SU- Financial Aid Office

HOW TO APPLY

ENTERING STUDENTS

Syracuse University offers financial aid in the form of merit-based scholarships, need-based grants, student employment, as well as student and parent educational loans. Syracuse University will award students financial aid to the extent that funds are available.

To apply for financial aid and receive a Financial Aid Award from SU, you must complete two forms:

College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile (CSS PROFILE)
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Eligibility for need-based financial aid is established from the information that you provide on these two forms.

To receive a Financial Aid Award from SU, entering students must:

1. Be admitted
2. File the CSS PROFILE
3. File the FAFSA

APPLICATION DEADLINES

CSS PROFILE CODE - 2823

FAFSA CODE - 002882

There is a fee associated with filing the CSS/Financial Aid Profile. A limited number of fee waivers are granted automatically - based on the information entered on the PROFILE application - to US citizens or eligible noncitizens who are first-time college applicants and are from families with very low income and assets. This waiver covers the application fee and the reporting fees for up to six colleges or scholarship programs.

Financial Aid Deadlines for 2010 - 2011

	Application Deadlines	Award Notification Dates
Early Decision First Year *	CSS PROFILE - 2010-11 December 1, 2009 FAFSA - 2010-11 February 2, 2010	Mid-January 2010
Regular Decision First Year	CSS PROFILE - 2010-11 February 2, 2010 FAFSA - 2010-11 February 2, 2010	Late March 2010
Spring Semester Applicants	CSS PROFILE- 2010-11 November 13, 2010 FAFSA- 2010-11 November 13, 2010	End of December 2010
Transfer Students	CSS PROFILE- 2010-11 March 1, 2010 FAFSA- 2010-11 March 1, 2010	Late March 2010

* Signed copies of student and parent 2008 federal income tax returns, as well as all W-2 forms, must be sent to the SU Financial Aid Office.

Financial Aid Deadlines for 2009 - 2010

	Application Deadlines	Award Notification Dates
Early Decision Freshmen	CSS PROFILE - 2009-10 December 1, 2008 FAFSA - 2009-10 February 2, 2009	Mid-January 2009
Regular Decision Freshmen & Transfers	CSS PROFILE - 2009-10 February 2, 2009 FAFSA - 2009-10 February 2, 2009	Late March 2009
Spring Semester Applicants	CSS PROFILE- 2009-10 November 15, 2009 FAFSA- 2009-10 November 15, 2009	End of December 2009

FAQs

Q1: Does applying for financial aid affect the admissions decision?
Q2: What need-based financial aid is available?
Q3: My parents did not claim me on their tax returns this year. Can I now be considered independent?
Q4: How do I apply for need-based financial aid?
Q5: What if my parents or I have not filed our tax returns before the CSS PROFILE and FAFSA are due?
Q6: What if there is a change in my family situation or I have special circumstances?
Q7: I just received my financial aid award. Is this the actual amount of financial aid that I will receive?
Q8: What documents do you need to verify my information?
Q9: What types of financial aid must be paid back and what types do not have to be paid back?
Q10: I received a Federal Work-Study Award (FWS). How does that work?
Q11: How do I apply for the Federal Stafford Loan?
Q12: My award lists a Federal Perkins Loan. What paperwork do I need to file to receive this loan?
Q13: What is the Financial Aid Portfolio?
Q14: How much will it cost to attend Syracuse University for the 2009-2010 academic year?

Does applying for financial aid affect the admissions decision?

No. Your application for financial aid does not affect the admissions decision in any way.

What need-based financial aid is available?

Syracuse University participates in most Federal need-based programs (i.e. Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), SMART Grant, Federal Stafford Loan, New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), etc.) and also offers a Syracuse University need-based grant to eligible students.

My parents did not claim me on their tax returns this year. Can I now be considered independent?

Federal regulations have specific criteria to meet before you can be considered independent. The following questions are on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and are used to determine your dependency status. You will be considered as an independent student, if you answer yes to one of the following questions:

1. Will you be at least 24 years old by January 1st, prior to your first semester at SU?

2. At the beginning of the academic year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program (such as an MBA, MA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or grad certificate)?

3. As of today, are you married?

4. Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?

5. Do you have dependents (other than your children and spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30th of this academic year?

6. Are both of your parents deceased?

7. Are you (or were you) in foster care or a ward of the court at any time between the ages of 13 and 18 years old?

8. Are you (or were you) an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your home state of legal residence?

9. Have you been verified as an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of homelessness and self-supporting? (This must be officially documented and does not apply to cases where parents merely refuse to help with college expenses).

10. Are you currently on active duty or are you a U.S. veteran?

How do I apply for need-based financial aid?

In order to apply for the federal programs listed above, two (2) forms are required:

1. The College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile (CSS PROFILE)- due to CSS by February 2nd.

2. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)- due to the Federal Processor by February 2nd. The FAFSA cannot be filed prior to January 1st, but it must be filed by February 2nd.

What if my parents or I have not filed our tax returns before the CSS PROFILE and FAFSA are due?

We recommend that you use the information from your completed tax returns when filing these forms. However, if you are unable to file your taxes by February 2nd, do not wait to complete the PROFILE and the FAFSA. Use estimated income figures and adhere to the February 2nd deadline.

What if there is a change in my family situation or I have special circumstances?

Special circumstances should be brought to the attention of the Financial Aid Office after you receive your Financial Aid Award. In writing, outline your special circumstance and send it to our office.

I just received my financial aid award. Is this the actual amount of financial aid that I will receive?

Your financial aid award is an estimate until your income and asset information is verified by our office.

What documents do you need to verify my information?

If verification information is required, the College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC) will send you information regarding income documentation that must be submitted in order to complete the verification of your application.

As a recipient of financial aid you must send to the College Board all requested tax/income documentation to verify the information you reported on the CSS/Financial Aid Profile that you filed.

What types of financial aid must be paid back and what types do not have to be paid back?

Scholarships and Grants (Federal, State and SU) do not have to be paid back. All Federal Stafford, Perkins, and PLUS Loans must be repaid.

I received a Federal Work-Study Award (FWS). How does that work?

The FWS award allows you to obtain a Federal Work-Study job and earn up to the amount of your award. The FWS award is not credited to your student financial account. You are paid weekly for the hours that you work. The Office of Student Employment lists all of the available positions, both FWS and non-FWS, on their web site.

How do I apply for the Federal Stafford Loan?

You apply for a Federal Stafford Loan automatically by filing the FAFSA. The Federal Stafford Loan will be part of your financial aid award. After completing the FAFSA, you will also need to complete a Federal Master Promissory Note (MPN). If you are first time borrower, you must also complete an Entrance Counseling Session, which can be found on your task list of your Financial Aid Portfolio.

My award lists a Federal Perkins Loan. What paperwork do I need to file to receive this loan?

You will need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the loan, which can be found on the task list of your Financial Aid Portfolio.

What is the Financial Aid Portfolio?

Applicants to Syracuse University have access via the internet to a communication tool that our office uses- Financial Aid Portfolio. The portfolio enables you to view your cost of attendance, financial aid status, and determine if we have received financial aid forms or other required documents. If your financial aid application materials are complete, and you have been admitted to Syracuse University, you will be able to view your financial aid on the portfolio.

Applicants should check their task list often to be certain that all tasks are completed in order to be certain that their financial aid (including loans) will be credited to their account.

How much will it cost to attend Syracuse University for the 2009-2010 academic year?

Billable Costs		Other Expenses (average)
Tuition	$33,630	Books & Supplies	$1,306
Housing & Meals (average)**	12,374	Transportation	600
Miscellaneous Fees	1,298	Personal Expenses	892
Total	$47,302	Total	$2,798

Total Cost of Attendance

$50,100*

*International students will incur additional cost of approximately $2,545 to cover health insurance and other personal expenses.

** The financial aid office recognizes that students at Syracuse University choose a variety of living arrangement options. Therefore, the financial aid office uses a blended room and board rate to determine financial aid eligibility.

Return to SU's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs' Homepage

Opportunity Programs | Publications | Scholarship Programs | Contact Us | Site Map

For comments on this web site, please contact sbluke@syr.edu

1. Be admitted 2. File the CSS PROFILE 3. File the FAFSA

1. Be admitted
2. File the CSS PROFILE
3. File the FAFSA