Why does GW’s calculation of need sometimes differ from the Student Aid Report?
The information you provide on the PROFILE and FAFSA is often estimated. GW corrects any errors it finds, updates the information with actual tax data when returns are received and reviews the consistency of the information. For example, reported assets are compared with interest and dividend income to verify accuracy. Private colleges do not generally use the results of the FAFSA to award institutional aid. However, we do use the FAFSA results on the Student Aid Report to determine your eligibility for federal funds, including entitlement to a Federal Pell Grant or the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan. Since the federal government does not provide enough funding to fill the financial need of everyone who is eligible, we use the CSS (College Scholarship Service) formula, which is based on PROFILE. When we calculate the family contribution, we use PROFILE data to award GW funds. This enables us to prioritize awards for the neediest students first. Like the federal formula, the CSS PROFI
