Need Based Financial Aid and Merit Aid Appeal Form

Need-Based Aid

During the application process, the Office of Financial Aid reviews each family's ability to contribute towards educational costs and provides need-based financial aid packages based upon the information reported on the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and submitted tax documents. When circumstances arise that can significantly impact a family's ability to contribute, applicants may request a review of their financial aid eligibility. This can occur due to a change in a family's financial circumstances, new information regarding special or unusual situations the family may be facing, adjustments or corrections to the initial information, or information that has been changed significantly from the initial application.

Please note, the Office of Financial Aid will not consider private secondary school tuition, credit card bills, car payments, previous educational loan debt, or other colleges' offers of financial aid.

Merit-Based Aid

During the application process, the Office of Admissions reviews all applicants holistically for merit-based aid and scholarships, some of which require a separate application for consideration. Late applications after the deadline will not be considered. If an applicant wishes to appeal their merit-based aid or scholarship they may do so by completing this form and submitting any supporting materials.

Please note, If citing other institutions financial aid awards, please upload a copy of that award.

Instructions

Select a type of aid you'd like to appeal(below)

a. Please review the table of reasons to appeal. Select at least one reason and follow the directions for the supporting documentation that should be included with the appeal.

2. Using this form, submit any substantiating documentation of 2025 income.
3. Documentation should be uploaded using the supporting documents section. Please be sure to let us know once the documentation is uploaded so we know to review it.
4. Please DO NOT email the documentation to the Office of Financial Aid.

Review Process

Once all documentation is received, the appeal will be reviewed by our office appeal committee. In the event additional information or documentation is required during the review process, we will reach out. Please know that, while we certainly recognize families can face a multitude of demanding and difficult circumstances, we are unfortunately unable to respond favorably to every appeal. Appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and decisions depend on availability of funding, among other variables.

Response time will vary based on our appeal volume at the time the request is received. All decisions will be communicated in writing and will reflect the outcome of both need-based and merit-scholarship appeals if you have appealed both. If changes are made to the financial aid offer, the student will receive a revised notification.
Appeal committee decisions are final. Additional submissions will not be considered.

*Required Fields

Student's First Name

Student's Middle Name

Student's Last Name

Student's Email Address

Student's Date of Birth

Please check the box(es) below that most accurately describes your situation.

Merit: Scholarship given based on achievements.
Need: Aid based on demonstrated institutional financial need.
For more information on types of aid can be found here.

You may check more than one if appropriate. Please note any supporting documentation that is required and please upload to supporting documents section. Detailed explanations of circumstances should be written at the end. Please note the appeals committee may request additional documentation from what is listed in order to properly assess the appeal.

What type of appeal are you submitting for?

Merit

Need

Appeal Circumstances

Significant loss of income due to termination or change in employment. *Changes may not be considered if income loss for the year does not further demonstrate financial need.

Unexpected Life Event *Please note that in a divorce situation, we will continue to consider both custodial and non-custodial parent's income and asset information.

Correction to asset information reported

One-time capital gain or IRA/Pension distribution

Significant loss income due to termination or change in employment. *Changes may not be considered if income loss for the year does not further demonstrate financial need.

Required Documentation

Termination or change of employment:

Copy of the last/most recent pay stub for both parents in the household
Termination notice or letter of explanation from employer
Severance statement
Copy of unemployment benefit eligibility

Termination or reduction of untaxed benefits, including Social Security, child support, disability:

Documentation of reduction
Explanation for change from granting authority

Unexpected Life Event *Please note that in a divorce situation, we will continue to consider both custodial and non-custodial parent's income and asset information.

Required Documentation

Death of Parent or other immediate family member:

Documentation of medical and/or funeral expenses
Documentation of expected Social Security benefits for all family members
Documentation of other distributions from inheritance, assets, or other benefit sources including life insurance

Correction to asset information reported

Required Documentation

Complete the Asset Clarification form if reporting error in asset information

Please list date of unemployment/termination of benefits date:

One-time capital gain or IRA/Pension distribution

Required Documentation

Please provide details. Please note that both the circumstances and the capital gain/distribution must be one-time occurrences, which did NOT occur in 2024, and are expected again in 2025.

How many supporting documents will you be submitting? (Up to 10)

Document 1

Document 2

Document 3

Document 4

Document 5

Document 6

Document 7

Document 8

Document 9

Document 10

Additional details or information related to your request for a financial aid appeal.

Need Based Financial Aid and Merit Aid Appeal Form

Want to learn more about Bucknell?