Students applying for financial assistance for the Fall, Spring or Summer academic terms must submit the following documents:
- A to the U.S. Department of Education. A student need not be admitted to a university to apply for aid but must be admitted to receive a financial aid notification/award letter.
- Other documentation as requested to verify Financial Aid eligibility.
To qualify for financial aid a student must:
- be admitted and enrolled as a degree-seeking student
- be enrolled at least half-time (6 hrs. undergraduate or 4 hrs. graduate) (for Federal Direct Student Loans)
- maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- be registered with Selective Service, if required
- have no outstanding debts involving financial aid previously received at Â鶹´«Ã½ or any other post-secondary institution
- not be in default on any post-secondary educational loan
Students who wish to be considered for federal, state, or need-based institutional aid must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), to the U.S. Department of Education. You can start filling out the FAFSA on October 1st.
The results of your need analysis will be returned directly to you in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR). Please allow 4 weeks from the date you mail the FAFSA to receive the SAR. Students who apply electronically will receive electronic SARS.
A student's financial need is determined based on a standard equation: Cost of Attendance - Expected Family (and/or Student) Contribution = Financial Need
If the expected family contribution is less than the cost of attendance, the Â鶹´«Ã½ Office of Student Financial Aid will attempt to meet the difference with a combination of need-based aid. This process is called packaging, and a student's aid is packaged on a first come-first served basis. Students are encouraged to view the status of their aid via their secureÌýÌý²¹³¦³¦´Ç³Ü²Ô³Ù²õ.
This is an easy and secure way for student and parent to access and transfer return information directly into the FAFSA.
Admitted students will be sent notifications from Â鶹´«Ã½ of their eligibility for aid to their Â鶹´«Ã½ email account once the aid offer is available for viewing and accepting. The student must accept or decline the aid as offered via online within 10 days of the date of the notification or by May 1, whichever date is latter. Notification of changes to your initial award offer will be sent via email.
ÌýFinancial Aid Self-Service Overview
Your financial aid award may be adjusted. Initial financial aid awards are based on full time (12+ credits for undergraduates and 9+ credits for graduates) cost of attendance and available resources.
Adjustments may be necessary if:
- you withdraw.
- you change course loads.
- you enroll less than full-time.
- you drop below full-time.
- you receive additional financial aid, including tuition waivers, scholarships, graduate tuition unfunded scholarships, veterans' benefits, etc.
- your tuition rate changes (out-of-state to in-state).
- your admission status changes (undergraduate to graduate)
- any changes are made to your Student Aid Report.
- you fail to earn a passing grade for the term.
Funds are first applied ("disbursed") to a student's account to pay University charges. If a student's charges exceed the aid disbursed, the student is responsible for paying the balance due by the published tuition deadline. If a student is registered, aid which the student has accepted (with the exception of Federal Work Study) will be credited automatically to his or her account provided certain conditions are met. Additional documents are required for Federal Direct Loans. Federal Work Study (FWS) funds are not automatically applied to the student account. Funds must be earned through employment in an eligible FWS position within the university. Federal Work-Study earnings are paid directly to the student through the payroll office.
A student with financial aid credit balance will receive a refund from the Office of Finance. For additional information about refund policy, balance of aid and e-refunds, please visit theÌýOffice of Finance.
Federal Regulation 668.00, titled Student Assistance General Provisions Final Regulation, Section 58, requires that all student financial aid and enrollment information be accurate, and warrant the approved level of financial aid awarded. Grant and scholarship aid in excess of tuition, fees, books and required supplies must be reported on your federal income tax return.
The Virginia Commonwealth Emergency Assistance Fund provides short-term financial assistance of up toÌý$2,000Ìýto enrolled students with demonstrated financial need who experience unforeseen emergencies that could disrupt their academic progress or degree completion. Emergency funds are for unexpected financial emergencies and may not be used for tuition and fees. Students may submit anÌýfor emergency funding no more thanÌýonce per academic year.
Eligibility Requirements
- The student must have experienced an unexpected financial emergency that threatens their enrollment and success at Â鶹´«Ã½.
- DocumentationÌýmustÌýbe provided that clearly justifies the amount requested.
- If the emergency is the result of a job loss, the student must submit a Professional JudgementÌýto Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Office of Student Financial Aid and have it evaluated by a Financial Aid Counselor before applying for emergency assistance funds.
- The student must be enrolled in and currently attending at least one eligible credit at the time the emergency assistance application is submitted and reviewed.
- The student must be meeting theÌýSatisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)Ìýstandards or have an approved SAP appeal.
- The student must have completed the financial aid application process at Â鶹´«Ã½, which includes either:
-
- Completing theÌý, if eligible, or
- Completing theÌýand submitting all requested documentation.
- The student must have completed high school or the equivalent and be eligible to receive Virginia Student Financial Assistance, which includes being eligible for in-state tuition.
- The student must demonstrate financial need.
- All offered grants and scholarships must be accepted.
Ìý
Ìý
Application Process
Notification and Review
- Students will be notified via their student email once the committee has reviewed their application.
- Please allow up toÌýfive business daysÌýto receive a response.
Final Decisions
- The committee’s decisions are final, so students should include all relevant information and supporting documentation with their application.
- Only one application is permitted per academic year.
Sign up for E-Refunds for Faster Refunds
- Students are encouraged to set upÌýE-Refunds. This ensures funds are received as quickly as possible if the application is approved.Ìý If E-Refunds is not set up, a refund check will be sent to the permanent mailing address listed on the student record.
Students applying for financial assistance for the Fall, Spring or Summer academic terms must submit the following documents:
- A to the U.S. Department of Education. A student need not be admitted to a university to apply for aid but must be admitted to receive a financial aid notification/award letter.
- Other documentation as requested to verify Financial Aid eligibility.
To qualify for financial aid a student must:
- be admitted and enrolled as a degree-seeking student
- be enrolled at least half-time (6 hrs. undergraduate or 4 hrs. graduate) (for Federal Direct Student Loans)
- maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- be registered with Selective Service, if required
- have no outstanding debts involving financial aid previously received at Â鶹´«Ã½ or any other post-secondary institution
- not be in default on any post-secondary educational loan
Students who wish to be considered for federal, state, or need-based institutional aid must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), to the U.S. Department of Education. You can start filling out the FAFSA on October 1st.
The results of your need analysis will be returned directly to you in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR). Please allow 4 weeks from the date you mail the FAFSA to receive the SAR. Students who apply electronically will receive electronic SARS.
A student's financial need is determined based on a standard equation: Cost of Attendance - Expected Family (and/or Student) Contribution = Financial Need
If the expected family contribution is less than the cost of attendance, the Â鶹´«Ã½ Office of Student Financial Aid will attempt to meet the difference with a combination of need-based aid. This process is called packaging, and a student's aid is packaged on a first come-first served basis. Students are encouraged to view the status of their aid via their secureÌýÌý²¹³¦³¦´Ç³Ü²Ô³Ù²õ.
This is an easy and secure way for student and parent to access and transfer return information directly into the FAFSA.
Admitted students will be sent notifications from Â鶹´«Ã½ of their eligibility for aid to their Â鶹´«Ã½ email account once the aid offer is available for viewing and accepting. The student must accept or decline the aid as offered via online within 10 days of the date of the notification or by May 1, whichever date is latter. Notification of changes to your initial award offer will be sent via email.
ÌýFinancial Aid Self-Service Overview
Your financial aid award may be adjusted. Initial financial aid awards are based on full time (12+ credits for undergraduates and 9+ credits for graduates) cost of attendance and available resources.
Adjustments may be necessary if:
- you withdraw.
- you change course loads.
- you enroll less than full-time.
- you drop below full-time.
- you receive additional financial aid, including tuition waivers, scholarships, graduate tuition unfunded scholarships, veterans' benefits, etc.
- your tuition rate changes (out-of-state to in-state).
- your admission status changes (undergraduate to graduate)
- any changes are made to your Student Aid Report.
- you fail to earn a passing grade for the term.
Funds are first applied ("disbursed") to a student's account to pay University charges. If a student's charges exceed the aid disbursed, the student is responsible for paying the balance due by the published tuition deadline. If a student is registered, aid which the student has accepted (with the exception of Federal Work Study) will be credited automatically to his or her account provided certain conditions are met. Additional documents are required for Federal Direct Loans. Federal Work Study (FWS) funds are not automatically applied to the student account. Funds must be earned through employment in an eligible FWS position within the university. Federal Work-Study earnings are paid directly to the student through the payroll office.
A student with financial aid credit balance will receive a refund from the Office of Finance. For additional information about refund policy, balance of aid and e-refunds, please visit theÌýOffice of Finance.
Federal Regulation 668.00, titled Student Assistance General Provisions Final Regulation, Section 58, requires that all student financial aid and enrollment information be accurate, and warrant the approved level of financial aid awarded. Grant and scholarship aid in excess of tuition, fees, books and required supplies must be reported on your federal income tax return.
The Virginia Commonwealth Emergency Assistance Fund provides short-term financial assistance of up toÌý$2,000Ìýto enrolled students with demonstrated financial need who experience unforeseen emergencies that could disrupt their academic progress or degree completion. Emergency funds are for unexpected financial emergencies and may not be used for tuition and fees. Students may submit anÌýfor emergency funding no more thanÌýonce per academic year.
Eligibility Requirements
- The student must have experienced an unexpected financial emergency that threatens their enrollment and success at Â鶹´«Ã½.
- DocumentationÌýmustÌýbe provided that clearly justifies the amount requested.
- If the emergency is the result of a job loss, the student must submit a Professional JudgementÌýto Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Office of Student Financial Aid and have it evaluated by a Financial Aid Counselor before applying for emergency assistance funds.
- The student must be enrolled in and currently attending at least one eligible credit at the time the emergency assistance application is submitted and reviewed.
- The student must be meeting theÌýSatisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)Ìýstandards or have an approved SAP appeal.
- The student must have completed the financial aid application process at Â鶹´«Ã½, which includes either:
-
- Completing theÌý, if eligible, or
- Completing theÌýand submitting all requested documentation.
- The student must have completed high school or the equivalent and be eligible to receive Virginia Student Financial Assistance, which includes being eligible for in-state tuition.
- The student must demonstrate financial need.
- All offered grants and scholarships must be accepted.
Ìý
Ìý
Application Process
Notification and Review
- Students will be notified via their student email once the committee has reviewed their application.
- Please allow up toÌýfive business daysÌýto receive a response.
Final Decisions
- The committee’s decisions are final, so students should include all relevant information and supporting documentation with their application.
- Only one application is permitted per academic year.
Sign up for E-Refunds for Faster Refunds
- Students are encouraged to set upÌýE-Refunds. This ensures funds are received as quickly as possible if the application is approved.Ìý If E-Refunds is not set up, a refund check will be sent to the permanent mailing address listed on the student record.