Federal Student Aid

Summary

• There are two primary types of Federal aid that we support:
  
  
  1. Loans - which need to be repaid
  2. Grants - which do not need to be repaid
• Many students qualify for both Grants and Loans based on financial need. Eligibility and amount, for loans or grants, depends on multiple factors including financial situation
• Most students, regardless of income, will qualify for some form of Federal Student Aid, usually in the form of loans
• Try the government’s FAFSA4caster to discover what type and amount of aid you may qualify
• You can combine multiple sources of financial aid
• Click on any of the options on the left to get more details on eligibility and process.

Process at a Glance

1. Apply for admission to our university
2. Select your academic start date
3. Submit the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Intent form once you have been accepted as a student
4. Access “My Financial Aid Office” to:
   
   
   • Complete the Personal Data Sheet, Entrance Interview, and other information used to determine your FSA award
   • Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This must be filed a minimum of 37 days before your intended start date
   • Review your estimated award (allow 2-3 days for receipt of your Student Aid Report (SAR), which is a summary of your FAFSA)
5. Sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN) (Loan recipients only)
6. Register for classes. Select Federal Student Aid as your method of payment
7. Take action on any requests received from your Financial Aid Representative. Some students may be selected for a process called Verification
8. Review your confirmed award letter within “My Financial Aid Office"

• Click for more details on each step

Timeframe

• Working your way through the application process for Federal Student Aid can take a considerable amount of time. You should begin the process at least 5-6 weeks prior to your semester start. Speed of processing depends on your responsiveness and the accuracy of information provided
• Register early and anytime before your first semester starts. Just make sure your financial aid is in place 1 week prior to your first semester start date. “In place” means having your award letter in hand and confirmed.
• All FSA students must register for ALL classes they intend to take within a 16-week semester at least 1 week prior to that semester start date. Even if they are taking 8-week courses, they must register for both 8-week sessions within the 16-week semester prior to the first 8-week session start date.