ADMISSIONS
Financial Aid: Types of Aid
Application Forms
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the standard form used to determine a student's eligibility for federal and some state aid, including:
- Federal grants
- Federal loans
- Federal work-study
- State grants
There is a link to FAFSA on the right side of this page. You may use it to complete the form online.
Federal Loan Applications For Students
To apply for a Federal Stafford Loan (student loan), you may apply online or use the form provided by the Student Financial Services Department. A link to an online application is on our Financial Aid web page.
If you apply online, you will need to print out, sign and bring in the Promissory Note. If you do not have a printer, the lender will mail you the Promissory Note, which you will need to sign and return. Read the Promissory Note before you sign it. It is a legal document requiring you to pay back the money you borrow.
We suggest that you apply for your loan after you receive your student financial plan. That way, you will know the amount that the school recommends you borrow. Be sure to carefully answer all the questions on the loan application.
Before you receive your loan, you will need to participate in a loan counseling entrance interview. Likewise, before you leave school, you will need to participate in a loan counseling exit interview. Both of these can be completed online or in person. Links can be found on our Financial Aid web page.
Loan Levels
Following are the dependent and independent student grade level maximums for the Federal Stafford Loan. Depending on your program of study and your academic progress, you can apply for up to the following amounts:
| Grade Level | Dependent | Independent |
|---|---|---|
1 |
2 |
3-4 |
$3,500 |
$4,500 |
$5,500 |
$7,500 |
$8,500 |
$10,500 |
Federal PLUS Loan for Parents
An eligible parent qualifies for Federal PLUS (the parent loan for undergraduate students) Loans while their dependent son or daughter attends school. To apply for a PLUS Loan, one of your parents must complete the application and pass a credit check.
The parent borrower may either apply online (see the loan application link on our Financial Aid web page) or use the application provided by the school. We suggest that your parent apply for this loan after you receive your student financial plan. That way you will know the recommended amount you should borrow. The maximum amount a parent may borrow is the cost of your education minus any aid that you are receiving.
Your parent will need to complete the Borrower section of the form and you will complete the Student section. If you apply online, you will need to print out, sign and mail the Promissory Note. Both the parent borrower and you, the student, will need to sign the Promissory Note. If you do not have a printer, the lender will mail you the Promissory Note. You and your parent borrower will need to sign and return it.
Supplemental Data Form
In addition to the loan application, students who apply for a loan will need to complete a Supplemental Data Form. This form is available through your school's Student Financial Services Department.
Scholarships
- Richard W. Skidmore Scholarship Fund: Available to students after completion of an academic year. Application may be picked up from the Financial Aid Office. Award amount is $500. Application deadline is March 1.
