• You must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident (eligible non-citizen) and have documented proof of your status.  
• You must be admitted and matriculating in a Graduate Degree program. 
• You must be in attendance on a half-time basis in each enrollment period.  Typically, two or more courses that equals six or more credits per semester.
• You must not be in default on a prior federal student loan and not owe a refund on a federal student grant.
• You must be maintaining satisfactory academic progress as defined by the Sacred Heart University Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and be maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. 

Five Steps to a Complete Financial Assistance Application Process
Applying for financial assistance can be intimidating.  It is vital that students understand and take ownership of the financial assistance application process.  Do not hesitate to seek help and advice from publications, from credible internet websites, and especially from the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

1. Know which Financial Assistance Applications you are required to file.
   
   The first step in the aid application process is to become familiar with the application(s) you will be required to complete.  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA is required by all colleges and universities.  The FAFSA must be filed to be considered for federal and most state sources of financial aid.  In addition, colleges and universities often require a supplemental application.  At Sacred Heart University, we require the Graduate Confidential Information Form to help award institutional funds.  The information provided will also be used to verify the accuracy of the data submitted on your FAFSA and to process student loans and other forms of financial assistance.
   
   Forms required for application processing:
   - 2007-2008 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
   Submit this form to Federal Student Aid Programs.  Sacred Heart University's Title IV Code is 001403. 
   This form can be completed on the internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov
   - Sacred Heart University, 2007-2008 Graduate Confidential Information Form.
   Submit this form to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
   
   
2. Meet the filing deadlines.
   
   Do not wait to apply for financial assistance until you receive your admission decision from the University.  It is true that we will not offer you aid until you have been accepted and matriculated; however, adhering to filing deadlines will assure you that you will be considered for all types of aid for which you are eligible once you are informed of your acceptance and ready to register for classes.
   
   *Important:  The FAFSA and the Confidential Information Form should be completed at least six weeks prior to the beginning of your first enrollment period.
   
   
3. What happens after the FAFSA form and the SHU Graduate Confidential Information Form is submitted?
   
   Sacred Heart University receives an Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) and you receive a Student Aid Report (SAR).  Typically, SHU can access your ISIR within two weeks after you complete the FAFSA online and will contact you soon after.
   
   Occasionally additional documentation is needed to clarify conflicting information or if you are randomly selected by the federal government for verification.  The most common reasons you may be asked for additional information:
   
   - Proof of citizenship
   - Proof of selective service registration
   - Social security number mismatch
   - Prior default student loan status
   
   You may also be asked to verify income listed.  At that time, SHU will ask you for copies of your (and/or your spouse's) federal income tax return and W-2 forms to verify financial aid eligibility.  A federal verification form, if required, will be forwarded to you with your award letter.  All documents must be signed.
   
   Financial assistance will not be disbursed, or if a federal loan is part of the award, will not be processed with the lender until all conflicting information is resolved.  
   
   If your file is selected for verification, you must submit the following:
   - 2006 Federal income tax returns with all schedules and W-2's (Student / Spouse's)
   They MUST be signed.
   - Federal Independent Verification form (indicated on award letter if required)
   -  Documentation verifying eligible non-citizenship status 
   -  Other documents required by federal regulations
   
   
4. Financial Assistance Award Letter
   After the completion of your documentation, the award letter will be mailed to you with a package of information letting you know the next steps to take in claiming your award.  You may also access your award letter at the SHUawards website.  The award letter includes the types and amounts of financial aid for which you are eligible.  The terms and conditions of each award are included.  Additional documentation to complete various programs will be listed.  The deadline for response is two weeks from the date of receipt of the award letter.  Adjustments to the financial aid award, including loan amounts, may be requested by returning the award letter with your written comments.  Your student account will be pre-credited with your award upon completion of this process and in turn facilitate registration requirements.
   
   
5. What if a Federal Stafford Loan is part of my award?
   
   There are 3 steps to applying for the Federal Stafford Loan.  If you are applying for a Federal Stafford Loan for the first time at Sacred Heart University, you will need to complete all three steps which will take approximately 25-30 minutes.  Additional information can be found by going to the following link http://www.sacredheart.edu/pages/12798_stafford_loan_programs.cfm 
   
   If you took part in Undergraduate studies at Sacred Heart University and have borrowed from a lender during that time, you ONLY have to complete Step 3.
   
   Before you begin, you will need your *FAFSA PIN* which is issued by the U.S. Department of Education and the name, address and phone number of two adult references (living in the United States) with different addresses. 
   *If you have forgotten your FAFSA PIN, visit www.pin.ed.gov.
   
   STEP 1: Electronically sign your Federal Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN).
   You will need to review the benefits listed on the website that each lender offers a make a selection, then click on the lender.  This can be found at http://www.sacredheart.edu/pages/12798_stafford_loan_programs.cfm.
   
   STEP 2: Complete your Federal Stafford Loan Entrance Interview online.
   This interview is a federal requirement and will inform you of your rights and responsibilities as a borrower under the Federal Stafford Loan program.  Go to www.mapping-your-future.org and follow the instructions for Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling.
   
   STEP 3: Complete your 2007-2008 SHU Federal Stafford Loan Certification.
   To finalize the loan process, you must complete and return the 2007-2008 SHU Federal Stafford Loan Certification to the Office of Student Financial Assistance. 

Conditions Governing Disbursement of Financial Aid
No financial aid will be credited to your account until all required documents are received and determined to be correct.  Students who have not submitted the necessary information on time will be responsible for paying any balance due in full.

For additional information regarding billing and payment plans refer to Student Accounts at (203) 371-7925.

Federal Stafford Loan proceeds are applied to your account as an estimate once all the application requirements have been met.  The actual disbursement of loan proceeds will be received electronically and applied directly to your SHU student account.  Disbursement dates are set according to your pending enrollment status.  The Office of Student Financial Assistance will verify enrollment status and other eligibility criteria prior to releasing any funds to you or your student account.  If your actual enrollment is different from your estimate on the Graduate Confidential Information Form, we will recalculate your eligibility and adjust your award as appropriate.  For this reason, you must notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance immediately of your enrollment status change.

If the disbursement of your financial assistance award creates a credit balance on your student account, a refund check will be mailed to the address on file in the Student Account's Office.  If you previously signed a "managing of account balance" form the credit will remain on your account to be used toward future changes.