How to Apply for the fafsa

• Simplified application process with fewer questions.
• Expansion of the Federal Pell Grant to make more students eligible.
• Improved data sharing with the IRS that will eliminate the need for manual tax data entry.
• Parents without a Social Security Number will be able to apply for an FSA ID. This will speed up the FAFSA processing time as they will be able to submit the form online rather than using the paper option.
• Students qualifying for dependency override due to homelessness or inability to access parents’ financial information need not recertify annually unless their situation changes.

• The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) has been replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is an important factor in the calculation of the FAFSA to determine how much financial aid a student receives. Anderson University will use the SAI to determine eligibility for both Federal financial aid programs and need-based institutional financial aid awarded by Anderson University.
• The FAFSA Simplification Act will expand the Federal Pell Grant to more students and links eligibility to family size and the Federal Poverty Level.
• The number of family members in college will no longer be included in calculating the SAI. This may reduce need-based aid for current students with siblings in college. 
• Parents who are required to provide their information on the FAFSA will now be referred to as “Contributors” and will enter their information separately from the student portion of the FAFSA using their own FSA ID.
• Parent of Record: For students whose parents are separated or divorced, the parent who has provided the most financial support over the last 12 months prior to completing the FAFSA is required to provide their information. Previously the parent who reported their information on the FAFSA was the parent the student lived with. There will be a wizard within the 2024-2025 FAFSA that will help determine what parent should be reporting their information.
• The net worth of a business is no longer limited to those with more than 100 full-time employees. Applicants will be asked to report the net worth of all businesses, regardless of the size of the business.

• Parents and students: Please make sure to have your FSA ID created/updated and ready. Make note of the username and password created and keep them in a safe place. You can set up your FSA ID here. 
• Students: Please inform your contributors to expect an email from studentaid.gov requesting information. Students should help their contributors create a free email account if needed.
• Parents and students: Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to get an early estimation of SAI and potential Federal aid available. 
• Reach out to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships with any questions! We can be reached at 765-641-4180 or finaid@anderson.edu.

Do I need to reapply for financial aid every year? 

• While many AU scholarships are automatically awarded based on Merit, program of study, or community involvement, if you are interested in applying for federal, state, or need-based university funds, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filed each year. Typically, the FAFSA is made available by the Department of Education each year in October, prior to the year for which you are applying for aid (for 2024-25, the FAFSA will open by December 31, 2023). Students who wish to be considered for Indiana state financial aid should submit their FAFSA by April 15th each year.

How many credits do I need to take in order to receive my financial aid?

• Your financial aid offer is based on full time enrollment. At Anderson University, that means 12-18 credit hours per semester. A drop below full time enrollment will have an impact on your financial aid offer. Be sure to check with your Financial Aid Counselor if you are planning to drop a course.

My financial aid offer is not enough to cover my expenses. What are my options?

• Many families choose to pay the remaining balance on their student’s account with a Parent PLUS Loan. A PLUS Loan is a federal loan that is unsubsidized (interest begins to build up once a student receives the funds). PLUS loan applications are available at StudentAid.gov, and the parent needs an FSA ID (FAFSA login credentials) to log on. 
• Once a parent applies and is approved (it’s either yes or no, there is no set amount you are approved for) the only other thing needed is for the approved parent to complete a Master Promissory Note, also on StudentAid.gov. The current interest for PLUS loans is 7.54% and the federal origination fee is 4.228%. 
• Should the parent not be approved for the PLUS loan, the student would then be eligible for another $4,000 in an unsubsidized loan. PLUS loan payments can be deferred as long as the student maintains at least part-time enrolled in school (or 6 hours). A student must apply for deferment each year.  
• Some families prefer to utilize a Private Student Loan. Generally, private student loans are in the student’s name and they need a cosigner. The government prohibits universities from recommending one private loan lender over another, but FastChoice is an online private loan selection tool that provides a brief exercise in borrowing and presents several lenders to determine which would be best for your family. Many families check with their local banks and credit unions for private loan options as well.
• Anderson University offers payment plans through Nelnet Business Solutions. For more information, you can contact our Business Office at studentaccounts@anderson.edu or at 765-641-4001.
• We recommend that students continue to search and apply for outside scholarships. Local community foundations, parents’ and grandparents’ employer(s), and reputable outside scholarship sites often have scholarships available based on students’ hobbies, interests, majors, and future plans.

How do I remain eligible for financial aid?

• Students will need to make satisfactory academic progress (SAP)  in order to continue receiving institutional, state and federal student aid. In other words, you have to meet a certain cumulative grade point average, and complete enough classes (credits, hours, etc.) to keep moving toward successfully completing your degree or certificate in a time period that’s acceptable to your school. For more information on Anderson University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, click here: Undergraduate SAP Policy or Graduate SAP Policy

What if I need to correct my FAFSA information?

• All information received from the documentation you submit at the time of your application is verified by our offices. Because of this, we will make corrections on your behalf, and you should not need to make changes to your FAFSA application unless you are asked to do so by our office. If you believe the documentation you’ve submitted to us contains an error, reach out to your Financial Aid Counselor for assistance.

Do I have to accept the loans on my financial aid offer?

• No. Loans only need to be accepted if you wish to borrow funds in order to cover your balance after scholarships and grants are applied. The loans offered to you in your financial aid offer reflect the amount of loan eligibility you have for the academic year. You can choose to accept the loans in full, reduce the amount of the loans you wish to accept, or decline your loan eligibility altogether. Accepted loans will need to be repaid after you graduate. 

My financial aid offer is for living on campus. If I commute, will that change my package?

• Yes, commuting could make a difference in the financial aid for which you are eligible. Some AU scholarships require that a student live on campus, while others do not. Your financial aid counselor can provide a comparison of what your package would look like both on and off campus, so that you can make an informed decision. Contact us for more information. 
• Please Note: Not every student meets AU’s requirements to be a commuter. Click here for more information on the AU Commuting Guidelines

I thought I submitted my FAFSA, but no federal or Indiana state aid is reflected in my financial aid offer. What happened?

• There could be several reasons why you do not see federal or state aid on your financial aid offer. First, About 30% of FAFSAs that are filed daily are selected by the Department of Education for something called “verification.” This means Anderson University is required to verify that information reported on the FAFSA is accurate. Being selected for verification means you may be asked to provide documentation or complete one of the verification worksheets that are specific to the answers you provided on the FAFSA. We won’t be able to create a complete financial aid package for you until you submit the required information and complete the verification process. 
• Second, Your FAFSA could be rejected, meaning it is missing a student or parent electronic signature, using the FSA ID. Finally, we may not have received your FAFSA. If our school code (001785) is not listed, we won’t have access to your application. You may log back in, confirm we are listed in the School Selection section and resubmit your FAFSA if updates were made, like adding AU to the application. Please allow 3-5 business days for processing after this is done.
• If you see federal aid, but no state aid, you may not have submitted your FAFSA by the Indiana state financial aid deadline of April 15th. Please check the date of your FAFSA submission to confirm.

My family’s circumstances have changed and I have concerns about our ability to contribute to my educational expenses. What should we do? 

• Financial aid eligibility for the academic year is calculated based on the information you provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The income and asset information that you submitted was evaluated by a formula called Federal Methodology, as set by Congress. This formula assumes that the income information provided on the FAFSA is a good predictor of the family’s financial strength during the student’s upcoming enrollment. Based on this assumption, financial aid eligibility is determined using the prior-prior year tax return information.
• Anderson University recognizes that many families have changes in income or family situations that cannot be reflected in the tax return data provided on the FAFSA. Therefore, it is possible for students to appeal their financial aid eligibility if they have unique financial circumstances. A special circumstances review may be requested if you have extenuating circumstances which you believe warrant a reevaluation of your financial aid. Contact our office at finaid@anderson.edu to request a Special Circumstances review.

What is Federal Work Study? Why doesn’t it show up on my Cost Estimate?

• Federal Work Study (FWS) provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for their educational expenses. FWS emphasizes employment in civic education and work that is related to a student’s area of study whenever possible. Students who have Federal Work Study eligibility may work up to 15 hours per week in eligible Federal Work Study positions. 
• Students will not see their Federal Work Study eligibility reflected in their Cost Estimate sheet, as the amount of their eligibility is the amount up to which they can earn in their employment. Students receive a paycheck by direct deposit for hours worked and students can determine how to use that money to fund their education. AU encourages students and their families to think about their Federal Work Study eligibility and how they might use those funds strategically. 
• Click here for a list of open Federal Work Study positions at Anderson University, 

I have Veteran Education Benefits that are not listed on my financial aid offer. Who do I speak to about using those benefits?

• The first step is to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine what you are eligible for at www.gibill.va.gov. Some veterans qualify under more than one program. You are encouraged to review the VA Web site to determine the best benefit package for you. You may also view our VA Benefit website for more information: https://anderson.edu/admissions/financial-aid/veterans/
• AU’s VA Certifying Official is Autumn Pickering who can be reached via email here: arpickering@anderson.edu or by phone: 765-641-4105. For VA questions not related to financial aid, you may contact: veterans@anderson.edu
• In addition, we advise service members to speak with their education services officer or a counselor within their military service branch prior to enrolling at the university.

I received an outside scholarship. Should I let AU know?

• Yes. If you send us a copy of your outside scholarship award notification, we may be able to tentatively add it to your financial aid package so that it is reflected in your anticipated aid on your first bill. Doing this will let our Business Office know that funds are on the way. Upload outside scholarship information to us here: https://admissions.anderson.edu/register/outsidescholarships

Who do I contact if I have additional questions?

• The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is available to answer any questions you have about your financial aid while you are a student at AU. Offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm. We welcome phone, virtual, or in person appointments and walk-ins. We can be reached at finaid@anderson.edu or at 765-641-4180.

Indiana Residents: The FAFSA must be filed each year by April 15 to be considered for financial aid from the State of Indiana. 

Admission: The FAFSA application can be submitted to Anderson University before applying for admission. However, you must be admitted to a degree-seeking program that leads to an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree before eligibility will be reviewed and a financial aid package notification will be sent.

College Goal Sunday: College Goal Sunday occurs each February at locations across the state of Indiana. At this event, students and families can receive one-on-one FAFSA assistance from financial aid experts. Please visit the College Goal Sunday website for more information, dates, and locations.

Important Links: 

• FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa (Anderson University’s Federal School Code is 001785).
• Federal Student Aid Estimator: https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/
• FSA ID: FSA ID: Use this link to create a new FSA ID or look up login information: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
• Student Employment at AU: https://anderson.edu/hr/student-employment/