Financial Aid: How to Apply for Aid

Financial Aid: How to Apply for Aid

Our Financial Aid Officers specialize in personally assisting students who are interested in exploring their financial aid options. You can begin this process by:

 

  • Setting an appointment
    Let your Admissions Representative know that you are interested in applying for financial aid. The Admissions Representative will set up an appointment for you to meet with a Financial Aid Officer in the school's Student Financial Services Department.
  • Gathering Information
    Bring the following information to your appointment at the Student Financial Services Department so a Financial Aid Officer can give you a quick estimate of the type of aid for which you are eligible:
    • A copy of your previous year's* U.S. income tax return. (If you cannot locate your copy, let us know immediately and we can tell you how to obtain one.)
    • Information about your untaxed income and assets
    • A copy of your parents' tax return from the previous year* and information about their untaxed income and assets. (your parents are urged to come to this appointment with you). All of these apply to you if:
  • you are not married
  • you do not have legal dependents
  • you are under 24 years old**
  • you are not a veteran of the U.S. armed services
  • you are not an orphan or ward of the court.

 

To receive federal aid, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. If you have any questions about these requirements or if you think you may not meet one of them, contact your school's Student Financial Services Department. To receive federal aid, you must:

 

  • Not be in default on a prior federal education loan or owe repayment on a prior federal grant
  • Possess a high school diploma or GED certificate
  • Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or diploma in an eligible program
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Have a valid Social Security number
  • Make satisfactory academic progress if you are a continuing student, as established in your school catalog
  • Be registered with Selective Service, if required
  • Not have been convicted of certain drug offenses
  • Sign a statement of educational purpose and certification statement on overpayment and default (both found on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA) mentioned below)

 

Determine Your Dependency Status

If you answer "yes" to any of the questions below, you are considered an independent student for federal financial aid purposes and your parents will not need to answer the parent questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

If you answer "no" to all of these questions, you are considered a dependent student for federal financial aid purposes and your parents will need to answer the parent questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

  1. Will you be 24 years old before December 31 in the academic year?
  2. Are you married?
  3. Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
  4. Do you have legal dependents who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you (other than a spouse or children)?
  5. Are you an orphan?
  6. Were you a ward of the court until age 18?
  7. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?

 

How Federal Aid Is Awarded

When you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and indicate our school as of your choice, we will be able to receive an ISIR (Institutional Student Information Report) electronically. The ISIR will contain an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) figure.

 

The EFC is determined by a set federal formula and relates to the amount that you (and your parents, if you are a dependent student) might be expected to pay for direct and indirect costs for one academic year. The EFC is used by the school to determine your eligibility for federal aid.

 

Tips For Filling Out The FAFSA

Follow the instructions carefully. Get organized, gather your personal and family financial records and find a quiet location where you can work on the application. Here's a checklist of records you may need:

  • Last year's* federal tax return forms 1040/1040A/1040EZ and W2 forms. If you can't find last year's return, call the Student Financial Services Department and we will help you obtain a copy from the Internal Revenue Service
  • It is important to keep a copy of your tax return because you may be asked to provide it to the Student Financial Services Department later
  • Checkbook records
  • Savings account and investment statements
  • Installment and mortgage loan payment books
  • Information relating to income, including wages, dividends, Social Security benefits, welfare payments, alimony or child support, Veterans Administration benefits and disability benefits
  • "last year's" refers to the year 2005 if you are starting school between July 2006 and June 2007; to the year 2006 if you are starting school between July 2007 and June 2008, etc.

 

Other Information About The FAFSA

All information provided to the school will be kept confidential. We are in compliance with the provisions of the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. This law regulates the release of any personal information.

Involve other family members who must provide information. For example, your parent(s) will need to complete the parent section of the form if you are classified as a dependent student for federal financial aid purposes.

Remember to sign the form; if you apply through FAFSA on the web, you will need to print out, sign and mail the signature page. (If you do not have a printer, the signature page will be mailed to you). A parent must also sign the page if they have contributed information to the form.

If you need assistance with the form, feel free to call our Student Financial Services Department for help.

 

* "previous year" refers to the year 2006 if you are starting school between July 2007 and June 2008; to the year 2007 if you are starting school between July 2008 and June 2009, etc.

 

** If you are starting school between July 2007 and June 2008, you must be 24 years old by December 31, 2007. If you are starting school between July 2008 and June 2009, you must be 24 years old by December 31, 2008, etc.