I was looking over some financial aid stuff from past interviews and found a better way to phrase this question. If a school claims that each student is guaranteed to get his/her "cost of attendance", how is this possible if the maximum stafford payout is $38,500. For example, I noticed after looking at the financial aid paperwork from OSU that the "cost of attendance" for a non-resident there is $54,570. If, as OSU states, "you can receive aid up to your cost of attendance," how are you supposed to get $54,570 if the maximum stafford payout is $38,500. Where does the extra $14,070 come from, assuming one can receive aid up to the "cost of attendace" without having to delve into the private loans or scholarships? The later two are need-based and a lot of us won't qualify for those either way because of what our parents make.
-Thank you!