<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=643855279873876&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Skip to the main content.
College Guidance for Parents & Guardians

 

Create an Account

Pricing

Scoir is free for your students and for you. We also offer Advanced Solutions to help you better guide your students.

Learn More

Resources

Access resources in the areas of test prep, essay support, and financial aid to better navigate every part of the admissions process.

Explore

Scoir is Free for CBOs

 

Join Now

Pricing

 

Learn More

Resources

College and academic advising resources to guide and inspire college counselors.

Explore

Simplified Advising for Counselors

 

Book a Walkthrough

District Solutions

 
Pricing

We offer a flat 50% discount for each student who receives free or reduced lunch in your school or district.

Learn More

New! Middle Schools

Enjoy Career Readiness Early Access for grades 6-8, built to help you guide students and track progress in the early years of career learnings and activities.

Learn More

Resources

ScoirU_WP_image-1

Career development (certifications, courses & curriculum) for changemakers.

Explore

View Bonus Resources

Enrollment Solutions for Colleges

 

Schedule a Consultation

Join a Demo

View Pricing

Resources

Check out content and practical guides to help inform your enrollment strategies and programs.

Explore

3 min read

How to Read a Financial Aid Award Letter [With 2 Examples]

How to Read a Financial Aid Award Letter [With 2 Examples]
How to Read a Financial Aid Award Letter | Scoir
6:12

You've narrowed down your list of colleges, sent in your applications, and filled out your FAFSA form online. After you receive your acceptance letters, the college financial aid office will send you a financial aid award letter detailing exactly how much it will cost you to attend their college.  

It is important to understand financial aid terminology because there is no standardized financial aid package. In this article, we'll define the following terms to help you understand your financial aid award letter. Click on the links to jump to the corresponding section in the article.

We'll also cover examples of financial aid award packages.

 

COA 

COA = Cost of Attendance. This includes tuition, room, board, books, and other fees. 

 

SAI

SAI = Student Aid Index. This is the amount your family will be expected to pay out of pocket, as determined by the new FAFSA.

 

Work-study 

Eligible students work on campus between 5-10 hours per week at minimum wage. You must have selected yes to the work-study question on the FAFSA to have it on your financial aid package. Don't count on this money to pay tuition bills, as you must work before receiving a paycheck. A work-study is typically used for spending money during the school year.

 

Pell Grants

Pell Grants are Federal Government grants. These do not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are based on family income in addition to other criteria on the FAFSA. The maximum amount for the school year 2024-2025 is $7,395. Amounts can change yearly, so you should check current Pell Grant award amounts here. You may use Pell Grants for a maximum of 12 semesters.

 

State Grants

The name and amount of state grants change state by state. The deadline to file the FAFSA to receive state grants also varies. A grant does not need to be repaid.

 

Institutional Grants

Institutional Grants are financial aid that is given out by the college based on family need. The amount and requirements vary by the college or university.  

 

Merit Scholarships

Merit scholarships are money earned by the student based on grades/test scores and not by financial need.

 

Federal Direct Student Loans

  1. Unsubsidized Federal Student Loans are loans given in the student’s name that must be paid back. The government does not subsidize this loan, meaning the interest accrues while you are in college. You'll begin paying back this loan 6 months after leaving college.
  2. Subsidized Federal Student Loans are loans given in the student's name that must be paid back. The federal government pays the interest on subsidized loans while you are in college and then begins accruing interest 6 months after you leave college.

Neither subsidized nor unsubsidized federal student loans require credit checks. Read more about these types of federal loans here. 

 

Parent Plus Loans

Parent Plus Loans are offered to a parent, who must pass a credit check when the financial aid package doesn't cover the full cost of college for a student. This can be a very risky way to pay for college and interest rates are higher than Direct Student Loans. 

 

Examples of Financial Aid Packages

So, now that you have an understanding of the terms that will be included in your financial aid packages, here are some further tips about comparing financial aid packages.

 

Below are 2 examples of financial aid packages. Test your knowledge using the above descriptions to decide if you would accept the aid offers or continue looking for a school that is affordable to you.

Example Financial Aid Package: University #1

COA or Cost of Attendance   Financial Aid Package  
Tuition & Fees $7,870 Federal Pell Grant $6,195
Room & Board $9,128 State Grant $2,000
Books $1,314 Academic Scholarships $2,000
    Unsubsidized Direct Student Loan $2,000
TOTAL COA $18,312 Subsidized Direct Student Loan $3,500
       
    TOTAL FINANCIAL AID $15,695

 

COA - Financial Aid Package = Cash Still Needed to attend

$18,312 - $15,695 = $2,617 needed to attend University #1

 

Extra costs you must still consider include transportation to and from college, everyday personal expenses such as toiletries, and loan origination fees.  

Does your family have any college savings?  How could you earn $2,617 to accept this offer?

Example Financial Aid Package: University #2

COA or Cost of Attendance   Financial Aid Package  
Tuition $53,180 Federal Pell Grant $6,195
Fees $1,260 Institutional Grant $60,224
Books $1,000 Unsubsidized Direct Student Loan $2,000
Room & Board $17,1000 Subsidized Direct Student Loan $3,500
    Work-study $1,535
TOTAL COA $72,540    
    TOTAL FINANCIAL AID $73,454

 

COA - Financial Aid Package = Cash Still Needed to attend

$72,540 - $73,454 = -$914 refund to the student for University #2

 

Keep in mind that the $1,535 from work-study won't pay the bills but will be used for spending money, so be prepared to save that amount over the summer. It's also worth remembering that student loans are full recourse, meaning that they do not go away in bankruptcy. The federal government can decrease your paycheck or even Social Security benefits to pay back the student loan.

 

Evaluating Your Options

As your acceptance letters and financial aid packages start to roll in, this time of year can be exciting and nerve-wracking! We hope this article helped you understand some of the terms to familiarize yourself with when it comes time to decide where you will enroll, and ultimately, how much it'll cost you to attend. So, which offer would you accept?

This article was originally published on March 22, 2021. It was updated on May 9, 2024 for accuracy and comprehensiveness.


Julie Kampschroeder


Julie Kampschroeder has over three decades of experience working with high school students. She is passionate about assisting First Generation/Low Income College Bound students. Julie currently works as a public school counselor in a diverse high school in St. Louis, Missouri. Early in her career she volunteered countless hours with the Missouri Association of College Admission Counselors (MOACAC) and earned both the President’s Service Award (2008) and Peggy Clinton Lifetime Service Award (2012). As a First Generation College student herself, growing up in a small town, she is most proud of the National Association of Admissions Counselor Inclusion, Access and Success Award (2013). Maya Angelo’s motto of “when you know better, you do better” guides her work in educating First Generation students to level the playing field in college admissions.

Learn the next steps in your college journey - Scoir College Planning Guide
How Middle School Counselors Can Help Families Succeed

7 min read

How Middle School Counselors Can Help Families Succeed

Middle school is a time of transformation. Kids are growing up fast, and it can feel like a whirlwind of change for students and families.

Read more
It's About the Kids: Student-Centered Enrollment Marketing Trends

7 min read

It's About the Kids: Student-Centered Enrollment Marketing Trends

When I started college admissions counseling 20 years ago, students would come to meetings hefting heavy boxes of viewbooks they'd received from...

Read more
Why Counselors Give Us Hugs at NACAC 📆 Event Recap

5 min read

Why Counselors Give Us Hugs at NACAC 📆 Event Recap

We recently hosted the event: Why Counselors Give Us Hugs at NACAC. This blog post provides a recap of what we covered during the event.

Read more