Your first step is to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To save time it's best to gather necessary documents/information before you begin. For the upcoming school year you are going to need records of income earned the year prior. You will need to refer to:

• Social Security Number
• Driver's license
• W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
• Your (and spouse's if you are married) Federal Income Tax Return from the previous year: 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040Telefile, etc.
• Your parent's Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
• Untaxed income records such as Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Welfare, Veterans Benefits Records
• Your current and previous year bank statements
• Your current and previous year business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, other investment records
• Your alien registration card if not a US citizen

You will also need to refer to specific codes for applications, including the federal school code 002883 for all students. New York State TAP code for an undergraduate student is1022, for graduate students the NYS TAP code is 5820. While filling out all forms remember to read the fine print!

FAFSA is a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Forms of federal aid include Federal Pell Grants, Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Loans to Parents), Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Campus-Based Programs such as Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Perkins Loans.

FAFSA forms are available at your high school guidance office, your local public library, or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID. You can apply online and find tips at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov (preferable method).

No. Only the original FAFSA form produced by the US Department of Education is acceptable. Photocopies, reproductions, facsimiles and electronic versions are all not acceptable.

If you file a paper copy of the FAFSA, you should mail the form to:

Federal Student Aid Programs
PO Box 7001
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-0071

Although you should keep a copy of the FAFSA for yourself, you do not need to submit it to the Financial Aid Office unless we request it.

Applicants should file a FAFSA after January 1 but before February 15. Remember, even if you do not have your taxes done, you can use estimated income information to get the process started. 

Complete your FAFSA application at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Once your form is processed a copy is sent to Utica College. You will also receive a paper report called a Student Aid Report (SAR) that determines your Expected Family Contribution or EFC and outlines the federal aid you can expect. Again, each family is different, so your SAR will be different than your classmate's report. An express TAP application is also generated for New York state residents.

Learn more: FAFSA form

If you live in New York State, you'll want to fill out a Tuition Assistance Program or TAP form. TAP awards $0 to $5,000 per year depending on your taxable income and the tuition cost at the school of your choice in New York State. It's renewable for up to eight semesters and it is available to full-time students only. (Remember, for undergraduate students the TAP code is 1022, for graduate students the TAP code is 5820.)

Also, the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) is available for New York State students. HEOP is intended for full-time students who have a family history of educational and economic disadvantage.

• Learn more: Higher Education Opportunity Program

A similar program, Collegiate Science and Technology Program or C-STEP, is also available to disadvantage students who enroll in specific programs of study.

• Learn more: Collegiate Science and Technology Program

 

Yes, you must file the FAFSA every year. In order to expedite the process, the FAFSA processing agency will send you a Renewal FAFSA with some information already completed for you, such as name and address. If you do not receive a renewal form, a new FAFSA must be completed.

Learn more: FAFSA form

Submit a FAFSA. To indicate interest in student employment, student loans and parent loans, you should check the appropriate boxes. Checking these boxes does not commit you to accepting these types of aid. You will have the opportunity to accept or decline each part of your aid package later. Leaving these boxes unchecked will not increase the amount of grants you receive.

At any point during the processing period, you can use your PIN to check the status of your FAFSA or to check on a correction you made to your FAFSA:

• Click on the FAFSA icon located on this site's home page under "Apply for Financial Aid."
• Click on the first item in the right-hand column (under “FAFSA Follow-up”): “Check status of a submitted FAFSA or print Signature Page.”
• Read the Check Status page, click on “Next” at the bottom of the page, then enter the information required.
  

 

Yes. An entire section of Financial Aid is devoted to the topic of Divorce and Financial Aid. It discusses which parent is responsible for completing the FAFSA, the obligations of non-custodial parents to pay for college, college support agreements, the obligations of step-parents, and the ability of non-custodial parents to take advantage of the various tax benefits for education.

For more information, visit the Divorce and Financial Aid section at FinAid.org. 

An entire section of Financial Aid is devoted to the topic of Bankruptcy and Financial Aid. It discusses both whether student loans can be discharged by bankruptcy, as well as the impact of a bankruptcy on eligibility for student aid.

For more information, see the Bankruptcy and Financial Aid section at FinAid.org.

No we do not require the CSS Profile. At Utica College, we strive to keep the aid process as simple as possible. The only form you must file is the FAFSA. However, you may be asked to provide documentation of your income to Utica College if you are selected for verification.

Determining a student's eligibility for need-based financial aid is a complex process. The first step is completing the FAFSA form. Many factors are considered. Some factors include income, family size, assets, and number of students in college. Once the FAFSA is processed, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is reported to the schools you listed on the form as well as to you. The EFC is the amount that you can reasonably be expected to contribute to your college costs during the year.

Learn more: FAFSA form

A variety of scholarships and grants are available at Utica College to assist students and their families with educational costs. Most recipients must be full-time matriculated students. Students who wish to be considered for need-based scholarships must have completed all required financial aid forms. The College also provides grant funds annually to students on the basis of financial need and academic promise who are matriculated on a full-time basis. College scholarships are offered to full-time freshmen upon admission to the College. Awards are made on the basis of academic and personal achievements.

For more information contact Student Financial Services at (315) 792-3179 or sfs@utica.edu.  Aid may also be is also available for half time, transfer, international, continuing education, and graduate students.

Utica College does offer academic achievement awards. Your eligibility for these awards is evaluated during your application process. Students will be evaluated according to their academic record (grade, rank in class, standardized tests, recommendations, community service, etc.) and personal achievements. Other than your admissions application, no further documentation is required to apply for these awards.

No, Utica College is recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a Division III school and does not offer scholarships based upon participation in sports or athletic ability.

A limited amount of financial aid is available for international students and is awarded on the basis of academic achievement. The largest academic scholarship available to an entering student for 2004-2005 is $12,000. All international applicants must include third party documentation to verify their ability to pay for all educational costs while attending Utica College.

Learn more: Financial Aid for International Students

Although not guaranteed, Utica College expects to continue to offer aid throughout the student's education, provided that the student continues to demonstrate need, applies by the deadlines, and meets the academic achievement standards required.

All students are expected to meet academic standards in order to receive need-based aid after their first semester of enrollment. Those standards are outlined in the Utica College Undergraduate Catalog. Merit-based scholarships may require a higher GPA to maintain eligibility; however, you will be informed of the requirements when the scholarship is granted.

Utica College has a strong commitment to financial aid and we assist students to the best of our capability and resources. This commitment does not; however, guarantee that the entire cost of your education will be covered with financial aid. In order to make the best decision about college, we suggest that you review your financial aid package and compare it with the cost of attendance at Utica College. Any difference between the cost of attendance and financial aid will be the approximate amount of money you will be expected to contribute toward your education. This amount may be more than the EFC outlined on your FAFSA.

Learn more: Cost of Attendance

Outside scholarships/grants/tuition waivers, etc. must be accounted for in the aid package. In the event a student is aided and we then we receive notice of an outside scholarship, the package needs to be adjusted. We want you to benefit from the other assistance. In most cases, if adjustments are necessary, we will replace your loan and/or federal work study before replacing any grants or scholarships from Utica College.

If you qualify for a subsidized loan, the federal government pays the interest while you attend school and throughout the grace period, until you enter repayment. An unsubsidized loan accrues interest while you are in school the interest is your responsibility. You may choose to pay the interest while you are in school; however, it is not required. If you opt not to pay the interest, it will be capitalized and added to the principal balance of the loan prior to repayment.

Alternative loans are available from private lending institutions. A student can take out an alternative loan, but the interest rate is generally higher than the interest rate on federal loans. In most cases, the lending institution will require a co-signer.

You are not required to pay on federal student loans while you are in school. Your student loans generally enter repayment 6 months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. Most alternative loans also offer similar grace periods; however, you should be sure to check the terms of the loan when you request it.

A PLUS loan is a federal loan that is available to parents of undergraduate students who are attending school. The PLUS loan is in the parent's name and enters repayment within 60 days of the second disbursement of the loan. A parent may be required to begin repayment of a PLUS loan before the student leaves school. A credit check is required for a PLUS loan. The interest rate on a PLUS loan is usually better than many of the alternative loans and has a variable interest rate capped at 9 percent by law.

More financial aid information can be obtained by visiting the Web sites listed on the Financial Aid Glossary page.

An origination fee is a fee paid to government or lender to compensate for administering the loan. This fee is charged usually when the loan is disbursed – take this into consideration when applying for the amount for loan. Origination fees can be up to 3% of the loan amount.