Understand Your Financial Aid Offer
To better assist you with understanding your Financial Aid Award Offer. Please see the information below.
1. Student Aid Index (SAI) from FAFSA
Georgia Tech utilizes a need analysis formula established by the U.S. Department of Education to determine a family's ability to contribute to the cost of attendance. This amount is referred to as the "Student Aid Index" (SAI), and it is calculated for families completing the FAFSA. This is not the amount that the family owes Georgia Tech. The "need analysis formular" evaluates parent and student income, some net assets (home value is not considered), number of family members, and other relevant factors that may affect a family's ability to contribute toward educational expenses.
2. Cost of Attendance (COA)
The “Cost of Attendance” (COA) is the estimated/standard amount it will cost you to attend Georgia Tech for an academic year. For any given academic year, the standard COA at Georgia Tech depends on your program, year in school, residency, and housing selection, and is utilized to determine eligibility for any programs or funds managed through the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA).
Cost of Attendance is based on tuition, mandatory fee costs, and housing and food (which will vary depending on whether you live on-campus, off-campus, or with your parent (s)), as determined by the University of Georgia Board of Regents. Additional estimated components include standard allowances for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and dependent care (if applicable).
The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, in accordance with federal regulations, annually publishes the Institute’s COA.
Billable V. Non-Billable Items
Tuition and mandatory fees are assessed by the Bursar’s Office and are always considered Billable Items. All other items- including campus housing and meal plans – are considered optional and will appear below as Non-Billable Items.
3. Need-Based Aid
Eligibility for need-based aid is determined by subtracting the SAI from the Cost of Attendance. Thus, many families who demonstrate need at a higher-cost, private institution may not be eligible for need-based aid at a lower-cost, public institution such as Georgia Tech. Demonstrating need does not ensure receipt of grants or scholarships as other eligibility criteria also apply and funding is limited.
4. Outside Resources
Students who receive any assistance not already included in the financial aid offer must report the amount and type of assistance to the OSFA. This is required by Federal law and Institute policy. This assistance may be in the form of additional financial offers such as scholarships, private loans, etc., or in the form of reduced financial obligations to the Institute, including nonresident fee waivers, reduced housing costs, Veteran's Benefits, ROTC, etc. The Institute encourages students to compete for externally sponsored scholarships. Students who receive additional financial assistance may have the original Georgia Tech awards reduced and/or canceled. Every attempt will be made to cancel/reduce self-help awards (employment and loans) before any adjustment is made to Georgia Tech scholarships.
5. Offers
Contingent on availability of funds, Georgia Tech will attempt to meet a portion of each on-time applicants' demonstrated need by offering a combination of grant, scholarship, loan, and student employment funds from Federal, State, Institute, and private sources. For incoming first-year students for the upcoming academic year, the Federal SAI is viewed in combination with information from the CSS PROFILE for purposes of determining eligibility for institutional funds (scholarships, grants, loans) with need as a criterion.
6. Fund-Specific Messages
Offers made by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid may require additional steps for the funds to be approved and/or disbursed. Where provided, please follow the steps indicated in this section of the offer notice.
7. Offer Revisions
Send an email to revisions@finaid.gatech.edu in order to decline all or a portion of any offer.
