<p>The aid calculator is new this year, so I have not used it (I have a senior and - drum roll please - am NOT filling out any financial aid applications this year!!!).</p>
<p>So I will answer as best I can without having used the calculator itself (and please don’t shoot the messenger when you read the answer 
):</p>
<p>If the item you are referring to is for business losses, then no, in general you will not get “more aid” as a result of business losses. Business losses reported on your tax return are added back into your income for the purposes of financial aid calculations (this is not a USC policy - it is consistent in financial offices at most universities).</p>
<p>The rationale is that owning a business and investing in that business is, like living in higher-cost areas or accumulating high credit-card debt, a choice - and a choice that is not rewarded with additional need-based aid.</p>
<p>So that could be why you do not see an increase in aid when you enter higher losses. Higher losses will actually result in less aid because they are added back into the income figure you are reporting from your tax return.</p>
<p>Check over on the financial aid forum for further info - there are some experts over there.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>