Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is financial aid?

Financial aid is help for a student that is enrolled in an eligible academic program at an institution participating in the federal student aid programs.
Financial aid is designed to assist in covering school expenses including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation.

Financial aid is based on a student's demonstrated financial need.

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What is an institution?

An institution is a two or four year public or private education college, university, career school, or trade school.

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PLEASE APPLY EARLY!!!

Step 1. You will need to gather the following information to accurately complete your FAFSA application:

• Your Social Security Number
• Your W2 Form and other records of income earned
• Your 2009 Federal Income Tax return (and that of your spouse, if you're married)
• Your parents' 2009 Federal Income Tax Return (if you're a dependent student)
• Any foreign tax returns
• Your 2009 untaxed income records
• Your 2009 bank statements

Step 2. Electronically submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

• For FAFSA on the Web, you can go to www.fafsa.ed.gov
• For general student aid information, you can go to www.studentaid.ed.gov
• You can apply beginning January 1, 2010. Be sure to check the FAFSA for the list of deadlines for state aid

Step 3. Be aware of Financial Aid deadlines. Refer to the following checklist for guidance in meeting the above deadline for your financial aid application. 

January 1- January 31: The 2010-2011 FAFSA is available on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov Complete DSU’s Private and Endowed Scholarship application; www.desu.edu/returning-transfer-scholarships

February 1- February 28: Determine if enrolling for SUMMER and your plan to pay for SUMMER.

March 1- March 31: File your FAFSA and review your Student Aid Report (SAR); www.fafsa.ed.gov. Remember, you must submit all financial aid documents by June 30, 2010 in order to meet the July 10, 2010 deadline. This will prevent having your registration and housing deleted. If you are selected for verification, you will need the following documents:

• Copy of Parent(s) signed 2009 Federal 1040 Tax Return (Dependent Students Only)
• Copy of Parent(s) signed 2009 Federal 1040 Tax Return (Dependent Students Only)
• Copy of Student's signed 2009 Federal 1040 Tax Return (Dependent and Independent Students Only)
• Untaxed Income form
• Verification Worksheet When completing the front of the form please do not forget to list everyone in your parent(s) household that your parent(s) provide more than half of the income.

When completing the back of this form do not forget to include the appropriate signatures.

April 1- April 30: Complete Housing Application, pay deposit and register for fall. Verification documents are due to the Financial Aid Office. Remember the June 30 deadline.

May 1- May 31: Apply for Parent PLUS (www.desu.edu/federal-plus-loans) and/or Private Loans (www.desu.edu/alternative-loans) or Secure the AMS Pay Plan (www.desu.edu/tuition pay-plan). Failure to comply will jeopardize your housing or registration status.

June 1- June 30: Review Satisfactory Academic Progress by logging onto “myDESU” or possibly lose your Financial Aid. Remember the June 30, 2010 deadline.

July 1- July 31: Fall Balance is due in FULL by July 10, 2010.

Step 5. Contact the Financial Aid Office.

Talk with the financial aid office staff to make sure all the information needed to determine your eligibility has been received. The financial aid officer will review your SAR and any additional documentation submitted. If you're eligible, they will prepare an award letter outlining the amount of aid (from all sources) the school will offer you. We recommend that all returning students check eligibility via “mydesu” to determine the status of your financial aid and any additional documentation (i.e. federal tax returns, W2, and verification forms) needed to complete your file.

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No. Your FAFSA application can be completed before your acceptance into the University. However, you must actually be admitted before ANY aid can be offered or given to you. Some forms of aid that the University offers is based on your cost of attendance and may include scholarships, work-study and grant money.

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How often do I have to apply for financial aid?

Changes may periodically occur in yours or your family's financial situation or in the way the financial aid program itself is structured for eligibility. Your application must be "renewed" every academic year as soon after January 1, and does not occur automatically.

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Once it is determined that I am actually eligible for Financial Aid; how is it disbursed, and when should I expect it?

Federally funded aid is generally disbursed at the beginning of each semester and sent directly to the University to be applied to your cost of attendance including tuition, fees, and room and board as applicable.

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Who determines how much aid I qualify for?

The Office of Financial Aid makes a determination of what kinds of aid to offer you and in what amounts based on information submitted by you on your FAFSA application as well as other forms you maybe required to submit and your actual cost of attendance at the University.

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Delaware State University's Office of Financial Aid can go over your eligibility with you and try to identify additional aid sources that may be available to you to assist you in paying your expenses. Your best option would be to consult with the office for more information on what is available in your particular case and the best course of action for you to take. This is also the case if you find you are ineligible for federal aid but still need help paying your cost of attendance at the University. Generally, Financial Aid will not cover all of your college costs.

Students who do not receive adequate funding to pay their college cost of attendance should consider private/signature loans and/or the University's Payment Plan.

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What is the difference between the Grants and the Scholarships that the University offers?

Grant money is funds that are disbursed based on eligibility and financial need towards your cost of attendance that does NOT have to be repaid. Scholarships also do not require repayment, however they most often are offered through outside agencies and groups and are awarded based on different criteria and affiliations. Delaware State University offers a number of scholarships. Please consult our web site for more information on scholarships and how to apply.

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Do I need a Social Security Number in order to file my FAFSA?

The federal government DOES require all applicants to have a SSN when applying for aid. If you attempt to submit your application without one, it will be returned to you unprocessed and can possibly cause delays in your financial aid being completed.

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What happens if miss the March 15^th deadline to submit my FAFSA? Is it too late for me to apply?

No. It is not too late for you to file your FAFSA application; HOWEVER, the University's deadlines for submitting your Financial Aid information may have already passed which could result in difficulty in having your aid in place for the fall semester in preparation for your attendance at the University. You should contact the Office of Financial Aid as soon as possible to find out what you should do about completing your application process as quickly as possible. You may still attend the University, but you will need to make payment arrangements until your aid can be finalized. The Financial Aid Office will apply funding for which you are eligible retroactively to your account.

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Do I have to wait until income tax forms for me and/or my parents are done before filing my FAFSA?

Every attempt should be made to have that information for your application as soon as possible, but your FAFSA application can be filed without your tax information using estimates of your income that are as CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to your actual income. To prevent your application from being rejected or encountering delays in processing, you should make sure all information submitted is as accurate as possible. Please consult the above checklist at the beginning of this FAQ for more detailed guidance on applying for financial aid.

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If I live with someone other than my parents, what income am I required to report?

Any cash support that you receive from the individual(s) with whom you reside does have to be reported on your FAFSA as UNTAXED income.  

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If the parent I live with is remarried, do I need my stepparent's tax information?

A dependent student who lives with a parent who is remarried IS required to include the stepparent's information.

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If I am a student who is separated and filing a joint tax return, how do I report my information?

In this case, only YOUR portion of the income tax return exemptions, taxes paid, and income should be reported.

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What is the EFC, and how is it used in determining my financial aid?

The EFC (Expected Family Contribution) is the amount of money your family is expected to contribute to the cost of your college education. This figure is determined by the federal government based on all the information submitted on your FAFSA such as the size of your family, the number of your family members that are also attending college, and your family's current income and savings. Once you have filed your FAFSA application you will receive what is called a SAR (Student Aid Report) that lists your EFC in the top right corner of the report. This information is also sent to the University and is used by the Office of Financial Aid to put together a Financial Aid Package that will be offered to you.   Back to top

What is the Federal Student Aid Summary?

The following is a summary of Title 4 Federal Student Aid programs that Delaware State University:

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Are there any additional charges other than interest for getting these loans?

There is a fee involved for Direct and FFEL Stafford Loans. Late charges may apply if you skip payments, make late payments, or less than a full payment.

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How are my Loan funds disbursed to me?

You loan money is generally paid in two payments per academic year and paid to you by the University either directly or as a credit to your account.  

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If I change my mind about accepting the loan after signing the Master Promissory Note and agreeing to the terms of the loan, can the loan be cancelled?

Yes. You may cancel all or a portion of your loan by informing the University of your desire to do so within a specific time period. If you have received your loan funds directly by check, you may refuse the funds by returning the check to the University.

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For the Federal Stafford Loan, there is a grace period of 6 months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half time enrollment.

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The Delaware State University school code is 001428.

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Verification is a process to confirm information a student provides on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

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