Federal Student Aid
The federal government provides many FSA choices for qualified learners under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. FSA may include grants and loans.

Pell Grants
Almost all federal grants are awarded to learners based on financial need. Grants do not need to be repaid unless funds were awarded incorrectly or the learner withdraws from school prior to the planned end of the academic semester.

Direct Loans
A loan is a borrowed sum of money that is intended to pay for education and is expected to be paid back with interest. Federal Direct Student Loans usually offer borrowers lower interest rates and provide more flexible repayment options than private loans from banks and other sources.

Learners are not eligible to receive Title IV funding at more than one (1) school concurrently.

How to Apply for Federal Student Aid

Federal Student Aid (FSA) is available to learners who qualify. Prospective learners interested in applying for FSA must complete the following steps:

1. Obtain free information from the Learner Funding Advisor at the College or the U.S. Department of Education at www.studentaid.gov or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
2. Create an FSA ID username and password to access the U.S. Department of Education (ED) website. The FSA ID allows learners to access private personal information on the ED websites such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) at www.studentaid.gov.
3. Parents of dependent learners must create a personal FSA ID if the parent will be signing the learner’s FAFSA electronically. Parents of multiple learners attending college can use the same personal FSA ID to sign all applications. Please note: Each FAFSA ID user must have a unique e-mail address.
4. Learners’ FAFSA IDs are used to sign legally binding documents electronically. An electronic signature has the same legal status as a written signature. Learners should not release any FAFSA ID information, including usernames and passwords, which could put the learner at risk for identity theft.
5. Complete the online FAFSA at www.studentaid.gov and follow the instructions provided.
6. Within a few days of completion, the U.S. Department of Education will send the learner a Student Aid Report (SAR). The learner must review the SAR and, if necessary, make changes or corrections to the FAFSA. The complete, correct SAR will contain the learner’s Student Aid Index (SAI), the number used to determine the learner’s FSA eligibility.
7. Every learner must meet with a Learner Funding Advisor to determine their Title IV eligibility.