The Initial Financial Aid Offer

Our office uses the FAFSA results to determine eligibility for the various need based and non-need based financial aid programs. The total amount of financial aid that a student receives is referred to as the financial aid offer. The financial aid offer will reflect all federal, state and university offers of aid, including scholarships, grants, loans and student need-based employment. Since the initial offer is generally provided several months prior to the student’s enrollment, it is determined based on the following assumptions:

  • Student will be enrolled full-time (12 credits undergraduate/9 credits graduate)
    • If students are already enrolled for a semester and are receiving the Federal Pell Grant awards, these will be offered based on actual enrollment.
  • Loan amounts are based on the grade level (number of completed credits) and will be processed for the maximum amount the student is eligible to receive

If you will not be enrolled full-time, change your housing status or want to reduce/cancel your loans, please refer to the Adjustments to Initial Award Offer section below.

Students who filed the FAFSA in a timely manner could receive a financial aid offer with a merit or an academic department scholarship listed. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and other academic departments also send separate notices to their scholarship recipients.