^^ it is a little different when a sports scholarship is in the mix. The Division 3 schools don’t have athletic scholarships and can play around with merit and need based mix of funding, but at a D2 or D1 school, once that athletic scholarship comes into play the school can’t give any need based aid, and any merit based aid has to be given on the same terms it would be to any other student. A school that gives a merit scholarship of $15k to a student with a 3.5/ ACT 28 can’t just suddenly give that student a merit award of $25k unless that award is available to non-athletes too. The coach could award more athletic money IF the coach has any more money in the team limits. Some coaches don’t want to give more athletic money because they commit to giving at least that amount every year, so don’t want a freshman getting $$$$ because that athlete might not turn out to be that good, or another comes along who is very good and then the team limit has been reached. Some coaches like to reward upperclassmen with higher awards so really limit freshmen awards. Many different methods to give the money out.
My daughter’s coach is honoring 5 scholarships to kids who quit the team this year. I see red when I think of that money MY daughter could have had!