College aid comes from two very different places, and they follow different rules. Knowing which is which changes how you pursue more of it.
This is aid tied to your family's finances. It is driven by the FAFSA, which produces your Student Aid Index, and it includes federal Pell Grants, most state grants, subsidized loans, work-study, and a lot of institutional aid. The lower your ability to pay, the more you generally qualify for. If your finances change, you pursue more of this through a special-circumstances appeal.
This is aid tied to you, not your income: grades, test scores, talent, leadership, or a specific field. Merit scholarships come from the college itself and from outside organizations, and many college merit awards are given automatically based on your application, no separate form needed. Income usually does not affect eligibility.
File the FAFSA either way; it is the gate to need-based aid and free to submit at studentaid.gov.
If your situation changed, you can appeal. We draft it around your school's own policy.
Start my appeal