You must first apply for financial aid by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You may complete your FAFSA online at  www.FAFSA.ed.gov. The Financial Aid Office will review the processed FAFSA and determine your eligibility for all types of financial aid including grants, work study, and student loans. Once you have received your award letter from the Financial Aid Office, you may request a Federal Stafford Loan if your award is not sufficient to cover your needs.

 

Most financial aid, including student loans, is disbursed six to eight weeks after the beginning of the semester; therefore, you should plan your budget accordingly. If you have applied for your student loan before your bill is due, the Business Office will see the amount approved and deduct the semester amount from your bill. When the funds arrive, the Business Office will first pay your tuition, fees and any other charges on your account. If there is excess, the Business Office will mail you a check for the remainder. Most loans are for the full year, so your loan will be split into two equal disbursements, one half applied to the fall semester and one half applied to the spring semester.

 

All students applying for a Federal Stafford Loan must go online, complete the online Entrance Counseling, and print out the confirmation page before submitting all of the required paperwork to the Financial Aid Office. 

 

After completing the online Entrance Counseling, three completed forms must be returned to the Financial Aid Office. The Master Promissory Note must be completed in pen. All information must be completed. The only information that can be left blank on this application is e-mail addresses. If any spaces are left blank, it will delay the processing of your loan. You must select a lender from the Lender Comparison Chart in your packet. Your signature is required at the bottom of the application. The second required form is a copy of your Entrance Counseling confirmation. The third required form is the Federal Stafford Loan request form with the amount requested for your loan. THE AMOUNT REQUESTED IS NOT NECESSARILY THE AMOUNT THAT YOU WILL BE CERTIFIED TO RECEIVE. We will award you as much as possible in a subsidized loan and the exact amount and type of loan will be on the updated award letter that you will receive from the Financial Aid Office after your loan has been processed.