St. Elizabeth High School: An Introduction to Financial Aid

The “Five Ws” of Financial Aid Who is responsible for paying for my child’s education? What is “financial aid”? Why should I apply for financial aid? When should I start planning? Where should I go for more help?

Who is responsible for paying for a child’s education?

 The child’s family is responsible  All families are required to invest something toward their child's education.  St. E policy: no award more than half of tuition  TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR PROCESS. Know deadlines— Remember: Just because you qualify doesn’t necessary mean you will receive aid.

What is Financial Aid?

Need-based School-financed Financial assistance granted by SEHS comes from the SEHS annual operating budget, not from SSS by NAIS or from the government. Financial aid in the form of a grant from a school is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. What is Financial Aid?

2010/2011 TUITION & FINANCIAL AID

When should I start planning for applying for financial aid for Academic Year ?

 PFS Applications must be submitted between Nov. 1 st and Dec. 15 th  Preliminary Awards will be made and sent with the acceptance letters by January 31, 2011 for incoming students. Returning students will receive notification by January 31, 2011, also. Missed deadlines = missed dollars. Do your tax returns early When should I start planning for ?

November 1st – December 15th PFS 2009 tax documents (sent to SSS directly) No later than March 15, tax documents (sent directly to SSS) Preliminary decisions will be made by January 31, 2011; if necessary awards will be adjusted based on 2010 tax information DO NOT wait until you have received an admission decision to begin the financial aid process. When should I submit my information?

How do I apply for financial aid?

Submit and pay for the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) financial aid application PFS Online: sss.nais.org/parents - $35 nonrefundable fee (Pay by credit card, direct debit/ach, PayPal) Paper PFS: Receive from the school, or download PFS at sss.nais.org/parents. Mail to SSS. - $47 nonrefundable fee (Pay by check or money order) Mail or upload all tax returns and W-2’s directly to SSS.

Why complete the PFS Online vs. in Paper Save money: You’ll save $12! Get a faster decision: Your information will be delivered immediately to schools, helping them make faster decisions. Ensure accuracy: Online tools and guidance will ensure that your information is complete. Save time when you reapply: If you applied last year, your household information will already be populated, ready for you to update. Do more! PFS Online includes other features you can use. View your family report, make an additional school request, and check whether SSS has processed documents you submitted.

How are financial aid awards calculated?

Income (money coming in) minus Expenses (money going out) Assets (what you own) minus Liabilities (what you owe) Family Members (everyone who lives in the house) SSS takes all items into consideration to determine your Discretionary Income. SSS will recommend to the school what portion of your discretionary income is available to pay for education. SEHS will verify the information & then calculate our ability to meet your remaining need. How is my financial aid award calculated?

Tuition/Total Cost of Attendance -Family Contribution (as calculated by SSS) Total Financial Need Financial Aid Offer from school Financial aid offer from school

Financial Need Calculation Example: School Can Meet Partial Need $9,375 Cost of Attendance -$5,000 Family Contribution (as calculated by SSS) If school meets 60% of need: $2,625 Financial Aid Award $4,375 Financial Need

What else do I need to know?

What else do I need to know? Deadlines MUST be met in order to be considered for aid On the PFS, fill in all “critical” fields. On the PFS, give estimates and use zeros when appropriate (do not leave items blank). Pay for Paper PFS form by check or money order Pay for PFS Online by credit card, direct debit or PayPal Keep copies of all forms and documents. Sign and date, if using the paper PFS. If using the paper PFS, mail at least 10 days before the school deadline to allow for mail time and processing time.

Where should I go for more help?

SSS Customer Service Center (800) or Assistance in English and Spanish. St. Elizabeth High School Business Office (302) ext. 3040

How do I complete the Parents’ Financial Statement online at sss.nais.org/parents?

Go to sss.nais.org/parents.

Check marks mean that section is complete.

Select St. Elizabeth #6418

Input assets and debts.

Something not captured on PFS? Tell your story.

After submitting your PFS, submit (by mail or upload) all required documents (tax returns & W-2’s) to SSS.

Need more information? PFS Application Helpline (800) Information on the SSS website, sss.nais.org/parents, to help you understand financial aid and complete your PFS.