How to Read Your Financial Aid Offer Letter

Direct Costs are the costs you will see on your VTSU student account and include the following: 

• For all students, these include in-state, out-of-state, and/or online tuition costs.   
• Some programs also have a program tuition cost; if applicable to your program, this cost is included under direct costs.  
• The university’s standard institutional fee is also a direct cost. 
• Applicable course fees are also direct costs. 
• If you’re going to live on campus, your direct costs also include on-campus food and housing.   

Your Total Direct Costs are the total of all costs listed under Direct Costs added together.   

*This table illustrates the kinds of direct costs you may see on your financial aid offer letter.

Indirect costs are estimated expenses related to attending college that are not directly billed by VTSU. These necessary costs include off-campus housing, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. While not paid to the school, they are part of the total Cost of Attendance (COA). 

The dollar amounts assigned to each cost category (i.e., personal, transportation, books and supplies, etc.) are estimated; your indirect costs could be higher or lower.   

Students who have indicated they will live off campus and/or with a parent will see an estimated allowance for off-campus living expenses included in the Indirect Costs section.  

Your Total Indirect Costs are the total of all costs listed under Indirect Costs added together.  

*This table illustrates the kinds of indirect costs you may see on your financial aid offer letter.

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is defined as the cost charged by the university (Direct Costs) and the estimated costs a student may incur during the academic year (called Indirect Costs).   

The Awards section includes the grants, scholarships, and student loans you are eligible for based on academic merit, VTSU tuition programs, and financial need.  

• Grants and scholarships are funds awarded that you do not need to pay back.  
• Student loans are funds that you must pay back — but not until you complete (or leave) the program. There are two types of federal loans that may be noted on your letter:  
  • A Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is based on student need and does not accrue interest while you are enrolled.  
  • A Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is not based on financial need and accrues interest while you are enrolled. While not required, you may want to consider paying the interest that accrues while you’re in school to reduce your overall repayment costs.  

The Grand Total (or Financial Aid Total) is the total of your financial aid eligibility.  Although Federal Work Study eligibility is included on the chart, your total does not include that dollar amount because it is not directly given.

*This table illustrates types of awards you may see on your financial aid offer letter. It is not a direct reflection of, or guarantee of, awards for every student.

How to Review and Approve Your Awards 

• To review your aid and decline or reduce your Federal Direct Loan or Federal Work Study amounts, visit My Awards.  
  • To access My Awards, go to the VTSU Portal and select VTSU Admitted Students.  
  • Select the Admitted Students tile to see your Financial Aid Notice (your Offer Letter), and My Awards to review the scholarships, grants, work study, and loans you are eligible for. You can decline/reduce those awards there. 
    
• Please note: Any Outside Scholarships you anticipate receiving are not included in your VTSU letter. Be sure to add information about these scholarships to the Outside Scholarships page. Learn how to do so under the Outside Scholarships section here.