Re-Applying

Financial Aid Renewal Tips
Receiving financial aid helps you to pursue an online educational program, but the application doesn't stop once you've secured funding. Reapplying for financial aid and keeping in touch with your financial aid office are both critical to maintaining your loan, scholarship, and grant eligibility.

Renewing Your Financial Aid
You must generally reapply for financial aid each year. Your income and assets information may change from year to year, which may affect your total financial aid package each year. The amount of aid you receive depends on a number of factors:

• Your Cost of Education as determined by the financial aid office
• Your Expected Family Contribution as determined by information from the FAFSA
• The funds that are available

Even your family situation can affect your aid. If you're a dependent student, the amount of aid you receive can change dramatically if additional family members begin to attend college or members who were in college stop attending.

College Requirements
Your financial aid package also depends on making satisfactory progress in your educational program. Depending on your school, you may be required to maintain a specific GPA or complete a stated number of credits per term to continue receiving certain forms of funding. Changing your student enrollment status can make a drastic change in your eligibility for financial aid.

FAFSA Renewal
You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year to be considered for Federal aid and potentially for other sources of funding. As a returning student, you may only need to complete a FAFSA renewal form. The FAFSA renewal form is considerably shorter than the regular application, and you may even be able to complete it online. You can file the renewal FAFSA beginning in January and you should receive a reminder via email or postal mail.

Financial Aid Office
Keep in touch with your school's financial aid office throughout the year. As you complete your educational program, your financial circumstances, your enrollment status, and other personal data may change, and you may be eligible for different or additional types of aid. Your financial aid office can help you maximize your opportunities and can also provide you with information about important application deadlines.

By reapplying for aid early and maintaining contact with your school's financial aid office, you're more likely to keep your financial aid for the duration of your educational program.