FAQ

1. How do I apply for federal financial aid?

You must first obtain a pin at http://www.pin.ed.gov for both the student and parent. Then you can apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Paper copies of the FAFSA are also located in our office.

2. Why isn't my financial aid on my bill?

This is a complex problem, and may require a call (302) 831-8761 or E-Mail. However, before you call, be sure to check that you have filed the FAFSA. If so, be sure the information on the FAFSA is correct (if there is a problem your student aid report (SAR) will have a special note on it). Also, be sure that our school code, 001431, is listed on your FAFSA. Our office does routine packaging through the summer, however, if you file a FAFSA after the date of your bill you will need to notify our office so that we may package you with financial aid.

3. Do I have to send my Federal tax forms or W-2's in to the school?

We only accept Federal tax forms and W2s when we request them, otherwise, you do not need to send them.

4. How often do I apply for federal financial aid?

The FAFSA is valid for one year (July 1 - June 30), so it is necessary to reapply each year.

5. When is the best time to file my FAFSA?

The University of Delaware awards federal financial aid on a first-come, first-complete basis, so it is best to apply as soon after January 1st (for the upcoming academic year) as possible.

6. How will I know when my FAFSA is processed?

Once your FAFSA is processed, you will receive either a Student Aid Report (SAR) or SAR Information Acknowledgement from the Central Processing System (CPS). If the University of Delaware (school code 001431) is a school listed on your FAFSA, we will receive your FAFSA information electronically, provided you have been accepted for admission with the University. If you need to add our school code after you file the FAFSA you can either make the correction online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or by calling 1-800-4 FED AID, you will need the DRN number printed on the top right hand corner of the SAR for inquires over the phone. Please pay special attention to any documentation the University of Delaware or Federal Government sends you in reference to your financial aid.

7. What if I need to make corrections to the information provided on my original FAFSA?

Please contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and we will work with you to correct the information.

8. What if my family's financial circumstances have changed since I filed the FAFSA?

Please refer to the Appeals section of our website for more information and the paperwork that needs to be completed.

9. Am I required to report my parents' information on the FAFSA?

If you will be 24 years of age by December 31st of the award year, will be working on master's or doctoral program, are married, have children who receive more than half of their support from you, have dependents (other than a child or spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you, are an orphan or ward of the court, or are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, you are considered independent and do not need to provide parental information on the FAFSA. All other students are considered dependent and parental information is necessary.

10. Should I include my stepparent's income on the FAFSA?

If the parent for which you are reporting income on the FAFSA is remarried, it is necessary to report stepparent income as well. The Congressional Methodology that calculates the Expected Family Contribution looks at the "family unit" the student lives with.

11. If I will be getting married, can I file the FAFSA now as a single, dependent student, and then re-file later as a married student?

No. It is not possible to update marital status on the FAFSA from single to married. You will want to decide whether it's in your best interest to complete the FAFSA now as a dependent student or to wait and complete the FAFSA after you're married.

12. I am an incoming freshman. How do I apply for scholarships?

Freshmen who submit a completed Admissions application by December 1st of their Senior year in High School will automa

13. I am a returning student. How do I apply for scholarships?

For scholarship consideration the student must have completed one academic year at the University of Delaware and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or above. Awards are based on availability of funding, student's year in college (seniors have first priority), GPA, and financial need. There is no application process. The office awards scholarships on a continuing basis as funding becomes available.

14. I have received a scholarship from a donor outside of the University. How are these funds handled?

Send a copy of the donor letter to:

University of Delaware
Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
Newark, DE 19716.

Make sure the letter includes the student's name, Student ID number or SSN, amount of the award, term of award (i.e., fall, spring or full year) and whether the award is renewable. The scholarship check should be made payable to the University of Delaware, include the student's name and ID number in the memo section and mailed to the above address.

15. I'm expecting to receive outside scholarships. How will these affect my financial aid award from UD?

Outside scholarships may reduce or eliminate the need based portion of the financial aid award package. If the value of the outside scholarship exceeds the need based portion of UD's award, your need based aid is then reduced. Under federal guidelines we cannot exceed the cost of attendance for a year.

16. I expect my financial aid to exceed my UD charges. When and how will the excess funds be released to me?

Students may request any expected overpayment in their financial aid proceeds once their aid has been disbursed to their student account. Generally, refunds will be made available around the free/drop add period of each semester. Refunds can be processed either through Direct Deposit (quickest method) or by check. You can make the refund request through UDSIS. Any other questions regarding your refund please visit Billing and Collections website.

17. I have received my Financial Aid Notification (award letter). What if the financial aid offered will not meet my expenses?

You may want to consider either a Federal Direct PLUS loan or an alternative loan. Federal Direct PLUS loans are available to parents of dependent students. Alternative loans are not federal financial aid programs, but are designed to assist with educational expenses. Eligibility for either a Federal Direct PLUS loan or an alternative loan is limited to the cost of attendance (tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and personal expenses) minus any other financial aid educational resources already awarded.

18. What happens if I drop a class after the semester begins?

If you drop a class after the free/drop add period ends your financial aid package will be reviewed at the current enrollment level. This review may result in a change in your financial and scholarship eligibility. Please be aware that by dropping to less than full-time you will be jeopardizing your scholarship renewal and could possibly jeopardize your standing in relation to our Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. The Financial Aid Office is required by federal statute to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term. The federal Title IV financial aid programs must be recalculated in these situations.

19. What happens if I withdraw from all of my classes after the semester begins?

If you withdraw completely from any semester, our office must calculate whether any of the federal financial aid you received prior to withdrawal must now be repaid. It is possible that this calculation will result in a decrease in aid already disbursed, thus causing an amount to be owed back to the University. In addition, once you drop to less than half-time status, your Federal loans enter their grace period before repayment. Withdrawing from all classes will jeopardize scholarship renewal and could possibly jeopardize your standing in relation to our Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.

If a student leaves the institution prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term, the financial aid office recalculates eligibility for Title IV funds. Recalculation is based on the percentage of earned aid using the following Federal Return of Title IV funds formula:

Percentage of payment period or term completed = the number of calendar days completed up to the withdrawal date divided by the total calendar days in the payment period or term. (Any break of five days or more is not counted as part of the days in the term.) This percentage is also the percentage of earned aid.

Funds are returned to the appropriate federal program based on the percentage of unearned aid using the following formula: Aid to be returned = (100% of the aid that could be disbursed minus the percentage of earned aid) multiplied by the total amount of aid that could have been disbursed during the payment period or term.

If a student earned less aid than was disbursed, the institution would be required to return a portion of the funds and the student may be required to return a portion of the funds. Keep in mind that when Title IV funds are returned, the student borrower may owe a debit balance to the institution.

If a student earned more aid than was disbursed to him/her, the institution would owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement which must be paid within 120 days of the student's withdrawal.

The institution must return the amount of Title IV funds for which it is responsible no later than 45 days after the date of the determination of the date of the student's withdrawal.

Returns are allocated in the following order:

  • Unsubsidized FFEL/Direct Stafford Loans
  • Subsidized FFEL/Direct Stafford Loans
  • Federal Perkins Loans
  • Federal Parent (PLUS) Loans
  • FFEL/Direct PLUS Graduate Student Loans
  • Federal Pell Grants
  • Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
  • National Smart Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grants
  • Other assistance under this Title for which a Return of funds is required (e.g., LEAP)

20. What is the website to complete a Master Promissory Note for a Direct Student Loan?

http://dlenote.ed.gov Remember, that the student, not the parent, needs to complete the Promissory note.

21. What is the website to complete entrance or exit counseling for a Direct Student Loan?

https://www.dl.ed.gov/borrower/BorrowerWelcomePage.jsp This website is also a very useful tool for finding out information about your student loan.

22. What if I decide to live off-campus, rather than in a dorm?

If you decide to move "off-campus" and not live in University housing, your financial aid will not be affected. However, if you are moving back home, you will be considered a "commuter" student, and your aid may be affected. You may use any excess funds at the end of the semester to pay for off-campus housing. See FAQ question 15 for accessing those funds. Please remember that funds are not disbursed to your student account until the first day of classes or after. If you have rent due earlier than the first day of class be sure to make proper arrangements (excluding financial aid).

Announcements

Winter Session 2010

Scholarship and Grant Funding is limited to outside sources; however, you may have remaining Federal Direct Loan eligibility.

If you're a dependent undergraduate student (excluding students whose parents cannot borrow PLUS Loans), each year you can borrow up to:

  • $5,500 if you're a first-year student enrolled. No more than $3,500 of this amount can be subsidized loans.

  • $6,500 if you're a second-year student enrolled. No more than $4,500 of this amount can be subsidized loans.

  • $7,500 if you're a third or fourth-year student enrolled. No more than $5,500 of this amount can be subsidized loans.

You can check your loan eligibility at: http://www.udel.edu/checkfinaid