>
<p>I am left with no other option but to call the financial aid office and plead my case. We are a middle class family and idk how they can expect us to pay so much money over 4 years. </p>
<p>same here. I only got 5500 in loans. I have no idea how this would work. I was admitted ED 2 and just got my financial aid package recently. I might have to back out of the ED agreement because of this…</p>
<p>I feel like it must be a mistake. Maybe when I receive the package in the mail it will include grant money because this is ridiculous. Let me know what you decide to do or if you find out more information about this. I will probably contact the financial aid office on Monday and hope to get an explanation.</p>
<p>@PhillyUnion4 , any luck?</p>
<p>I am in the same situation. My EFC is 0, but the only aid I see on my portal is Federal Pell Grant. I don’t know what happen. Wonder how can I pay the rest of the tuition</p>
<p>Lehigh is historically inconsistent and generally weak with financial aid. Also be careful about those loans. Loans are not aid. Loans are debt. You still must pay that money, plus considerable interest. When calculating your net cost, don’t subtract loans. Then multiply that figure by 4.5 to account for four years of inflation and interest. That is your actual cost of attending the school. Compare that figure to your other choices when deciding which school to attend.</p>
<p>Each of you should call the financial aid office and ask if they are missing any forms or information from you that prevented them from compiling your financial aid offer. It sounds like some of you may not have your final packages yet for some reason.</p>
<p>^ ^ ^ I agree with mathmomvt that either something is missing from your FA application of there was an error in one of the submitted figures. Our D’s portal states that due to two unusual items in our FAFSA and CSS Profile (including medical expenses), that they are still reviewing our situaiton. There have been cases where an extra digit accidentally entered on a submitted form can take you from a substantial amount of aid to nearly nothing. I would check the copies of what you submitted and call the FA office if something is not right. Start with your FAFSA as you should have received your family EFC after you submitted it. If that number isn’t right, everything else will be incorrect. Good luck.</p>
<p>My son is a soph at lehigh and loves it but we are avg income and got no money! It is hard and tuition went up again. </p>
<p>After an email to the FA office yesterday, D’s FA package was posted late this afternoon and it is pretty poor compared to what she got from other schools. In fact, it is so much lower that we canceled the accepted student day on Saturday. Our net COA for her is in the $34K range whereas the figures for Elon and VIllanova are in the $16 - $17K range and are affordable given that we just reallocate her HS tuition. We have two in school next year and there is absolutely no way to swing $34K. That scares me because S-2011 will graduate from Georgetown next year and that expense will come off of our expenses so the out of pocket at Lehigh could jump considerably in the next three years. It is certainly now looking like Nova or Elon.</p>
<p>I’ve had my 3 kids attend Lehigh…no sibling discounts, just a 10 payment plan and second mortgages on the home. The school is so competitive and just below the IVY’s that they really don’t care if you can’t afford the tuition as someone else is right there to take your spot at full price. Admissions may claim Lehigh is need blind but if there is a decision to take equal students the one that will pay the $200K+ for 4 years will be accepted. You are paying for the school’s great reputation.</p>
<p>Wow, you got a great deal at Villanova. Our COA would be $47k and Lafayette came out to the same, except Lafayette actually gave us more free money. All three of these schools are known to be pretty poor for aid for the reasons WaitingDad mentioned. Tough chices when you are offered aid from other schools.</p>