New students

From UConn Student Financial Aid Services

Applying for Financial Aid

How do I apply for financial aid?

You begin the process each year by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov as soon as possible after January 1, making sure to include UConn's federal school code 001417.

Please note that financial aid, including grants and federal loans, is available only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

I have submitted my FAFSA. Now what?

Check your HuskyMail at http://huskymail.uconn.edu. This account is the University's official means of communication with students. Once you have been accepted to UConn and the Office of Student Financial Aid Services (OSFAS) has received your FAFSA data from the federal Central Processing System (CPS), you will receive an email communication via your University HuskyMail account.

This communication will direct you to access the Student Administration System http://www.studentadmin.uconn.edu either to identify what additional information is required to continue the processing of your financial aid application, or to take action on your financial aid award package. You are responsible for checking your HuskyMail account frequently for information about your financial aid package.

Financial Aid Award Packages

Financial aid award packages are issued electronically. Students must log into the Student Administration System (SA System) to accept or decline awards. The Office of Student Financial Aid Services uses HuskyMail, the University’s student email system, to communicate with students regarding their financial aid status.

Students will not receive paper award letters.

Accessing the Student Administration System

To log in, you will need your 7-digit Student ID which is found in the top right hand corner of your admissions notification letter. To log into the SA System you need your 7-digit Student ID (User ID) and password. Your initial password is a capital ‘W’ followed by your birth date in the MMDDYY format and finished with an exclamation point (WMMDDYY!). Immediately upon log in you will be directed to change your password. After logging into the SA System, view your financial aid data by first clicking 'Self Service' from the left menu and then clicking 'Student Center'. Once in the Student Center, click the 'View Financial Aid' link to obtain information regarding your application status and awards.

If You Require Assistance

Detailed instructions regarding use of Self-Service through the SA System can be found by clicking the Student Help link on the top tool bar, or by navigating to http://peoplesofthelp.uconn.edu/.

Please refer to the Systems Information Sheetfor additional information and instructions on how to access HuskyMail and log into the SA System.

For questions regarding access to student systems, contact the UITS Help Desk at 860.486.4357 or by email (helpcenter@uconn.edu).

Note: Account passwords for any student or University system are the property of the student and, as such, are not released to parents or third parties.

Required Steps

Please login as soon as possible to complete the following:

• Review the list of items required and submit any necessary documentation, and/or;
• Accept, reduce, or decline your financial aid awards and;
• Review, and if necessary, complete all of the steps on the 'Financial Aid Action' page.

What Happens Next?

Verification

The federal Central Processing System (CPS) selects approximately 30% of the applications received each year for verification, a process that requires the OSFAS to confirm the data supplied by the applicant and/or parent(s) on the students' FAFSA by collecting tax returns, W-2 forms, and other applicable information. The OSFAS will notify you via your HuskyMail account if documentation is required.

If your file has been selected for Verification by the federal processor, your financial aid package should be considered an "estimate" until our office has received and reviewed all required documentation, as your financial aid is subject to revision based upon final review of the required documents. If additional documentation has been requested, you are strongly encouraged to respond promptly to ensure the timely processing of your financial aid award package. Your financial aid will not be disbursed until the requested documents have been received.

How do I know what information I need to provide?

If documentation is required, the specific forms and documents requested will be listed in the Student Administration System. Once you have logged in, click the View Financial Aid link, then choose 2010.

If you have accepted a loan as part of your financial aid package, additional documentation is required to process the loan. The information below will indicate what additional documentation may be required based on which awards you have accepted. Information regarding the specific forms required and instructions for completing the required loan forms will be sent to your HuskyMail account.

Federal Direct Stafford Loan

First-time Federal Stafford Loan borrowers must complete:

- a Federal Direct Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) AND

- Federal Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling

Both of these steps must be completed before Federal Direct Stafford Loan funds can be applied to your University fee bill as a payment.

Additional information regarding the Federal Direct Stafford Loan is available at http://financialaid.uconn.edu/stafford.

Federal Direct PLUS Loan

(available for parents of dependent undergraduate students only) If your parent wishes to borrow a Federal Direct PLUS Loan on your behalf, he or she must submit a Federal Direct PLUS Loan Information form, indicating the amount he or she wishes to borrow and authorizing a credit check.

After receiving the completed form, we will transmit the necessary information to the U.S. Department of Education, and a credit check will be run on each parent borrower. If your parent’s credit is approved, the parent borrower will receive notification as well as instructions on how to complete the required PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) online.

Additional information regarding the Federal Direct PLUS Loan is available at http://financialaid.uconn.edu/plus.

If the loan is denied because your parent did not meet the credit requirements, you (the student) may be awarded additional Unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loan funds.

Grants

Grant awards are automatically credited to the student’s account, as long as the student is enrolled as a full-time student by the end of the add/drop period of each applicable semester.

Payment Options

Financial Aid Worksheet

An interactive worksheet is available at http://financialaid.uconn.edu/worksheet to assist in determining if a balance is due to the University, after all available financial aid has been applied towards your University fee bill. If necessary, students and their families are encouraged to consider alternative sources of funding prior to receipt of the University fee bill. Awards are based on estimated costs, subject to change if tuition and fees are adjusted. The worksheet is for your records only, and should not be submitted to our office.

Payment Plan Information

The University offers an installment payment plan for fee bills. Additional information is available on the Bursar’s website at http://www.bursar.uconn.edu.

Alternative Financing Options

If Federal Direct Stafford, Federal Perkins and/or Federal Direct PLUS Loans do not sufficiently cover educational expenses, you may wish to consider alternative financing options. Additional information regarding alternative loans is available at http://financialaid.uconn.edu/altloan. The Office of Student Financial Aid Services recommends that all dependent students seeking additional loan funding first ask their parent to apply for the Federal Direct PLUS Loan prior to considering other loan options. The interest rate on the PLUS Loan is fixed and is generally more favorable than that of alternative loans.