Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions on Financial Aid

What is student financial aid? >>

How do I apply for financial aid? >>

When should I apply? >>

How soon after January 1 should the FAFSA form be sent in? Is it better to wait until the income tax forms have been completed? >>

Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year? >>

I probably don't qualify for aid. Should I apply for aid anyway? >>

Do I need to be admitted before I can apply for financial aid at a particular university? >>

How do I apply for financial aid?>>

How much aid can I get?>>

What is a Federal Pell Grant? >>

How do I apply for a Pell Grant and other types of need-based aid? >>

What is a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)? >>

Can I get PELL for remedial courses? >>

Can I get PELL for repeating a course? >>

I got an outside scholarship. Should I report it to the financial aid office? >>

What other sources of financial aid should I check out? >>

Where can I go for more information? >>

Questions on FAFSA

How could I get help with filling out my FAFSA? >>

What should I (the student) do if my family has special circumstances that aren't mentioned in the application? >>

I'm not sure if I want to take out a student loan or work during the school year. What should I enter for the questions asking if I am interested in student loans or work-study? >>

If I live with an aunt, uncle, or grandparent, should that relative's income be reported instead of parental information? >>

What if I live with a girlfriend or boyfriend who pays the rent?>>

What's the difference between cash support and in-kind support? >>

When is student aid considered income?>>

If I am in the National Guard or am an active duty military member, am I considered a veteran for purposes of filling out the FAFSA? >>

What if I'm a dependent student but my parents are divorced or seperated? >>

I am entering financial information for my mother and stepfather on the FAFSA. Should I give my father's Social Security Number (SSN) and last name, or my stepfather's? >>

What should you do if the parent with whom you live is remarried and the stepparent refuses to supply information? >>

How does a family decide who should be counted in the household size? >>

My parents separated four months ago. I live with my mother. My parents filed a joint tax return and claimed me as an exemption. Do I report both their incomes, or just my mother's? >>

If I (the student) am separated but filed a joint tax return, how is the information reported? >>

Who qualifies to be counted in the number in college? >>

When does my school have to receive the results from my application? >>

What if I don't get a SAR Acknowledgement or SAR, or I need another copy of that form? >>

What is the Data Release Number (DRN)? >>

I sent in my FAFSA over four weeks ago but haven't heard anything. What should I do? >>

Why should I bother to complete the pre-application worksheet rather than just fill in the FAFSA and use that when I apply online? >>

How soon after January 1 should the FAFSA form be sent in? Is it better to wait until the income tax forms have been completed? >>

What information do I need to complete a FAFSA accurately? >>

How do Returning or Continuing Students Re-apply? >>

How do the schools I'm interested in, get my FAFSA results? >>

What do I do with my SAR? >>

What if I later want to add or change schools? >>

How do I make changes or corrections to my Student Aid Report (SAR)? >>

Once my SAR is correct and complete, how do I find out if I'm eligible and what aid I'll receive? >>

My SAR indicates that my application has been selected for "Verification". What is that? >>

What is a PIN and what is it used for? >>

How and when do I get a PIN? >>

My parents don't support me and won't contribute to my education, so why am I still considered a "dependent" student? >>

Questions on TAP

How do I apply for TAP? >>

What are the eligibility requirements?>>

How much TAP can I receive each semester? >>

For how many semesters can I receive TAP? >>

Can I get TAP for repeating a course? >>

Can I get TAP for remedial courses? >>

Where I could I go for more information about my TAP award? >>

If I am planning on attending college out-of-state should I fill out the TAP application?>>

I don't think that I will be eligible for a TAP grant. Why should I bother to complete the form? >>

I missed the link to the TAP on the Web site when I completed my FAFSA online. Can I get to it any other way? >>

Questions on Work-Study

Are work-study earnings taxable? >>

How do I apply? >>

Where would I work? >>

Can I choose where I would like to work? >>

Can I earn as much money as I want? >>

Am I paid an hourly wage or a salary? >>

How will I be paid? >>

If I am unable to earn my entire award, will I be able to receive the rest of the money? >>

How many credits do I have to take for FWS eligibility? >>

Do I have to stop working if I withdraw from school? >>

I am currently receiving unemployment. Do I have to report FWS earnings to the unemployment office? >>

Are FWS earnings taxable? >>

Why do I have to fill out an I-9 Form? >>

What are the benefits of the FWS program? >>

Questions on Loans

How do I apply for a Perkins or Stafford Loan? >>

Can I cancel my student loan if I change my mind, even if I've signed the promissory note agreeing to the loan's terms? >>

How do my parents apply for a PLUS Loan?>>

Are my parents responsible for my educational loans? >>

If I take a leave of absence, do I have to start repaying my loans? >>

When do I start paying back my student loans? >>

Quick Links