In certain cases students may wish to submit information about their special financial circumstances, or an appeal to request an adjustment to their financial aid eligibility.
How to Appeal
Submit your request, along with copies of appropriate supporting documentation as indicated, through Required Info and Forms on your FAST page. Make sure your USC ID number appears on each supporting document. You will be contacted if additional documentation is required.
Aid Adjustment
In some cases, it may be possible to convert unused Federal Work-Study eligibility to Federal Direct PLUS or private loan eligibility.
If you would like to ount, submit a request. Explain why you are unable to use the full amount of your Federal Work-Study eligibility and state the amount you want to convert to loans.
If you would like an increase to your Federal Work-Study amount, submit a request. Attach a memo from your employer supporting your request and include the additional amount you are requesting, your hourly rate, and the number of hours you work per week.
If an approved loan amount is more than you wish to borrow, submit a request to ount you wish to borrow for each semester that you are enrolled. Please note you must submit your request for a cancelation or reduction to your federal loans within 120 days of the date of disbursement.
If your financial aid package does not include the maximum annual Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized payday loans Haleyville amount and you wish to have your loan increased, submit a request to increase the amount. Include the amount you wish to borrow for each semester that you are enrolled.
If you enroll in a different number of units than originally planned, please submit a Financial Aid Supplement with your updated information.
If you need to change the semesters for which you have been awarded aid, you may submit a new Financial Aid Supplement .
If you plan to graduate after attending a single semester this academic year, your initial financial aid award will include only a prorated Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan based on your projected enrollment (half-, three-quarter- or full-time). If you enroll for any unit count other than 6, 9 or 12, you may request an adjustment to your financial aid after you have registered for classes.
Budget Increase
The estimated cost of attendance (budget) used to determine your financial aid eligibility includes an amount for tuition and mandatory fees, based on your enrollment plans, as well as average amounts for standard educational expenses such as room and board. Also included are books, supplies, local transportation, and miscellaneous expenses. For more information about the standard student budget, please visit the Graduate & Professionals Costs page.
If your actual school-related expenses are higher than your current budget, you may be eligible for a budget increase. Budget increases are considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to federal and university policy. If approved, budget increases are typically funded with PLUS loans or private financing. Before submitting a request we ask that you visit to see your current total loan debt and consider how this additional loan may affect your repayment post-graduation. Prior indebtedness may be considered in determining whether a budget increase will be approved.
Types of budget increases that can be considered are listed below. To request a budget increase, submit a request and include supporting documentation as indicated. To allow sufficient time for loan processing, appeals and all supporting documents should be submitted at least 30 days before the end of the term.
Housing Changes
If your housing plans change, submit an updated Financial Aid Supplement . Please note that your eligibility for aid will be reduced if your housing plans change from “living in USC housing” or “non-USC housing but not with a parent or relative” to “living with a parent or relative.”
Your eligibility for aid will not change if your living arrangements change from “USC housing” to “non-USC housing, but not with parent or relative”, or from “living with a parent” to “living with a relative, other than the spouse.”
Your eligibility for aid may increase if your housing plans change from “living with parents or relatives” to “living in USC housing” or “non-USC housing but not with a parent or relative.” Please submit the following documentation to confirm this change in your housing plans:
Graduate Plus Loan Denial
If your application for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan is denied, you may appeal the decision or reapply with an endorser. For more information, contact the Federal Direct Loan Servicer at or (800) 557-7394.