Financial Aid: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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What if I Received an Outside Scholarship? Should I Tell the School?
If you receive any financial aid or scholarship from other sources, you must report it to the financial aid office to adjust your financial aid package. Some school policies use the scholarships to reduce the self-help (student loans, federal work study) part of the package, while other schools replace grants instead of loans.

What if My Financial Circumstances Change?
Special circumstances that may adjust your estimated EFC and qualify you for more aid is the death of or divorce from a spouse, loss of employment or other income, extraordinary medical expenses, and expenses for dependent child care. If you quit your job to return to school, the financial aid office may modify your application information to reflect current year finances.

Check with your financial aid administrator if any of these conditions apply to you. However, you will need to provide adequate proof to support any adjustments.

When Will I Receive My Financial Aid?
Colleges usually disburse financial aid awards at the beginning of each semester. Funds may first be used to pay your tuition and other expenses, and the balance remitted to you by check.

Do I Have to Re-apply for Financial Aid Every Year?
For continued eligibility, you must re-apply every academic year. After the first year, you will receive a FAFSA Renewal Application that includes information from the previous year's FAFSA. You must also maintain satisfactory academic progress (i.e., complete a certain number of credits and earn a minimum GPA). Dependent upon your circumstances, you may be awarded more or less financial aid.

How Do I Compare Financial Aid Awards From Different Schools?
To determine the best award package, calculate the amount of aid that remains after paying a school's tuition and fees instead of just considering the total aid amount. A good award package allows a generous portion of grant aid with a reasonable level of self-help which are renewable. You can also use the tools in our Financial Aid section.

Can I Get Financial Aid for Distance Education?
If taking distance or online classes as part of a program at a traditional, regionally accredited institution, you will be assisted by the Federal and state financial aid received for the full program. If it's an online only program offered by a traditional institution, you may be eligible for federal assistance.

Until recently, the U.S. Department of Education, through the Distance Education Demonstration Program, was testing funding for distance education among carefully selected participating institutions. To prevent abuse and fraud in student aid programs, the Department initiated the 50 percent rule, which required colleges to provide at least half of their courses on campus instead of online to receive Federal financial aid.

However, according to a recently passed Congressional Bill, the 50 percent rule has been eliminated, and colleges and universities no longer need to follow this guideline to receive financial aid. They can continue to increase their offering of online programs, and when enrolled in a regionally accredited program you will be eligible for aid from all Federal Title IV programs (including the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and the Federal Stafford Loan Program.)

Always ask about your financial aid options before you sign up for distance education programs. For additional questions about distance education, please see the Online Education Gets Accolades and How Do Employers View Online Degrees?

Is Financial Aid Available for a Second Degree?
Many colleges restrict eligibility for their financial aid programs to the first bachelor's degree, while others will waive the restrictions if the student is seeking a second degree in preparation for a career change and/or the second degree program is different from the degree program previously completed. Contact the financial aid office of the school you are interested in for information regarding their policy.

Are There Tuition Free Programs for Seniors?
Yes, if you are over 60 years old, many community colleges and state collegs and universities offer free or reduced tution to residents over 60. For an example see Connecticut's Board of Governors for Higher Education site regarding tuition waivers at public colleges and universities for seniors.

Can I Get Financial Aid for Non-Degree Programs or Courses?
Generally, courses for personal development or other programs that do not work toward a degree are not eligible for financial aid. You must be admitted into an accredited college or university degree program. You can attend full or part-time. voluntary and portable to other participating employers.

What if I Receive Financial Aid, Then Withdraw from Classes?
Before enrolling try to get an estimate on how much financial aid you will receive. There are many resources on the Internet to help you determine your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) or input your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) information to get an estimate of the financial aid award.

Also be sure to ask about the college's refund procedures. Some adult students enroll and then find that they are not able to balance college with career and family responsibilities. Some schools may not refund tuition and it may be difficult getting out of student loans. Consult your financial aid office before withdrawing from classes. You may also have to repay a percentage of grant aid received for the term in which you are withdrawing. Most financial aid programs require an enrollment of at least six credits. Withdrawals also can appear on your college transcript so it is best to keep them at a minimum.

Additional questions to ask are the terms of the programs in the financial aid award package, and the requirements for the renewal of the aid.