Negotiating Funding w/ No Leverage

[jacgradschool21]

Hello in search of advice. I applied to one graduate program this cycle and fortunately was accepted. I was told a month ago I would receive $4,000 merit scholarship and that I was nominated for an assistantship that would cover tuition completely and provide a living stipend. I found out this morning that I didn't receive the assistantship, but would still get the $4k award. I'm going to a in-state University so $4k is about 45% of my tuition, but I'll most likely need to quit my job or commute 9hrs a week. Should I ask for more money? I'm an adjunct instructor at a local university (in a completely different unrelated field) I have teaching experience at the collegiate level. I would really like to eat while I'm in grad school and not have to spend 1/2 my life driving back and forth to work and school. I have no leverage I've already paid my deposit and accepted my admissions offer and I wasn't offered anything better from another program since I didn't apply to any other programs. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

tl/dr: I am an Adjunct Instructor offered funding that covers 45% of tuition. Can I ask for more money when I've already accepted admissions and paid deposit?

Edited March 17, 2022 by jacgradschool21
punctuation

[JBrwn]

Did you end up doing it? What were your results?

 

Not in Library Sciences, but I am in the same position, and I was thinking of doing the same. I read that you can ask for more funding at any point in the process even when you're already in school, though it's better to ask when you have leverage before you accept an offer.