Not every school has the same rules. There are multiple bureaus that schools utilize to independently verify need. The different bureaus will come up with verified needs which are different based on the bureau utilized. They each have different rules and what counts toward the verified need. Once the verified need is determined, then each school can utilize them differently. Some schools require students to pay at different levels of the verified need so that they will provide financial aid at a only a specified percentage of the verified need. In addition, some schools utilize minimum requirements so that regardless of the verified need, no student pays less than a specified amount. Finally, based on the school, the number of students in the family attending may also impact the amount of verified need met. There are other factors considered as well, such as actual tuition, availability of tuition funding mechanisms, diversity goals, etc. However, since the schools have different approaches and philosophies about financial aid, schools can have very different amounts of financial aid awarded.