Q: Why should I file the FAFSA as soon as possible?
A: Some financial aid sources are limited and are awarded until funds are depleted. The sooner you file the FAFSA, the better your chances of being considered for these types of financial aid funds.
Q: I have been selected for verification. What does that mean?
A: The U.S. Department of Education randomly chooses 30% of all FAFSA applications for verification. In the verification process, your school will be comparing information from your application with signed copies of your and/or your parent(s)' current Federal tax forms and W-2 forms or other financial documents. Federal regulations require that you complete the verification process before you can receive financial aid.
Q: I don't feel it is the school's right to request my U.S. tax forms. What happens if I don't submit them?
A: Income tax returns are held in the strictest confidence by financial aid officers. If you fail to comply with a request for U.S. tax forms, the school will discontinue processing your application for aid.
Q: My financial aid award is not the same as last year. What happened?
A: Since financial assistance is re-evaluated every year with the FAFSA, any changes in income, the number in the household or to other items reported on the FAFSA will come into consideration when a student is awarded. The availability of funds is also different from year to year. We highly recommend completing your FAFSA as early as possible to help secure your award.
Students with academic awards should also keep in mind that certain GPA criteria must be met in order to renew those awards. If these requirements are not met, student aid may be reduced by the amount of the academic award. Click here to review GPA requirements.
Any student receiving financial aid should be aware that according to TLU's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, students must complete with a GPA of 2.0 or higher, 75% of the classes for which they register in any semester. To review the entire policy, click here.
Q: I have two children going to the same college. Must I fill out the FAFSA twice?
A: Yes. While the parent information will be the same, the student information for each applicant will be different. The college must have a complete record for each student applicant.
Q: When will I get my money?
A: Financial aid is credited to your TLU account by the 12th class day. If you have a credit balance, you will receive a refund check within 14 days of the credit balance. The first refund check for a semester is usually ready by the third Friday after classes begin.
Q: Is there any special consideration if I have brothers and sisters continuing their education beyond high school?
A: Yes. The expected parental contribution is adjusted for families with more than one dependent child attending post secondary schools.
Q: How do I find out what my family contribution should be?
A: An estimated family contribution (EFC) is calculated when your FAFSA is processed. The EFC appears on the Student Aid Report (SAR) that is sent to you by the U.S. Department of Education. It is located in the upper right hand corner of the SAR. Be aware, however, that your family may be required to contribute more or less than this amount depending on the financial aid you are offered.
Q: I was turned down for financial aid last year. Should I reapply?
A: Yes. The financial circumstances of your family, as well as the cost of attending the institution, may have changed. This is especially true if there will be another dependent child in your family attending college at least half time.
Q: I lost my SAR. How can I get another one?
A: To request a duplicate SAR, call the Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243.
Q: When is a student considered independent for financial aid purposes?
A: Under the Federal definition, you are an independent student if you can answer "yes" to any of the following questions at the time the FAFSA is filed:
Q: Do my step-parent's income and assets have to be reported on the FAFSA?
A: Yes, if the step-parent is currently married to the parent whose information you are reporting on the FAFSA.
Q: My parents are separated/divorced. Which parent fills out the FAFSA?
A: The parent you lived with most during the last 12 months. If you didn't live with either parent, or if you lived with each parent an equal number of days, use the parent who provided the most support to you in the most recent calendar year that you were actually supported by a parent.
Q: My cash, savings and checking vary from day to day. What amount should I enter on the FAFSA?
A: Use the actual balance in your savings and checking accounts on the day you complete the FAFSA.
Q: My parent(s) lost their job and their income will be substantially different from the original amount reported on the FAFSA. What should we do?
A: Contact the financial aid office and ask for a Special Condition Form. This form asks you and your family to describe your circumstances and estimate your future income. The financial aid administrator can use professional judgment to determine if you could qualify for additional aid.
Q: If I drop one or more classes, how will my financial aid award be affected?
A: If you drop before or during the third week of class, a percentage of your financial aid may be returned, potentially causing you to owe money to the school. If you drop after the 3rd week, your financial aid will not be altered provided you complete at least six hours during the semester. If you drop below six hours, the grace period on your loans begins. Repayment on Stafford loans begins six months (nine months for Perkins loans) after a student drops below half-time status unless that student re-enrolls.
Q: What happens if I withdraw from all classes?
A: A calculation will be done to determine the portion of your aid that needs to be returned. The date of withdrawal is a consideration in this calculation.
Please be advised that dropping below half-time status and having a portion of your aid returned can result in a balance owed to the school by the student. Students should also be aware that failure to complete 75% of the classes they registered for can result in financial aid ineligibility in future semesters. Click here for more information on TLU's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
Q: I have not met the GPA requirement to renew my scholarship next semester. What can I do?
A: For most TLU academic awards, when a student's GPA falls below the requirement, he/she will be granted one probationary semester in which to try to raise their GPA to the level required for renewal. If this does not happen by the end of the probationary semester, the award will be removed from the student's financial aid package. A student can, however, appeal the decision to remove the award from his/her package. Anyone wishing to appeal an award removal can send a letter to the Director of Financial Aid. Students should draft a letter explaining why they feel their GPA has fallen below the requirement for renewal, and how they feel they could benefit from an extra probationary semester to help raise their GPA to meet the requirement. This letter should be presented to the Office of Financial Aid in a sealed envelope marked "AAA Committee." The committee will review any requests and notify the students of their decision.
Q: I received a scholarship from an outside entity. How do I report it to TLU?
A: You should have received a letter from the scholarship donor. You should send a copy of this letter to the Office of Financial Aid, along with the check once you receive it. Before sending the check, you should endorse the back.