What Should You Do If FAFSA Doesn’t Cover Everything?

The cost of college continues to be a major topic of discussion. Most white-collar jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree, yet the cost to get that degree is out of reach for the average American. Fortunately, most students can qualify for some form of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and—perhaps most contentiously—federal student loans.

But sometimes, the aid offered by a school still doesn’t cover the full cost of attendance. It can feel defeating to see the amount offered on your aid package and then compare it to the full cost of college, including tuition and living expenses. But don’t stress: You still have options. Below, we’ll show you what to do if financial aid is insufficient.

How to understand your financial aid package

After you complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you can expect to receive financial aid packages from the schools you listed when filling it out. That aid can take several forms:

• Grants: Needs-based grants, such as the Pell Grant, are money you do not need to pay back. The greater your financial need, the larger your grants will likely be. These are a great way to directly lower the cost of college.
• Scholarships: Scholarships are often merit-based. You may receive scholarships for your grade point average, performance on standardized tests, academic achievements, or other special skills. You may also earn athletic scholarships or scholarships based on identity, such as your gender, race, or ethnicity. Like grants, scholarships are free money toward your education, but you may need to maintain certain grades or stay enrolled in certain programs to keep the scholarship.
• Work-study programs: Federal work-study programs are jobs offered to students to help offset the cost of tuition. Unlike regular part-time jobs, work-study jobs are often on-campus and flexible with your class and study schedule. They may also be related to your field of study.
• Federal student loans: You will also likely qualify for Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized loans. This isn’t free money; these are loans that you must repay once you graduate, plus interest.

Common reasons for insufficient financial aid

Are you shocked by how little financial aid you were offered after submitting your FAFSA? Here are some reasons it might be less than you expected:

Incomplete or incorrect FAFSA submission

First things first, review your FAFSA submission. Did you make any mistakes when filling it out?

The Department of Education has several checks before fully processing your FAFSA and may require action from you before finalizing it, so keep an eye out for communications from the department. But if errors slipped past, and you’re only now realizing your mistakes as you review an aid offer from a school, you can log in to your account and correct your FAFSA form.

Changes in financial circumstances

If things have changed for you or your family since submitting your FAFSA, you may need more help than was estimated. Don’t sweat it: Schools let you file an appeal, often called a professional judgment.

Contact the school’s financial aid office and ask about their process for submitting an appeal. Provide all the necessary documentation demonstrating a change in your financial circumstances—evidence of something like a job loss, death in the family, high medical debt, or incarceration—and wait for the school’s decision.

Missed deadlines or late submission

Financial aid is not infinite. There’s only so much money to go around each year. If you’re one of the last people to submit your FAFSA or if you miss the deadline entirely, there’s a good chance there may not be enough aid to fully meet your needs. That’s why it’s important to submit your FAFSA as early as possible.

You can complete the form to apply for financial aid for attendance at college or career school between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, but the earlier you submit your application within that time period, the better.

High cost of attendance

Some schools are significantly more expensive than others. If you’re trying to attend a renowned private institution with high tuition costs, you may need to rely more on special scholarships and grants or private loans.

Steps to take when FAFSA doesn’t cover everything

If the financial aid package from a school isn’t enough to cover the full cost of college—and you’re unable to pay the difference out of pocket—you have a few options to get additional assistance.

1. Appeal for additional aid

If your circumstances have changed since filling out the FAFSA, you can work with the school’s financial aid office to review your needs and issue a professional judgment. If you can demonstrate that your need has become greater (or that your academic performance has improved), the school may be willing to adjust your financial aid offer.

Each school has its process, but generally, you’ll need to write a financial aid appeal letter and provide documentation proving that your financial need has become greater due to circumstances such as:

• Job loss
• Reduced work hours
• A death in the family
• Medical expenses
• A family disability
• A divorce or separation between your parents
• Incarceration of a parent

Note: Each school’s decision is final. You can’t escalate a school’s decision to the Department of Education.

2. Apply for scholarships and grants

You can supplement your financial aid offer by applying for additional scholarships and grants. Your school may offer additional scholarships that aren’t a part of their financial aid offers; check the school’s website or contact the financial aid office to learn more.

Beyond your school, you may be able to find scholarships and grants from:

• Local small businesses
• Community organizations
• Non-profit organizations and affinity groups
• Your employer or a parent’s employer
• Religious organizations
• Large companies

You can also check out our list of unique scholarships and use online scholarship marketplaces like Scholarships.com and Going Merry to find additional scholarship opportunities.

I encourage students to apply for scholarships regularly. 

3. Explore federal student loans

You may be able to get additional loans from the federal government beyond what’s included in your financial aid offer.

• Undergrads: Undergraduates’ parents can apply for Parent PLUS Loans.
• Grad students: In grad school, you can apply for your own funding, called Grad PLUS Loans.

These loans have higher interest rates than your original offer’s subsidized and unsubsidized loans.

4. Look into private student loans

If federal student loans aren’t enough to bridge the gap between the cost of attendance and how much aid you’ve been offered, you can look for private student loans. The best private student loans have interest rates comparable to federal loans, with flexible repayment options and low fees. You will likely need a cosigner for a private loan unless you have an established credit history and strong credit score.

There are a lot of private loan options available, and not all are created equal. Our favorite is College Ave because of its flexible repayment options, cosigner release, and super-low starting interest rates. You can also finance as little as $1,000.

That said, you will likely need a cosigner if you’re an undergrad student seeking a loan through College Ave; if you can’t get a cosigner, check out these private student loans without cosigner requirements. Just note that interest rates are likely to be higher.

Remember that private loans are not eligible for the same benefits as federal loans, including student loan forgiveness.

Given the high cost of attendance, graduating without debt can be challenging, but the goal is to minimize both student and parent debt while achieving your broader financial and life goals.

5. Seek part-time employment

While you can’t get a work-study job if it’s not offered through your financial aid package, you can still try to find a part-time job that’s close to where you live. Find one with flexible hours that is willing to work around your schedule.

Alternatively, consider one of these side hustles for college students, like rideshare or delivery driving (make your own hours) or house- or dog-sitting (get paid to study from a comfy couch).

6. Review and adjust your budget

You might not have control over the cost of tuition, but you can try to keep your living expenses in check while you’re in school. Here are some ways to tighten your budget as a college student:

• Get roommates or live at home.
• Limit your party budget.
• Don’t keep a car on campus.
• Share streaming services with family.
• Eat and make coffee at home.

7. Reconsider where and how you attend

Ultimately, if you can’t get additional aid, already have a part-time job, and have cut back your expenses as much as possible—and you still can’t afford to attend—you’ll need to consider another option:

• Attend part-time: Becoming a part-time student can reduce the cost of a semester. It will take you longer to graduate, but you can use the extra free time each semester to focus on a part-time job or side hustle and start earning money.
• Stay in-state: If you’re hoping to attend an out-of-state college, rethink that plan. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of out-of-state tuition is $28,297 for one year, compared to only $9,750 in-state for the same degree.
• Live at home: Commuter colleges and universities are a great way to reduce the cost of college. If your parents or guardians will allow you to live at home, you can cut costs like food, housing, and utilities. This should make school more affordable.
• Go to community college: Getting your general education requirements (usually freshman and sophomore year) at a more affordable community college can make a huge difference in how much you spend and borrow. Once you have those gen eds, you can transfer to a more expensive four-year college to finish out your degree.

I typically ask my clients to narrow their choices to at least three schools—their dream school (usually their top choice), an in-state university, and a technical or community college. I then compile a detailed list—often in an Excel spreadsheet alongside planning software—outlining the costs of each school, including tuition, room and board (if applicable), and other fees. From there, we assess the funding gap for each option and explore available funding sources, weighing the pros and cons of each. The outcome varies for each family and often involves some level of compromise. 

Getting enough financial aid to cover the cost of college can be stressful, but there are ways to improve your odds each year. Keep clear documentation of your financial situation and always fill out the FAFSA as early as you can. 

Always look for ways to keep your budget tight and job opportunities that can help you shoulder some of the costs not covered by scholarships and grants.

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