How is financial aid eligibility determined?
The U.S. Department of Education calculates your Student Aid Index (SAI) from the information you report on the FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid). The SAI is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college, but it is the number used by colleges and universities to determine the amount of and types of federal aid you may be eligible to receive.
Your SAI is calculated using the information you provide on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Most of the tax information used to calculate the SAI is transferred directly from the IRS into the FAFSA form if you provide your consent and approval.
You and your family are expected to make a maximum effort to finance college expenses. Financial assistance is meant to supplement that effort.
What if my income has significantly changed since the tax year used on the FAFSA?
If you feel your SAI number is not a true reflection of your ability to contribute to the cost of your education because of special circumstances, contact your Financial Aid Advisor. We may be able to adjust the data that determines your SAI or adjust your Cost of Attendance (COA) budget to better reflect your true need or ability to pay for college. Additional paperwork, time, and documents are required for these processes.
STUDENT AID POLICY INFORMATION
Students must submit forms and/or required documentation online through their Self-Service account. To get started, log into your account and navigate to "required documents."