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    • Filling out your FAFSA
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Filling out your FAFSA

The first step in applying for and receiving financial aid is to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid  (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ . Prospective students can access detailed information regarding the FAFSA and an early estimate of eligibility for student aid online at http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/  .  Returning students of Ave Maria University must file a renewal FAFSA  each academic year. More information on the FAFSA process is provided by the Department of Education and can be found on the FAFSA website or http://www.college.gov/ .  

apply for your pin 1. Apply for your Personal Identification Number (PIN) first at http://www.pin.ed.gov/ . The PIN allows you and your parent(s) to electronically sign your FAFSA. For dependent students, at least one parent must apply for  a PIN at the same website and electronically sign the FAFSA.   Your PIN can be used each year to sign your FAFSA, access the DOE website to make corrections to your FAFSA, and check on the status of your FAFSA.  Parents may also use the same PIN each year, as well as using the same PIN to electronically sign the FAFSA for more than one dependent attending college. 2. The Ave Maria University school code is 039413. This code is necessary to let the Federal Processor know that you wish to have a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR) sent to AMU. If you are a transfer student who has already filed a FAFSA at your previous institution for the upcoming academic year, be sure to go back into your FAFSA and add Ave Maria University's school code, 039413. 3. Be sure to let the Financial Aid office know of any other scholarships or resources from which you will be receiving aid. Outside sources can include military aid and private scholarships, such as Knights of Columbus or other organizations.  4. Do not leave any part of the FAFSA blank. Fill it out completely and make sure all information is entered correctly. Most importantly, make sure your Social Security Number and name are correct.  Check your Student Aid Report (SAR) comments for possible errors or omissions that may delay the processing of your aid, such as: 1) your citizenship and/or residency status may need to be confirmed, 2) selective service registration may need to be verified, 3) student and/or parent signature may be missing, or 4) you may be selected for verification, just to name a few.  If any of the above or other comments appear on your SAR, please contact our office to assist you with resolving the issue.  5.  Other helpful tips you can use before completing your FAFSA can be found at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before001.htm , including information on what documents to have ready before you begin, important deadlines, and instructions for the Web Worksheet.

  financial aid process overview

1. Complete your FAFSA. The FAFSA should be completed as early as possible after January 1, for the following school year. Much of the aid available to students is awarded in order of the date the completed SAR is received by AMU. The earlier your FAFSA is complete and submitted to AMU, the greater your prospect of receiving institutional grants if eligible.

2. Check your status. Check the status of your filed FAFSA at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/follow001.htm.  If there were any mistakes made during the filing of your FAFSA, or if any other information is needed, you can find out by checking your status. Please correct these mistakes and resubmit.

3. Ave Maria University Correspondence.  You will be notified of your Financial Aid Electronic Award Letter via email.  You will also be provided with a Financial Aid password which will allow you to view your account online through the Financial Aid Portal on IQ Web.  Any outstanding documents needed to complete the processing of your financial aid will be listed under "Documents."  Being awarded financial aid is not the end of the process; you must access your award letter online and accept or decline each award.

4. Payment. If your award does not cover the total cost of attendance, and you would like to inquire about loans, please contact the Financial Aid Office for information on alternative loans. Dependent students will be offered Parent PLUS loans to supplement their cost of attendance.

If you would like to pay the balance of tuition and fees not covered by federal aid or scholarships, you can set up a monthly payment plan online at www.avemaria.edu/bursarstudentaccounts . Once at this site, please see "Sign up for Monthlly Payment Plan" and follow instructions given. You can also call 1-800-551-2773 ext. 15, to set up the payment plan by phone.    If you prefer to pay by credit card, you can select the "Pay Online" option.