<p>Your friend didn’t get it from FAFSA. FAFSA determines your eligibility for some federal grants and for federal loans. The most federal aid one could be eligible for is about $4000 Pell grant (for very low income people), some small amount of Perkins loan (I don’t remember the amout) and about $3500 Stafford Loan. The school distributes that money. </p>
<p>Your friend got the aid from the school itself, and much was above an beyond Federal eligibility. Some of it may have been merit aid.</p>