Types of Aid

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 certificate 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 one of your choices, 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.

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 Web" on our Financial Aid Page. You may use this link to complete the form online.

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.

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 mail 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. 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:

These amounts are scheduled to be increased on July 1, 2007. Please see the Student Financial Services office for details.

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.