1. Welcome to Financial Aid Information Night
Presented by
Appalachian State University
Office of Student Financial Aid

2. Completing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
In order to receive Federal and State Financial Aid, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov.
Before you start the FAFSA, the student and at least one parent should first create a FSA ID at fsaid.gov.
Be sure to include the school codes for each institution that you want to receive your FAFSA (for example, Appalachian’s school code is ). The FAFSA contains a school code search function.
You SHOULD NOT have to pay to complete the FAFSA.
Office of Student Financial Aid

3. Office of Student Financial Aid
Creating your FSA ID
Create a user name, password and enter your address.
Enter your name, date of birth, Social Security number, contact information, challenge questions and answers.
Review your information and read and accept the terms and conditions.
Confirm your address using the secure code, which will be sent to the address you entered.
For help, visit StudentAid.gov/fsaid.
Office of Student Financial Aid

4. Office of Student Financial Aid
Completing a FAFSA
The FAFSA is now available at
Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.
You will use 2015 tax information to complete the FAFSA.
You should use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to pull your 2015 tax information into the FAFSA from the IRS.
Office of Student Financial Aid

5. Office of Student Financial Aid
Completing a FAFSA
When you provide an address on the FAFSA, you will receive an electronic Student Aid Report (e-SAR) via .
To check the processing status of your FAFSA:
Go to or
Call
Office of Student Financial Aid

6. Verification of the FAFSA
One in three FAFSAs are selected by the U.S. Department of Education for a process called verification.
If your FAFSA is selected for verification:
Each institution will send notification to the student with a request for specific documentation needed to verify the FAFSA data.
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool makes the process easier - no further documentation of tax information is required.
If you cannot use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you may request a copy of your tax return transcript at to verify tax data.
Office of Student Financial Aid

7. Calculating your Financial Need
The SAR includes your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Your EFC is the amount you and your family are expected to contribute towards your educational expenses.
Your EFC is used to determine your Financial Need.
The SAR also outlines your eligibility for Federal Loans and Grants. Loans are considered financial aid and most students are offered student and/or parent loans.
Office of Student Financial Aid

8. Calculating your Financial Need
Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution = Financial Need
Office of Student Financial Aid

9. Office of Student Financial Aid
Cost of Attendance
In order to award financial aid, the Financial Aid Office develops a Cost of Attendance (COA), also called a student budget.
It is an estimate of what the student may spend to attend school for an academic period.
The COA includes Tuition and Fees (based on expected charges), Room and Board (based on expected charges), Books (estimate), Personal & Miscellaneous Expenses (estimate) & Transportation (estimate).
Typically, an institution will only bill you for tuition, fees, room & board.
Students are awarded financial aid based on the Cost of Attendance as determined by an institution.
Office of Student Financial Aid

10. Cost of Attendance Example
Cost of Attendance for an Undergraduate Student Living On-Campus at Appalachian State University
Component
In-State
Out-of-State
Tuition & Fees (includes book rental)
$7,416
$21,932
Room & Board
$8,119
Books and Supplies
$700
Transportation
$1,400
$1,500
Personal and Misc.
Loan Fees
$86
Totals
$19,221
$33,837
Office of Student Financial Aid

11. Office of Student Financial Aid
Award Information
Once your FAFSA is processed, your eligibility for Federal and State Grants and Scholarships and Federal Direct Loans will be determined.
Notification will be sent to the student when awards are available. This notification may be sent by to the student’s college address.
Office of Student Financial Aid

12. Sources of Aid: Need-Based
Eligibility for need-based aid is determined by: EFC and Financial Need.
Aid types include:
Federal Programs:
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loan
Federal Perkins Loan
State Programs:
UNC Need-Based Grant
NC Need-Based Grant
NC Educational Lottery Scholarship
Office of Student Financial Aid

13. Sources of Aid: Loans and Self-Help
Federal Direct Loan – Subsidized and Unsubsidized
Federal Direct PLUS Loan – Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students
Federal Perkins Loan
Private Loan
Employment (self-help):
Federal Work-Study
Student Temporary Employment
Office of Student Financial Aid

14. Office of Student Financial Aid
Scholarship Sources
Federal
State
Institutional
Check with each college regarding scholarship applications and deadlines.
Private Donors
Popular scholarship databases include:
● ●
Office of Student Financial Aid

15. Important Tips Students must apply for Financial Aid every year!
The FAFSA is available each year on October 1.
If you are a NC resident, we recommend completing your FAFSA as early as possible after October 1 to have priority consideration for state grants.
Office of Student Financial Aid

16. Office of Student Financial Aid
Questions?
CONTACT INFORMATION
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00 pm financialaid.appstate.edu
(fax)
Office of Student Financial Aid