Financial Aid - Frequently Asked Questions

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. The New York State TAP code for an undergraduate student is 1022; 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.

Quickest easiest method  for completing your FAFSA is applying online and finding tips at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

New applicants should file a FAFSA after January 1 but before March 1st.   Returning  students must file a FAFSA before April 1st.  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.gov/

Once your FAFSA is processed a copy is sent to Utica College. You will also receive an electronic report called a Student Aid Report (SAR).  Again, each family is different, so your SAR will be different than your classmate's report.  

The SAR will go to the student's email address that was reported on the FAFSA.  Be sure to check the SPAM folder too.

Learn more: SAR Reports

If you live in New York State, you'll want to fill out a Tuition Assistance Program or TAP form. For undergraduate students the TAP code is 1022.

• For application and more information: www.tapweb.org

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

 

The Department of Education randomly selects students to have their FAFSA information verified by the school.  The Utica College Office of Student Financial Services will ask the student for documentation to verify the information given on the FAFSA.  Examples of documentation can include an IRS transcript of your taxes, W2 or 1099 forms.

If your Student Aid Report (SAR) states you have been selected for verification, the Office of Student Financial Services will notify the student by mail on what is needed.

• Learn more: http://www.finaid.org/fafsa/verification.phtml

Yes, you must file the FAFSA every year. A new FAFSA is available after January 1st.

• Learn more: www.fafsa.gov

At any point during the processing period, go to www.fafsa.gov and use your PIN to check the status of your application or a correction that you made:

• Click on "Start Here"
• Enter your login information and PIN
   

 

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 determines the maximum amount of need based aid a college is allowed to offer a student.

• Learn more:http://www.finaid.org/fafsa/efc.phtml

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 undergraduate 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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

Accepted students should expect to receive their financial aid package after March 30th.

Returning students can expect their financial aid package at the end of June.

There are several ways to make payments on your account. You can either...

• Pay online by credit card via your student account >
  
   
• Make a payment in person at the SFS Office
  (117 Hubbard Hall)
  
   
• Mail a check (payable to Utica College) to:
  
  Utica College
  Office of Student Financial Services
  1600 Burrstone Road
  Utica, NY  13502

Installment Plans / Loan Options

Students may either pay their bill in full or choose one of the following options:

1. Deferred payment option - This option allows you to pay your balance in three installments.  A $75 deferment fee is charged at the time you enroll in this payment option.   (Available to online students,  and full time, on campus, undergraduate students only.)  Enroll today via your student account.
   
    
2. Loans - Apply for a Parent PLUS, Graduate PLUS, or Alternative Education Loan.  
    

A PLUS loan is a federal loan that is available to parents of undergraduate students and students pursuing a graduate or professional degree who are attending school.

The Parent PLUS loan is in the parent's name and and cannot be transferred to the student's name. 

A Graduate and Professional PLUS loan is in the student's name. 

The 7.9% fixed interest rate on a PLUS loan is usually better than many of the alternative loans.

Both the parent and student's eligibility requirements include being a US citizen or eligible non-citizen, not being in default of any federal student loans or owing a refund on a federal education grant.  Graduate and professional students must have also used their maximum annual eligibility under the Stafford Loan program determined by the school before applying for a PLUS loan.

One of the terms and conditions of both PLUS loans is that the applicant not have an adverse credit history.

For further information on PLUS loans and detailed information on the application process click here.

• PLUS Loan Applications

           > Initiate Parent PLUS Application
                                 - for further information click here.

           > Initiate Grad PLUS Application

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.

A useful website for further information:

List of Alternative Loan Lenders 
http://studentlendinganalytics.com/alternative_loan_options.html 

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 4% of the loan amount.



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