1. Submit the FAFSA

All students who wish to be considered for financial aid and institutional scholarship assistance must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The easiest way to complete the FAFSA is to apply online. Students (and parents of dependent students) will need to create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) to sign the FAFSA electronically. The FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA should be completed via the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov by published FVSU deadlines for the upcoming academic year. The Fort Valley State University’s priority FAFSA Processing deadline is March 30th.

Once you have completed your FAFSA, please review your Student Aid Report(SAR) within 3-5 days, if you provided your email address.

2. Check Your Email

If you provided an email address, within 3-5 business days, you will receive an email notification with instructions for viewing and printing your SAR. If you did not provide a valid email address, a paper SAR will be mailed to you. It is very important that you check the SAR for accuracy, and make sure that The Fort Valley State University is listed as a recipient of your information. If The Fort Valley State University is listed as a recipient of your data, that information will be transmitted electronically to the institution for review.

While you wait, please make sure you can access your Wildcat student email address. The University will send all correspondence to your student email account, NOT YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT.

3. Submit

SUBMIT any other requested documentation promptly. If your SAR indicates that you have been selected for VERIFICATION, you must submit login to our virtual office and submit all requested documentation.

4. Award Notifications

Financial aid award packages are available for review and/or printing from Banner Web. Awards for first-time freshmen and transfer students whose files are completed by the priority deadline of March 1 will have awards posted on Banner Web beginning around May 1. Continuing students’ financial aid award packages are available on Banner Web for review and/or printing after spring grades have been posted and satisfactory academic progress (SAP) has been determined, generally beginning around June 1. Returning students should access their Banner Web account shortly after the spring term to ascertain their SAP status. Students not making satisfactory academic progress will have their eligibility suspended for the subsequent fall term but,but may appeal. All appeals must be received by the published deadline date for the intended term of attendance. Please review our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for additional information.

If your financial aid award package includes a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, you must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling (EC), if you are a first-time borrower at Fort Valley State University. Your loan funds will not be disbursed to you if you do not complete the MPN and EC. You can complete the MPN and EC at www.studentloans.gov.

What do I do if I am not awarded enough financial aid?

If your award package does not include enough funds to cover your expenses, you may want to have your parents apply for a Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). The parent borrower must complete the loan application process and entrance counseling at www.studentloans.gov. The parent borrower must also complete the PLUS Pre-Application Form, which can be downloaded and printed from our website under the Documents & Forms Section. The Pre-Application must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid. Parent borrowers are encouraged to borrow enough funds for the entire academic year and to complete the PLUS process at least 8 to 10 weeks prior to the start of the term.

5. Award Conditions and Responsibilities

Financial Aid awards are required to be disbursed in two increments. For students attending the fall and spring terms, one-half of the award is disbursed in the fall term and the remaining half of the award is disbursed in the spring term. For students attending one term only, half of the award is disbursed near the beginning of the term and the remaining half is disbursed around the middle of the term. The disbursement schedule is available in the Office of Student Financial Services. Be sure to read ALL information accompanying your award notice for conditions attached to your award.

6. Entrance Loan Counseling

If you are awarded a Federal Direct Loan and you are a first-time borrower, you will be required to complete an entrance loan counseling session. You may access the William D. Ford Direct Loan Entrance Counseling at studentloans.gov.

7. Complete Your Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)

If you are awarded a Federal Direct Loan and you are a first-time borrower, you will be required to complete a Master Promissory Note. You may access the William D. Ford Direct Loan Master Promissory Note at studentloans.gov. Your eligibility will be certified electronically. The US Department of Education will be in touch with you when the loan has been approved.

8. Financial Aid Disbursement

Financial aid is awarded by the Office of Financial Aid but is disbursed by the Student Financial Services Office. Aid awards made for the academic year are usually disbursed in two installments at the beginning of each semester, assuming you are registered for the number of hours on which your financial aid award was based. If your award is made after the semester has begun, university and federal grant funds will be disbursed electronically within 48 to 72 hours. If your award package includes William D. Ford Direct Loan funds, the aid will be disbursed to your student account as soon as we confirm that you have completed both Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and your Master Promissory Note (MPN). If you are a first-time borrower, federal regulations require that we delay the disbursement of your loan funds for 30 days following the first day of classes. Click here for additional information about the University’s refund process.