🏫 College Advising

A student receives a $5,000 scholarship from a private organization after their college has already issued their financial aid package. How will this outside scholarship most likely affect the student's existing financial aid?

A The college is required to reduce the student's federal loans first, before reducing any grant aid.
B The college will adjust the student's aid package, potentially reducing institutional grants or federal need-based aid, to prevent over-awarding.
C The college will automatically increase the student's Cost of Attendance (COA) by $5,000 to accommodate the additional funds.
D The outside scholarship will have no impact on the student's financial aid package, as it comes from a non-institutional source.

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

Colleges must consider outside scholarships when packaging aid. To prevent a student from receiving aid exceeding their need or COA, institutional grants or federal need-based aid may be reduced.

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