Financial Aid Checklist | Need-Based Financial Aid | Financial Aid & Scholarships

Accepted for admission or continuing student in good academic standing
File the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov by February 15 for new students and March 1 for returning students
If you estimated your income information on the FAFSA, you must return to the FAFSA website at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Complete this task ten to fourteen days after you have submitted your tax documents electronically. On the FAFSA correction page, use the IRS Retrieval option and resubmit your FAFSA. If your financial situation has changed (such as by loss of parent’s job or increased medical expenses), go to Special Circumstances to file an appeal.
Once you have received your financial aid award, go to your financial aid login to accept your aid. On your financial aid award, you may also accept, decrease, or decline your student loan options. When reviewing your financial aid award, keep the following in mind:
- Scholarships are free money. It is not necessary to pay them back, but there may be a GPA requirement to renew a scholarship from year to year.
- Grants are typically based on the results of the FAFSA and will remain the same from year to year providing your FAFSA results remain about the same. You do not have to repay grant money.
- Department of Education regulations require that you contact the Office of Financial Aid concerning any outside scholarships you receive.
  - Either send a copy of your scholarship notification letter or an email to the Office of Financial Aid.
  - Please note, if the scholarship funds are received after the due date of your bill, you will automatically be assessed a 1% service charge because you will owe a balance on your account.
  - It is best to pay your balance due. When you receive your scholarship funds, you may choose to receive your credit balance or carry it forward to the next semester.
Direct student loans are available at a low interest rate; you are required to repay them beginning at six months after graduation or if you go to school less than half-time.
- Subsidized direct loans do not accrue interest while you remain in school and the current interest rate is 3.4%.
- Unsubsidized direct loans do accrue interest while you are in school, but you can pay this without penalty; the current interest rate is 6.8%.
- When considering the amount you will owe, please remember that the above loans have a 1% origination fee, so if your loan is $3,500, $3,465 will post to your student account.
Student work-study funds are awarded to allow you to consider working on campus to help with tuition payments or to make spending money. These funds are not automatically subtracted from your bill.
- To take advantage of student work-study, fill out the work-study paperwork during Orientation. You will need your actualy Social Security card with you to complete this process.
- Attend one of the job fairs the first week of classes in August.
- Read more information on Student Employment.
After June 1, students taking advantage of direct student loans for the first time should process their loans by going to www.studentloans.gov; sign in using your FAFSA PIN and Social Security number, and then:
- Fill out and submit your Master Promissory Note.
- Complete and submit your Student Loan Entrance Counseling.
Parents choosing to take advantage of the Direct Parent Plus Loan should go to www.studentloans.gov after June 1, sign in using their FAFSA PIN and Social Security number. Then:
- Complete and submit the Direct Parent Loan Application.
- Complete and submit the Direct Parent Loan Master Promissory Note.
- If you are declined a Direct Parent Loan, you may resubmit with a co-signer, or contact the Office of Financial Aid.
To take advantage of the 10-month payment plan, you must enroll in May to begin payments in June. Go to www.afford.com to set up your payment plan.
You will be notified of the fall billing statement in July. The balance for the fall semester is due August 15.

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