The Financial Aid Process

Below is the typical process that students and parents must complete before receiving federal, state, or institutional financial aid.

FAFSA Submission - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed before any federal financial aid will be disbursed. The FAFSA can be very time-consuming, so plan accordingly.
Non-federal Applications Submission - Most schools require that students submit a Financial Aid Supplement or other application in addition to the FAFSA. Private schools typically require students to submit a CSS Profile.
Review Student Aid Report (SAR) - Students and Parents must review their SAR, the result of the FAFSA, and make any necessary corrections.
Apply For Additional Aid - Sometimes the federal, state, and institutional financial aid will not be enough to cover the total cost of attending college. Under these circumstances, students will need to apply for Alternative Student Loans.
Verify Financial Information - Most schools will select students at random to request their tax/income forms and verify their financial information.
Sign Master Promissory Notes (MPN) - This is the student's promise to repay the loans (required for first time borrowers). After submitting these, students should verify that they have completed all required applications and forms.