You may be able to receive a financial aid adjustment due to the recent unemployment of a family member or independent student, or other circumstances. Federal Student Aid (FSA) notes the following for students and their families:
Changes to Your Family’s Financial Situation
If you or your family’s financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on your federal income tax return (for example, if you’ve lost a job or otherwise experienced a drop in income), you may be eligible to have your financial aid adjusted. Complete the FAFSA questions as instructed on the application (including the transfer of tax return and income information), submit your FAFSA form, then contact the Financial Aid Office, finaid@meca.edu, to let us know how your current financial situation has changed.
Note that the school’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.
Change in class level
Undergraduate students who change from freshman to sophomore, or sophomore to junior status may be eligible to request a federal student loan increase after the semester in which their class status changes. (Note: students are still limited to their cost of attendance, so other aid such as the Federal Parent PLUS loan, or a Private Student Loan may be reduced to accommodate the increase in a Federal student loan.)
Federal Student Loan Limits
| Year | Dependent Students (except students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans) | Independent Students (and dependent undergraduate students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans) |
| First-Year Undergraduate Annual Loan Limit | $5,500 - no more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans | $9,500 - no more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans |
| Second-Year Undergraduate Annual Loan Limit | $6,500 - no more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans | $10,500 - no more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans |
| Third-Year and Beyond Undergraduate Annual Loan Limit | $7,500 - no more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans | $12,500 - no more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans |
| Graduate or Professional Student Annual Loan Limit | Not Applicable (all graduate and professional degree students are considered independent) | $20,500 (unsubsidized only) |
| Subsidized and Unsubsidized Aggregate Loan Limit | $31,000 - no more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans | $57,500 for undergraduates - no more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. $138,500 for graduate or professional students - no more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study. |