HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR ADULT STUDENTS

Managing Your Debt
Before financing your education, you should first determine how much you need to borrow.  Only borrow what you need to pay for your direct educational expenses.  Careful budgeting and planning will help you avoid future financial difficulties.  Online tools, worksheets, and calculators, can help you determine what you can afford. 

Renewal of Financial Aid
Students must reapply for financial aid annually.  A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and University College Confidential Information Form must be completed each academic year.  You should apply for financial aid as early as January 1st for the upcoming academic year.  No financial aid is automatically renewable.  In order for a student to continue to receive financial aid, the student must maintain Satisfactory Progress.  The Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines are included in the Sacred Heart University catalog on-line.

Withdrawal
If you withdraw, drop out or are academically dismissed from Sacred Heart University, your financial aid will be returned to the appropriate agencies using regulatory formulas.  For more information please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Outside Scholarships - Beware of Scholarship Scams
While doing research on information about financial aid, students and their families may encounter questionable companies or websites that offer help and assistance.  Each year students fall victim to scams because they are so eager for help to finance educational costs.  Be cautious prior to becoming involved with these offers.  The lure of "free money" can entice even the most skeptical among us.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns students to watch for the warning flags that scholarship offers may be too good to be true.  Some warning signs include: Guaranteed Winnings, Application Fees, Requests for Personal Information, excessive hype and pressure tactics.

Don't fall victim to a scam; visit the Federal Trade Commission's web site at
www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams.