UNO | Student Enrollment Services | Financial Aid
UNO | Student Enrollment Services | Financial Aid

UNO | Student Enrollment Services | Financial Aid

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Frequently Asked Questions About Applying for Financial Aid

Questions About Financial Aid Eligibility

How do I apply and when?

In early January you should pick up a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from your high school counselor, or apply over the internet at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA must be completed in order to be considered for federal financial aid. Read the FAFSA instructions carefully and complete all sections applicable to you. We strongly encourage you to complete the FAFSA using the online process. You should complete the application before March 1st in order to receive priority consideration for all types of aid at UNO. We encourage students to contact the EducationQuest Foundation, 11031 Elm St., 391-4033 for assistance with filing of the FAFSA.

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Who should apply?

The only way to tell if you're eligible for aid is to apply for it. You don't have to be poor to qualify for federal student loans, so we encourage all students who believe they will need assistance to apply.

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Should I wait to file my FAFSA until my taxes are done?

You should not delay filing your FAFSA past the March 1st priority deadline. If you have to estimate your income, be as accurate as possible using your W-2 forms and other financial records. It is very likely that we will request a copy of your tax forms some time during the process.

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I'm not admitted at UNO yet. Do I have to wait until I am admitted before I apply for financial aid?

Students do not have to be admitted to UNO in order to file their FAFSA. You should file your FAFSA as soon after January 1st as possible, but you need to know that you won't receive an aid package from UNO if you are not admitted.

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I only want a loan. Do I have to file a FAFSA?

Yes.

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What happens after I apply?

You are responsible for following up on your application. You may be asked to provide additional documentation. When documents are requested, send them promptly.
After you complete your FAFSA, you will receive a Federal Student Aid Report (SAR) from the processor notifying you of your eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant. If you do not receive a SAR within a reasonable amount of time, contact the federal processor at 1-800-433-3243. When we have determined how much and what kind of financial aid you are eligible for, we will notify you via your UNO email account that your electronic Financial Aid Notification (e-FAN) is ready to complete. If you have applied early and provided all of the requested documentation promptly, you should receive your e-FAN notification in April.

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I've missed UNO's March 1st priority deadline. Is it useless to file an application now?

You are still encouraged to file the FAFSA. Even though some funding may be exhausted, there are some federal funds, such as Pell Grants and Stafford loans that you may still qualify for.

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Do I have to apply for financial aid every year?

Yes. You must reapply for financial aid each year by completing the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA.

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If my parents are separated or divorced, who should complete the parent's section of my FAFSA application?

You need to answer the questions on the form about the parent you lived with the most in the last 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other in the last 12 months, answer in terms of the parent who provided the most financial support during that time. If neither parent provided greater financial support during the last 12 months, answer in terms of the parent who provided the greater support during the most recent calendar year that you actually were supported by a parent.
If your parent that you counted above has remarried, you must also include information about your stepparent on the FAFSA. Your stepparent must be included, regardless of the marriage date or the stepparent's intent to provide financial support for you. If you receive financial support from the other parent also, you should report this as an Other Untaxed Income amount on the FAFSA.

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My parents have a lot of debts. Isn't there a place to report their expenses on the FAFSA?

No. The formula used by the Federal processor to calculate the Expected Family Contribution assumes that a certain amount of income is needed to support a family. Also it is based on the household size and the number of family members in college. The Federal financial aid methodology does not make allowances for different lifestyle choices, which often influence the amount of a family's living expenses.

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I'm going to be married during the school year. Can I fill out my FAFSA as "married" now, since I will be in a few months?

No. You must indicate your marital status as of the date you are completing the FAFSA. You cannot update your marital status once you have filed your FAFSA.

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Who is eligible for financial aid at UNO?

Any undergraduate, graduate, or professional student enrolled at least half-time in a degree seeking program, making satisfactory progress, is normally eligible for some kind of financial assistance. Some financial aid programs require full-time enrollment, others three-quarter or half-time enrollment.
The Office of Financial Aid administers need-based and non-need based financial aid. All students needing financial assistance should apply for aid. Students who do not demonstrate "financial need" may be awarded non-need based aid. The Federal Unsubsidized Stafford loan and the Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students are loan programs available to students who do not demonstrate financial need.

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What happens to my financial aid if I drop a class?

If you drop a class before the semester starts or during the first week of classes, aid that has been awarded or already disbursed to you may have to be adjusted. You should contact our office before you drop the class to find out how your aid may be affected.

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What happens to my financial aid if I withdraw from all of my classes?

Depending upon when you withdraw from school, you may be required to repay a portion of any aid you have received in the term in which you are withdrawing. You should contact our office before you withdraw to find out if you will have to repay a portion of your aid.

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What is Satisfactory Academic Progress?

You must be making "Satisfactory Academic Progress" to retain your financial aid eligibility. This means you must successfully complete ("D" grade or higher) at least two-thirds of your total credit hours attempted with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Undergraduate students cannot exceed more than 188 attempted credit hours. Graduate students cannot exceed more than 55 graduate credit hours. Professional students cannot exceed more than 110 doctoral credit hours.

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I am really independent, why do I have to apply for financial aid using my parent's income and asset information?

The definition of an independent student is very narrowly defined by law and impacts many students who consider themselves "independent."
For the 2008-2009 academic year, you are automatically considered independent for financial aid purposes if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
  • You were born before January 1, 1985.
  • You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • You will be a graduate or professional student in 2008-2009.
  • You are married on the date you complete your FAFSA.
  • You are an orphan or ward of the court.
  • You have legal dependents.
  • You have dependents (other then your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you.
If you do not fit one of the above criteria, you will be considered dependent and must report your parent's information on the aid application.

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After I receive my electronic Financial Aid Notification (e-FAN) is there any reason my aid package might change?

Yes. Initial financial aid awards are our best estimate of what you are eligible to receive. Most changes in awards involve factors which are under your control, or of which you should be aware. Your award may be increased, reduced, or even canceled if:
  • You receive any additional outside resource, such as privately awarded scholarship, which was not on your award letter.
  • You provide incorrect data on your FAFSA.
  • You do not enroll for the required number of hours to receive aid through the programs awarded to you.
  • Your family financial circumstances change dramatically.
  • You do not maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

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