Financial Aid Programs

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an essential form for both current and prospective college students, allowing them to apply for various forms of Federal financial aid as outlined below.

This is a Federal grant based on a family's financial situation. PELL awards may be received by undergraduate students who have not received a bachelor's degree at the time of application. Applications for this award must be made for each academic year by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The Pell Grant is a federal program designed to provide financial assistance to those who demonstrate a need for such funds. Pell grants are intended to be the floor of a financial aid package and may be combined with other forms of aid in order to meet the costs of education. The amount of Pell Grant awarded is determined on the basis of the resources of the student, as well as that of the student's family. Student eligibility depends on several important criteria:

• Student must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Student must be registered with Selective Service (if required).
• Student must have a high school diploma, GED or meet other standards indicating ability to benefit.
• Student must have a social security number.
• Student must be working toward a degree or certificate.
• Student must be making satisfactory academic progress.
• Student cannot owe a refund on a Federal grant or be in default on a Federal educational loan.
• Student must have financial need, as determined by the results of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need, that is, students with the lowest Student Aid Index (SAI) who are also Federal Pell Grant Recipients. An FSEOG award does not have to be paid back. FSEOG is awarded to eligible students based on the date the FAFSA application is received by the college. This is an incentive grant for filing the FAFSA early and the deadline ranges between March 15 and May 15 depending on the number of FAFSAs received by those dates each year. 

The Federal Direct Stafford Loan is a loan that students borrow from the federal government. A Subsidized Stafford Loan is a need based loan where interest is paid by the government while the student is enrolled at least half time.  If a student does not demonstrate "need" via the FAFSA equation, the loan will be offered all or in part as an unsubsidized Stafford loan whereby interest accrues at the point of disbursement while the student is in school.  Interest rates are fixed (see below), and there is an origination fee that is deducted from the funds prior to disbursement. Additional information is available online at studentaid.gov.

Loans cannot exceed the cost of attendance less other financial aid.

Please remember to check your Oasis account "to do" list  for other items that may be needed to complete your financial aid file.

All loan requirements must be met before student loans will disburse.

The PLUS Loan Program makes loans available to parents  of dependent undergraduate students only to pay the educational costs of  students who meet the eligible student definition.  To receive a PLUS loan for a student, the  parent must be the student's biological or adoptive mother or father.  A stepparent may be eligible  for a PLUS loan if his or her income and  assets would be taken into account in the dependent student's calculation of  Student Aid Index (SAI).  A  legal guardian is not considered a parent for FSA purposes.  A parent must meet the same citizenship and  residency requirements as the student.   The student should apply for need-based aid prior to application for the  PLUS loan to be sure the loan could not be replaced with other forms of aid.