The short answer is yes, you can appeal an offer letter.
You can appeal an offer letter.
What many students do not realize is that a financial aid offer letter is not a final decision. It is, in fact, an offer that is made by the prospective college. You are under no obligation to accept the offer. You can accept it in its entirety if it meets your requirements. If it doesn’t, you can turn down part of the offer or even the entire offer. Turning down the entire offer is not something any student would want to do, but it is an option.
Why you should try to appeal
A better alternative to rejecting part or whole of the financial award offer is to appeal the offer. If one of your preferred colleges did not award you the money you were hoping for, it is worth a shot to appeal the offer.
There is no formal process for appealing an offer letter. You have to write a letter to the college explaining your circumstances and the reason for appealing. Of course, there are certain courtesies you must keep in mind to improve your chances of getting the college to reconsider and make you a better offer. Some colleges may not be in a position to do so but some may consider it if they have the funds.
Don’t be afraid to appeal
One thing you do not need to worry about is whether the college will withdraw your acceptance because you decided to appeal. The worst that can happen when you appeal is that the college will say no. That’s it.
Use College Raptor to discover personalized college matches, cost estimates, acceptance odds, and potential financial aid for schools around the US—for FREE!
| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
6.97%-15.03%* Variable
5.99%-14.00%* Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CITIZENS |
 |
6.37% - 16.70% Variable
4.50% - 15.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT SALLIE MAE |
 |
4.98% - 16.70% Variable
4.07% - 15.66% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CREDIBLE |
 |
6.07% - 11.31% Variable
4.39% - 10.39% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT LENDKEY |
 |
6.22% - 16.08% Variable
4.09% - 15.66% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ASCENT |
 |
6.54% - 11.08% Variable
3.95% - 8.01% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ISL |
 |
5.62% - 18.26% Variable
4.11% - 15.90% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT EARNEST |
|
|
4.98% - 12.79% Variable
8.42% - 13.01% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ELFI |
