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Q. What is financial aid?
A. Financial Aid is money to help students and their families pay for educational expenses.

The philosophy behind financial aid assumes the primary responsibility to pay for college lies with students and parents to their level of ability to pay.

The Federal Office of Student Financial Aid (who governs the federal financial aid programs), established the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as a means to determine a family's ability to pay for their student's education. The FAFSA is referred to as a "need-assessment document." The Federal government contracts with an independent processor to compute the results of the FAFSA and report these results back to the student and the colleges the student has selected on the form. Longwood administers its State and institutional need-based aid programs parallel to the Federal programs requiring FAFSA eligibility as a criterion.

Q. What is cost of attendance?
A. When financial aid officers refer to "cost of attendance," "educational costs," or "budget," they usually mean the total direct and indirect costs of attending college for one year. Direct costs are the actual charges billed to students by the University (tuition, fees, room, board). Indirect costs are estimated by the financial aid office for items such as books, supplies, computer-related costs,  personal expenses, and transportation. The financial aid officer adds these direct and indirect costs together to arrive at a total budget for a student who has filed for financial aid.

 Q. What Is Expected Family Contribution?
A. Expected family contribution (EFC) is the amount of money a family is expected to contribute to their child's education for a specific period of time (usually one academic year). You file the FAFSA in order to have this figure determined. The FAFSA processor enters the information (from your FAFSA) into a formula (established by Congress) and the result is the family's EFC. You may calculate an estimate of your EFC at http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml. 

Q. What Is Financial Need And How Is It Determined?
A. Financial need is derived from subtracting your expected family contribution from our total cost of attendance (budget).

           
Financial need is the maximum amount we are permitted (by Federal regulations) to award you in assistance.

Q. Can I receive aid if I am not in a degree-seeking program?
A. No. To receive aid you must be admitted to the University under the regular Admission process and be pursuing a degree.

Q. Is there any aid available for summer school?
A. Loans are available for summer school. Grants may be offered if funds remain from the previous academic year.  A student must be enrolled at Longwood for at least 6 credit hours during the summer to receive aid. Under certain conditions, a student may be enrolled less than half-time and receive a Pell Grant. A FAFSA for the current academic year must be on file along with a summer school application which can be downloaded from our web site in early spring.

Q. Can work-study be subtracted from my bill?
A. No. Students receive a paycheck once a month for the actual number of hours they work. However, all other aid is credited to your account.

Q. My father (mother) has just lost his (her) job. Will this affect my financial aid?
A. It might. Students (or parents) should request a Change in Income Form from the Office of Financial Aid.

Q. What is "unmet need"
A. After a student's need has been determined by subtracting the EFC from the total budget, an award is made. If we are unable to award students enough financial aid to meet their total computed need, the difference is unmet need.

Q. I am coming to Longwood to get a second undergraduate degree. Will I be eligible for aid?
A. Students pursuing a second undergraduate degree are only eligible to apply for a Stafford Loan at Longwood. This also applies to students obtaining a teacher certification who already hold a Bachelor's degree.

Q. What aid is available for graduate students?
A. The Stafford Loan with a maximum of $20,500 per year (8500 in a subsidized Stafford loan and 12000 in an unsubsidized Stafford loan). For additional opportunities for graduate students, you should check with the Chair of your department.

Q. I will be receiving Veterans education benefits. What do I need to do?
A. The Registration Office at Longwood is responsible for certifying enrollment to the Veterans Administration for students who will be receiving Veterans education benefits. Please contact the Registration Office at 434.395.2580 if you will be eligible to receive these benefits.   

Q. My parents are divorced. Whose information do I use on the FAFSA?
A. The parent you lived with the most during the past 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, give answers about the parent who provided more financial support during the past 12 months or during the most recent calendar year that you actually received support from a parent.  If this parent is remarried as of today, answer the FAFSA questions about that parent and the person whom your parent married (stepparent).

Q. My parents are divorced and I live with my mother, but my father claimed me as a tax exemption. Whose information do I report?
A. Who claimed you as a tax exemption is not a factor in determining which parent's information is required on the FAFSA. (see above question)

Q. I live with my grandparents (or another relative). Do I report that relative's income instead of parents'?
A. Only if that relative meets the definition of an adoptive parent.

Q. Are non-citizens eligible for financial aid?
A. With Federal funds, a non-citizen who is in the U.S. as a permanent resident is eligible for assistance. A complete definition of eligible non-citizens is in the FAFSA instructions. Non-citizens in the U.S. on a temporary or student visa normally are not eligible for financial aid.

Q. Do I have to be accepted for Admission to Longwood before I file for financial aid?
A. Admission and financial aid are two separate processes. You do not have to be accepted to the University before you file your FAFSA; however, you do have to be accepted before you will receive an award notification.

Q. Is the FAFSA the only aid application I must fill out?
A. The FAFSA is the only application you will be required to file to apply for federal, state, and institutional need-based assistance at Longwood. In addition, the Office of Admissions uses the admission application itself as the basis for selecting freshmen scholarship recipients.

Q. After my 'FAFSA on the Web' is processed, will I get anything back?
A. There are several ways in which you can find out the results of processing your FAFSA. If you filed a paper FAFSA and did not provide your e-mail address, you will be sent a paper Student Aid Report (or SAR). If you filed using FAFSA on the Web and did not provide your e-mail address, you will be sent a paper SAR Information Acknowledgement. However, if you provided your e-mail address, the FAFSA processor will send you an e-mail notification regardless of whether you filed a paper FAFSA or via FAFSA on the Web. The e-mail notification will contain a link for you to access and view your on-line Student Aid Report without requiring the use of a PIN. Of course, a student who has a PIN can access his or her SAR electronically using FAFSA on the Web.

Q. Does not being eligible for the Federal Pell Grant mean I cannot get any aid?
A. No, the Federal Pell Grant is only one of the need-based aid programs, with eligibility being determined by a Federal formula approved by Congress. It is possible to be ineligible for the Pell Grant and still be eligible for other federal, state, and institutional types of aid.

Q. I know I filled out a FAFSA and sent it in at least 4 weeks ago, but I haven't received a SAR. What should I do?
A. Call the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Information number: 1.800.433.3243

Q. Why are you figuring my need on last year's income when this year is when the money will be spent?
A. Last year's income for most people is the best predictor for the current year. Using the last taxable year's income makes it easier for parents to provide accurate information on the FAFSA. This also allows Federal tax dollars to be distributed on the basis of something "real" rather than on an estimate.

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