Getting #FinancialAidReady for Fall

July 15, 2022
Author: Christe LePeau
Office of Financial Aid photo

While campus tends to get quiet this time of year, our office begins to pick up speed as we are busy preparing for the upcoming fall semester, fielding calls and questions from many incoming and returning students who have clarifying questions about their financial aid.

Curious what you or your student should be thinking about right now to make sure you are #FinancialAidReady for fall? Here are four tips to get you started:

  1. Remind your student to review their To Do List in Student Center: Outstanding To Do List items could hold your student’s financial aid from releasing to their student Bursar account in August. Review pending items sooner rather than later.
  2. Submit all your required documents: We encourage students to submit requested information as soon as possible. Processing time for this information gradually increases as we get closer to the first day of school, so don’t delay!
  3. Determine if you need to borrow loans: Review your potential costs and your anticipated gift aid (aka, grants and scholarships). If you still have a balance after your gift aid has been applied, consider accepting a loan to cover your remaining balance. Student and/or parent PLUS loans can be an investment in your student’s education. Visit our loans page for more information.
  4. Accept your student and/or parent loans: If you plan to borrow, you’ll need to actively accept the amount you wish to receive. First time borrowers will need to complete all three steps before their loan funds can be released to their student Bursar account. Find detailed instructions on our website.

Have a specific question for us? We have a variety of ways you can get in touch with us and we’d love to connect. To find the fastest way to reach us, take a peek at our “average wait times” chart on our contact us page. We keep this updated throughout the year so you can rely on it for the most up to date information.

Taking care of these action items ahead of time will ensure that your student’s financial aid releases without any issue. That way they can focus on what really matters – getting an exceptional education and gaining the skills they need to launch their career.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and we look forward to seeing your students back on campus this fall!