Before you can be considered for financial aid, you must be admitted to a degree program or eligible certificate or graduate preparatory program. If you are just beginning the admission process to DePaul and you wish to apply for financial aid, you should start the aid process as soon as possible after beginning the admission process.
Financial aid applicants must meet the federal eligibility requirements for aid, and if asked, provide documents as needed to support eligibility:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- You must be accepted and currently active in an eligible degree or certificate program or graduate preparatory program.
- For most financial aid programs, and for loan deferment, you must enroll in your program at least half-time – that is, at least a minimum of six credit hours per quarter for undergraduate students. Your classes must be taken for credit; audited classes are not eligible for aid.
- You must be in good academic standing and making academic progress in your course of study.
- You must not be in default on any federal loan or owe a repayment on any federal grant.
- You must comply with all federal regulations governing selective service registration and use of funds for educational purposes.
COMPLETE THE FAFSA
Because so many different types of aid are linked to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), we recommend that all students seeking financial file a FAFSA online.
The first step is to get a FAFSA PIN (personal identification number). A FAFSA PIN lets you apply, "sign" your online FAFSA, make changes to your application information, and more.
Next, collect the documents you need to complete the FAFSA; you'll find a full list of these documents at the FAFSA web site. If you haven't filed your taxes yet, you can estimate the tax information, and then make corrections after your taxes are filed. Be sure to keep copies of all of your documents.
Be sure to include DePaul in the school section of the FAFSA.
The FAFSA becomes available on January 1 every year. It is important to file your FAFSA as early as possible. For example, if you are applying for the academic year beginning in September, it is important to file the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. Because many sources of funds are limited, or are subject to deadlines, it is best always to file early. If you have questions about the FAFSA filing dates, or you are unsure when to file your FAFSA, please contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.
YOUR FAFSA
The Federal Student Aid Processor will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR) when your application has been processed. The results also will be sent at the same time to DePaul’s Financial Aid Office. To check on your FAFSA status, log on to the FAFSA web site or call the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243.
Once you receive your SAR report, check it for accuracy and make any necessary corrections online. Be sure to act promptly on any special instructions on your SAR. We will also email you if any additional action is required of you.
Your complete, correct SAR will contain your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is a measure of your family's financial strength and indicates how much of your and your family's financial resources should be available to pay for your educational expenses. Your EFC is calculated by a formula established by the federal government.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN THE FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS PROCESS
The U.S. Department of Education and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission asks us to verify FAFSA information for a group of students they select each year. If you are selected for verification, we will ask you to submit tax returns and other documents as needed. Be sure to send us these documents according to the deadline we provide so we can consider you for all financial aid programs.
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