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Application Process details

All graduate and undergraduate students (regardless of Pell Grant eligibility) must complete the application process to receive federal or state aid. Students may complete the FAFSA, or Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship and Grant Application (formerly known as a HOPE Alternate Application). The Federal Processor will electronically submit your application information to the Office of Financial Aid. This information will be used to determine your eligibility for aid which may include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant, LEAP, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Parent (PLUS) Loan, HOPE Scholarship, etc.  Applications for each upcoming academic year are available in January. For priority processing all required documents must be on file in the OFA by May 1st each year. Applications not on file by that date will be processed as time and funds permit. The OFA will begin processing completed applications for each academic year as soon as Federal Regulations are issued and the Board of Regents has established the fees for each academic year. We expect to begin making awards in mid-May for the Fall semester. Processing aid applications can take several weeks or longer during our peak processing time. You will not receive an award until you have been accepted by the Office of Admission at VSU.  If you have not completed the application process by the dates given you should be prepared to pay all educational costs. You should not expect to have student financial aid available if you have not completed your financial aid file AND/OR have not returned a Promissory Note to VSU by the published deadline dates.

THREE WAYS TO FILE A FAFSA

  1. If you have access to the Internet and a web browser that meets the minimum requirements, you can submit your FAFSA on-line yourself. Use the online form to submit your application: FAFSA ONLINE
  2. You may also submit your completed FAFSA and attached Worksheet to the Valdosta State University Office of Financial Aid, in the enclosed envelope, for electronic submission. You should include signed copies of all Federal Income Tax Returns, W2’s and 1099’s that were used in completing your FAFSA.  When completing your FAFSA always use a complete Federal Income Tax Return. You should never use estimated information, since it is subject to verification and will delay the awarding of your financial aid. To prevent delays, students and parents should complete their federal income tax returns as early as possible.
  3. You may also submit your completed FAFSA directly to the processing center. This is not recommended as it requires four to six week for these to be processed and the resulting SAR provided to VSU.

IMPORTANT TERMS FOR FINANCIAL AID

  • STUDENT AID REPORT (SAR): Once your FAFSA has been processed you will receive a STUDENT AID REPORT (SAR). Review the information on the SAR for accuracy. If all information is correct keep all pages of your SAR for your records. If you determine that the information on the SAR is incorrect, make corrections according to the instructions on Part 2-Information Review Form and send it to the OFA for electronic correction. DO NOT SUBMIT CORRECTIONS TO THE PROCESSING CENTER.
  • VERIFICATION: If your application is selected for verification you will be notified by the OFA what documentation will be required. The verification process MUST be complete before you will be considered for any aid. To receive a Federal Pell Grant all verification requirements must be completed within 60 days after your last day of enrollment, or by August 30th which ever is earlier. For a Federal Loan to be processed verification must be completed prior to the last day of the enrollment for the loan period. For all other programs of federal aid verification must be completed thirty days prior to the end of the enrollment period. The OFA will contact you if additional information or applications are needed to process your request for student financial aid. You should respond promptly to these requests in order to prevent delays in processing your application for aid. You may be asked to submit the following to the OFA: a signed copy of your 2004 Federal Income Tax Return, a signed copy of your parents’ or spouse’s Federal Income Tax Return and W-2’s if applicable, verification of other family members’ enrollment at an institution of higher learning or other Verification Work Sheets. Keep copies of all Federal Income Tax Returns and W-2’s.
  • AWARD LETTER: Once the OFA has received all required documents and after federal regulations governing the academic year are issued, you will receive an Award Letter and an Award Letter Information Sheet notifying you of your eligibility for aid. Be sure to review all Award Letter messages and the Information Sheet. You do not have to return the Award Letter to the OFA.
  • LOAN REQUEST FORM & MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE: If you are eligible for a Federal Loan or if your parents are eligible for a Federal Parents (PLUS) Loan you will receive a LOAN REQUEST FORM which must be completed and returned. After we have verified your loan eligibility with the lender you will receive a MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE if you are a new borrower. New student borrowers must also complete loan counseling. Loan counseling sessions are held from 8:00AM–5:00PM, Monday through Thursday; 8:00AM–2:30PM, Friday. Loan counseling may also be done during new student orientation or may be completed on the web at http://www.dlssonline.com

You have completed the application process once you have received an award letter from the OFA, and if applicable, your Federal Direct Loan Promissory Note has been correctly completed and received by the lender. Students who meet the general eligibility requirements will have their eligibility for aid determined once the OFA has received valid SAR and if selected, all requested verification information.