Q. How do I apply for financial aid?
A. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the single application needed to apply for all sources of federal student aid. The FAFSA can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You will have the option to complete the FAFSA with a PIN (electronic signature) to expedite the process. You can obtain a PIN by visiting www.pin.ed.gov.

Q. Where can I find my tuition and fee information?
A. Students should contact the Admissions Office at the school to find out information regarding tuition and fees.

Q. What is financial aid?
A. Financial aid is the name used for federal, state and private resources that may help you pay for education related expenses. Financial aid may consist of grants, scholarships, loans and student employment. Grants and scholarships do not have to be repaid. Loans must be repaid. Student employment consists of job opportunities for students to earn money to pay for education related expenses.

Q. When do I have to repay my loans?
A. Repayment will depend on the type of loan you have. Repayment on the subsidized Federal Stafford Loan will begin after the student is no longer enrolled at least half time. Some loans are interest free while the student is enrolled at lease half-time. However, interest may accrue on other types of loans even while the student is enrolled. The financial aid office can help explain the differences in the types of loans. In all cases, loans must be repaid regardless of whether you complete the program or are satisfied with your educational experience. Failure to repay your loans can result in serious consequences and negatively impact your ability to obtain credit in the future.

Q. Why do I have to provide parent information on my FAFSA?
A. The Federal Government has established the conditions by which a student is considered dependent or independent for financial student aid purposes. For example, students who are under the age of 24, single, have no dependents and are not veterans are typically considered dependent. Dependent students must have their parents provide financial information on the FAFSA. Check with your financial aid office if you have questions.

Q. Why should a parent borrow from a Federal PLUS loan instead of a co-signing on a private loan which is in the student’s name?
A. Federal Parent PLUS loans are part of the Federal Student Aid Program. Parents who co-sign on a Private loan are just as responsible for repaying the loan (usually at higher rates) as the student if the student fails to make payments. In other words, whether the borrower or co-borrower both the Federal PLUS loan and the Private loan appear on a credit report and the financial responsibility is the same.

Q. How often to I have to reapply for aid?
A. Students must reapply for federal and state aid each year. Typically, students should reapply for aid as soon as possible after January 1st; however, check with your financial aid office to determine when you should reapply.

Q. What is a PIN?
A. A PIN is a Personal Identification Number that can be used as your electronic signature. It makes filing for aid quick and easy. PINs are private and should never be shared with anyone.

Q. What’s the difference between a grant and a loan?
R. A grant is free money and does not have to be repaid. Loans are borrowed money and must always be repaid regardless of whether you complete the program or are satisfied with your educational experience. Failure to repay your loans can result in serious consequences and negatively impact your ability to obtain credit in the future.

Q. What do I need to apply for financial aid?
A. The FAFSA is the most important document to complete when applying for financial aid In addition, there are a few other things that you need to have on hand before you start.

You are required to have a Social Security number. The U. S. Department of Education will match your Social Security number to your name so be sure that you enter your full name as it appears on your Social Security card.

If you have a driver’s license, have that number handy. If you are not a U. S. Citizen, but are an eligible non-citizen, have your alien registration number ready. You will need your federal tax returns and your parents’, if dependent, as well as other asset information. Examples of assets include checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposits, mutual funds, real estate (other than the family home), businesses and farms.

Q. My parents make too much money for me to receive financial aid. What options are available to me?
A. Regardless of how much money you or your parents make, you should still complete the FAFSA. Some sources of aid are not need-based, which means you or your parents may qualify regardless of income.

Q. How can I apply for scholarships?
A. There are several free scholarship search websites. Researching and applying can be time consuming, but your effort may be worth your time, if you find extra funding. A word of caution: do not use agencies that charge fees to find scholarships. You can do this search on your own and free of charge. For a listing of scholarships websites, contact our financial aid office.

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