Many college students rely on financial aid to help them fund their education. Unfortunately, there are some circumstances where financial aid could be suspended. This can occur due to a change in family income; switching schools; a change in majors; a failure to make satisfactory academic progress (SAP); or for a host of other reasons. 

The good news is, most schools will allow you to write a financial aid appeal letter if you've lost access to aid due to your academic performance or if your income situation has changed.  

The stakes are high when you write a financial aid appeal letter, because if the school doesn't reconsider your funding, you may not be able to afford to continue your education. These tips can help you to make sure your letter is as strong as possible so you'll have the best chance of restoring your eligibility for loans. 

You'll also find a financial aid appeal letter example so you'll get a better understanding of the type of information to include in your own letter. 

How to write a financial aid appeal letter

If you're trying to determine how to write a financial aid appeal letter, there are several steps that you should take. 

Ask the financial aid office about the appeal's process

Before you can write and submit a financial aid appeal letter, you will need to find out your school's process for reviewing appeals. There may be specific forms you must fill out in addition to your letter. Or you may need to include a plan to improve your academic performance as a separate document. 

Find out both the process of submitting appeals as well as the deadline for doing so. Once you've submitted the required documentation, it will typically be reviewed by a committee. 

Gather supporting documents

If you have justification for your academic performance, including it with your letter can help bolster your chances of a successful appeal. This may include:

• Medical records showing you or a family member was ill 
• Employment records showing your family's financial circumstance

You should also include correspondence with professors showing what attempts, if any, you made to stay on top of your grades and maintain satisfactory performance. And if you have past references or academic records demonstrating your history of strong scholastic performance, including those may be helpful as well.

Write and submit the financial aid appeal letter

Once you understand what information to include and what documentations you'll need to provide, it's time to write your letter. This should include:

• Your contact details and address
• The name and address of the financial aid committee and its members
• Information about why you are appealing and your justification for your request for reconsidering your eligibility for aid
• Your closing signature

Taking a look at a financial aid appeal letter sample can help you to determine how best to present your case for appeal. 

Financial aid appeal letter sample

The following financial aid appeal letter sample shows what your letter might look like. It can be helpful to look at a sample when determining how to write a financial aid appeal letter so you can see the format and type of information to include. 

Remember, your letter needs to be personalized to your specific situation. That's because there's not just one type of financial aid appeal letter sample. Too many credits is a different issue than health problems or family stress, and your letter needs to focus on the problems that affected your life and impacted your ability to perform your work up to the school's standards. 

What happens if your financial aid appeal letter is successful?

If your appeal is successful, generally your financial aid will be restored temporarily and you will be placed on academic probation for a set period of time, such as another semester or trimester.

After the end of this period, the Financial Aid Committee will reconsider whether you've addressed the problems with your academic performance and continue to meet eligibility criteria for financial aid going forward. 

What happens if your financial aid appeal letter is unsuccessful? 

If your financial aid appeal letter isn't successful, then you will not have eligibility for financial aid reinstated. 

This doesn't necessarily mean you need to give up on your education. You should explore other funding sources such as working while in school; scholarships from outside groups; and private student loans.

If you're interested in borrowing, Juno can maximize your chances of getting a private student loan at a competitive rate by grouping you with other students and negotiating on your behalf with lenders. 

Join Juno today to find out more about your options for affordable private student loans to help fund your degree.