Detailed Steps

 
  1. Apply for admission to our university and complete the online orientation
  2. Select your academic year start;
    • Through the registration process by clicking "Register Now", following the prompts and selecting FSA for your courses OR
    • By selecting "My FSA Academic Year" in the e-Campus under the Federal Student Aid menu
  3. Access MAP by clicking "My Aid Portal"
    • Complete Your financial aid application
    • Provide any needed documents and complete required steps
    • Sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN) and loan entrance counseling (loan recipients only)
    • Continue to log into MAP for updates on document requirements and awards
  4. Make sure all your registrations are in place for the semester as soon as possible to establish eligible funding for your enrollment.
    • Enrollment Status: Undergraduate
      • Full-time= 12+ credit hours per semester
      • 3/4 time= 9 credit hours per semester
      • Half-time= 6 credit hours per semester
      • Less than half-time= 3 credit hours per semester
    • Enrollment Status: Graduate
      • Full-time= 6 credit hours per semester
      • Half-time= 3 credit hours per semester
  5. Stay alert for email notifications from the Financial Aid Office
  6. Review your Student Aid Report (SAR)
  7. Review your award(s) within the "Financial" tab in MAP
    • Estimated awards: An approximate calculation of financial aid based on an initial assessment of eligibility.
    • Actual awards: A calculation of financial aid based on actual enrollment and an assessment of eligibility.

  8. Still have questions? View more details on each step

details  Details by Steps

  1. Apply for admission to our university
    • You must be an enrolled as a degree-seeking student in our university in an eligible program for Federal Student Aid
    • Complete our online application for admission, orientation and, if applicable, get started on transferring your credits by filling out your Transfer Credit Evaluation application
  2. Register for classes and select your academic year within 21 days of your intended start
    • Through the registrations process, or
    • By selecting "My Academic Year" under the Federal Student Aid menu in the e-Campus
    • Students receiving Federal Student Aid (FSA) must follow an academic calendar, which consists of an "academic year" and two "academic semesters."
    • Our online courses begin monthly, so choose your classes so that they fit within the start and end dates of the "academic semesters." For regulatory purposes, classes cannot overlap between or outside a semester
    • Each academic year consists of 32 weeks, excluding breaks
    • See a breakdown of start dates and academic year timing
  3. Access My Aid Portal (MAP)
    • Complete your financial aid application. Items to have ready before you begin the application process.
      • Driver's license
      • Social security number
      • Prior year income tax returns or W-2’s
      • Your parents prior year income tax returns (if you are a dependent student)
      • Current bank statements
      • Current investment records - statements (business and personal)
      • If not a US citizen; your alien registration or permanent resident card
    • Choose the appropriate application for financial aid. The application may take up to an hour to complete.
    • Apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) during this process. It will be used as your electronic signature going forward. You can apply prior to or after completing the forms.
    • If you already have a PIN from a prior federal aid application, regardless of the school, use it. If you’ve lost it, go the Federal Student Aid PIN website
    • Review your award in MAP (Estimated/Actual)
      • Estimated Award: An approximate calculation of financial aid based on an initial assessment of eligibility.
      • Actual Award: A calculation of financial aid based on actual enrollment and an assessment of eligibility.
  4. Receive and review your Student Air Report (SAR)
    • Once your FAFSA has been submitted, a Student Aid Report (SAR) will be returned to you. The university will receive the Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) at the same time
    • This report will give you the following information:
      • Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) - The EFC is a measure of your family’s financial strength. It is calculated according to a formula established by law and is the number used to calculate the amount of federal student aid you are eligible to receive. Grants and/or loans for which you qualify
    • This report will come via email if you supplied an email address on your FAFSA. If not, it will come via regular mail 2-3 weeks after your FAFSA is submitted
    • Note: if more information is needed to calculate the EFC, the EFC will not appear on your Student Aid Report (SAR)
  5. Sign the Master Promissory Note (loan recipients only)
    • As part of your “My Aid Portal” steps, you will be directed to sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN)
    • The MPN is a legal document outlining the rights and responsibilities associated with Federal student loan borrowing.
    • Signing the MPN provides acknowledgement that you, the student, understand that you must repay the borrowed amount plus any interest that may accrue.
    • The Master Promissory Note is valid for up to 10 years
    • The PIN you obtained when completing your FAFSA will be required for your signature.
  6. Make sure you have registered for classes.
    • You should register as early as possible
    • You won’t be asked to pay at time of registration, just select “Federal Student Aid” as your method of payment
    • Then make sure your financial aid is in place at least one week prior to your semester start date. Meaning, have an actual award letter confirmation in hand and all required documents signed (i.e., promissory note, if applicable)
    • Students are funded for only what they register for prior to the semester start date (at least one week prior). Students adding courses to that semester after that deadline will lose some funding. So even if you are taking two, 8-week sessions, you must register for both sessions at least one week prior to the first session start date
  7. Take action on any requests you receive
    • Often additional information is requested in order to process your application
    • Please respond quickly to prevent delays in the approval of your financial aid application or cancellation of your first class registrations
      • Some students are randomly chosen by the government for verification
      • Within “verification” we compare the information on your application with signed copies of your federal tax forms, W-2’s or other financial documents
      • We may ask you for additional documentation to complete the “verification” process. The law requires that we ask you for this information before awarding federal aid
      • If there are differences between your application and your financial documents, we will make the corrections to your application
  8. Access and become engaged in your classes once holds have been lifted
    • Once all requirements are met you will receive a confirmation that the classes you have registered for are funded and you may enter your classroom once opened
    • If you are an undergraduate student, your books will be available within the classroom (if ebooks) or shipped (if textbooks) at this time (though no sooner than 30 days prior to your course start date)
  9. Attend classes and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and Enrollment Status requirement
    • Satisfactory academic progress is measured by:
      • Cumulative grade point average
      • Credit hour completion
      • Program deadline
    • Enrollment status requirements dictate the number of credits you must take per semester depending on your degree program
    • Review these requirements to understand what it takes to maintain good standing and continue to be eligible for federal aid
  10. Financial aid for year 2 and beyond
    • You will need to reapply for financial aid (establish a new academic year) every two semesters or every 8 months
    • You can establish your new academic year within 21 days of your new intended start
Need Help with Financial / Tuition Assistance?

- Watch brief videos with answers to many of your financial assistance questions on Financial Aid TV
- Attend an online Financial Aid Orientation session with the experts
- For additional assistance, contact our Financial Aid Help Desk:  877-372-3535 | Send an e-mail
 

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