HOW TO APPLY (2008-2009 ACADEMIC YEAR)

For information on who is eligible for federal aid, click here.

New students may wish to visit the Official U.S. Department of Education’s Roadmap to College site for more information and resources about planning, preparing and paying for a college education.

Step 1

Apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for the student and the custodial parent(s) (if dependent student) from the Department of Education.

Your custodial parent is defined as the parent you lived with most (if parents are divorced) during the past twelve (12) months. The PIN will then be used by you and a custodial parent to electronically sign (E-sign) your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please keep your PIN in a secure place as the PIN will be used throughout your educational career. Only one parent needs to obtain a PIN which then can be used to electronically sign documents for all dependent children.

Note: In addition to you obtaining a PIN, only one parent needs to obtain a PIN which can then be used to electronically sign documents for all dependent students in the family.

Step 2

Beginning January 1, annually complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to the March 1 deadline.  We suggest that returning students use the Pre-Fill section of the FAFSA which speeds completing the FAFSA.  The Pre-Fill uses information provided on your prior year's FAFSA. You only need to confirm and provide updated financial data.  To assure that the priority deadline of March 1 is met, the FAFSA allows you to provide estimated information.   If using estimated income, you must update your FAFSA data once your tax forms are complete.  TIP:  Families who use estimated information increase their chances of federal required Verification (see Step 5 below).  If at all possible, complete tax forms early.  

The FAFSA is the only application required by PSU (School Code 002591) and must be completed each year.  Print and save copies for your records. Once the data is submitted, the Department of Education will forward the information electronically to all schools you authorize to receive your data. PSU draws in FAFSA data weekly. We recommend that you file your FAFSA on the Web.  Tip: Use your PINs to electronically sign the FAFSA.

Note: More than ninety percent (90%) of our FAFSA filers complete the FAFSA via the Web.

Once your FAFSA has been submitted, you will receive an electronic Student Aid Report (SAR) that will provide you with a copy of your FAFSA data. Should revisions to your FAFSA be required, please make these changes directly online. If you provided estimated income, once your tax return has been completed, compare the data to the Student Aid Report and make any necessary corrections online. The FAFSA ensures fair and equal determination of family resources for each applicant by using Federal Methodology in computing an expected family contribution (EFC). The Department of Education Central Processing System (CPS) provides the needs analysis calculation to PSU where trained personnel review/verify the information to determine student aid eligibility. The Financial Aid Team assumes that a student and family will contribute toward the cost of education according to their means. Eligibility for financial aid is determined based upon:

Student Earnings: Each student should work and save for educational expenses.

Student Savings and Other Resources: A portion of the student assets are expected to help offset educational expenses.

Parent Resources: A reasonable contribution toward expenses is expected each year from the income and assets of parents. This expected contribution is based on annual income, number of dependents, number of children in college, and family assets and liabilities.

Step 3

PSU's Priority filing deadline for the FAFSA is March 1 for the following school year.

All applicants should adhere to the March 1 deadline or they may be considered LATE and will only receive financial aid pending availability of funds. Normally only Federal Pell Grants, Federal Academic Competitiveness Grants, Federal SMART Grants, Federal Stafford Loans, and State Scholarships/Grants are available for late applicants.

Note: If actual tax information is not available by the March 1 FAFSA priority deadline, use estimated information. Once taxes are completed, actual income information must then be updated.

Only students admitted to a degree-seeking program (i.e. Bachelor's degree) will receive a financial aid award.

PSU's award notification process starts in March for NEW incoming students and mid-spring for RETURNING students. Once all requirements requested by the Financial Aid Team (posted on myPlymouth) have been satisfied, your application will be considered complete. PSU is committed to a paperless process as our contribution to "Go Green".  Our applications are reviewed and awarded on a weekly basis.

Step 4

The federal government or PSU may select your FAFSA application for a process called Verification.

If selected for Verification, you will receive an email from the PSU Financial Aid Team indicating that you have unsatisfied requirements. [For prospective students, we will use the parent and student email addresses listed on the most current FAFSA. For undergraduate students, we will use the students PSU email address and parents FAFSA email address]. Emails will direct students to MyPlymouth for specific information or to access any necessary forms. Please do not forward tax information to our office unless requested. Only after the Verification process has been completed, will PSU be able to complete your financial aid award. Be sure you (and parent if dependent) sign and return all requested forms immediately to avoid delays. No paper requests for documentation will be mailed.

Note: Please allow adequate time for staff to review your documents and understand we may need to ask for additional documentation if clarification is needed.

Step 5 - "GO GREEN"

PSU will notify you electronically (our contribution to "GO GREEN") regarding your aid eligibility.  Your actual award will be  posted in MyPlymouth:  Emails will be sent notifying you that your financial aid award is available. For NEW incoming students, we will use the parent and student email addresses listed on the most current FAFSA. For RETURNING undergraduate students, we will use the students' PSU email addresses and the parents' FAFSA email addresses. Email will direct students to MyPlymouth for specific information.

Step 6

All financial aid awards will be considered accepted unless the student notifies the PSU Financial Aid Team of his or her wish to decline the entire award, or a portion of the award.

Step 7

Students are required to notify the PSU Financial Aid Team of all non-PSU scholarships received.

Please be advised that outside scholarships may or may not affect your current financial aid award. Normally, if an adjustment is necessary, self-help, need-based programs (loans and work study) are adjusted first.

Step 8

First-time PSU Stafford and/or Perkins Loan borrowers must complete an Entrance Loan Counseling session as required by the Department of Education.

Step 9

Once your financial aid award is complete, parents and students should begin their application process for  Federal Stafford,  Federal PLUS and/or Alternative Loans.  Loan amounts should be requested to cover expenses for the entire school year if possible, not on a per semester basis.   Visit the 2008-2009 Estimated Cost of Attendance to assist you in determining the amount of loan needed.

Step 10

If families have special financial circumstances which they were unable to report on the FAFSA, they may request that PSU review these circumstances.  The PSU Financial Aid Team will review and, if possible, adjust awards based on documented circumstances.

PSU will review all requests as long as appropriate documentation is received reflecting change(s) in either the student's or the family's financial situation. Changes may include: illness, loss of job, reemployment, additional aid or resources and changes in number of children in college.