Student Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

   WHAT IS THE FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA, collects information used in determining the applicant's eligibility for some need-based institutional funding, and such programs as the

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
• Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
• Federal SMART Grant
• Federal Work-Study
• Federal Educational Loans
• State Grants
• University Grants

To learn more about the above programs, click here.

Please note that most academic or talent-based scholarships require other applications.

Eligibility for financial aid will be based on several factors including family income, assets, size of household, number in college, satisfactory academic progress, etc.  

  DO I NEED TO BE ACCEPTED INTO A DEGREE PROGRAM TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID?

To receive Federal Financial Aid, Federal regulations require that students be admitted to a degree program. If you  have not received your confirmation from the Admissions Office that you have been accepted into a degree program for the upcoming academic year, you may still file your FAFSA.  If your FAFSA data is received from the Federal Processors prior to official acceptance into a degree program at USM, your FAFSA will remain inactive.  Once you are accepted as a USM degree seeking student, your FAFSA will move through the Financial Aid review and award process. 

  HOW DO I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID AND WHAT IS USM'S DEADLINE?

The FAFSA must be filed anually and can be completed online electronically, or by paper.  Getting your PIN and using FAFSA on the Web can significantly speed up the FAFSA process by: 

• avoiding potential post delays
• screening your application for errors prior to your final submission to the Federal Processors
• allowing you to follow up on the progress of your FAFSA
• enabling you to make subsequent electronic corrections to your FAFSA data
  

The Federal Processor must receive your completed FAFSA data by 
February 15, 2009 to reach USM by our March 1, 2009 priority deadline.   

• Estimate your tax information if it is not yet available.
• Please don't forget to list University of Southern Maine's Title IV Institution Code (009762) to ensure that USM will electronically receive your FAFSA data.   
  
  
  

  WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER I HAVE COMPLETED MY FAFSA?

Once your FAFSA has been compiled by the Federal Processor, you will be notified via email.  At that time, you may re-access your data via FAFSA on the Web to review and verify a summary of the information you submitted to the Federal Processor.  Please double check Step 6 to make sure USM appears on your list of schools.  If not, you may add USM's Title IV Institution Code (009762) now by making an electronic correction to your FAFSA data.  

If USM is listed, the Federal Processor will forward your FAFSA data electronically to the Financial Aid Office for further processing.  Provided you have been accepted into a degree program at USM, your FAFSA will then move through the review and award process.    

CONTINUING STUDENTS  will be notified via an email sent to your official University email address when your 2009-2010 Financial Aid award is ready to view on MaineStreet.   

FIRST TIME STUDENTS will be notified via a paper letter when your 2009-2010 Financial Aid award is ready to view on MaineStreet.    

Students who are selected for the Federal process called Verification, or who have unresolved issues with their FAFSA, will be asked for additional documents.  Please do not mail unsolicited tax returns, W2's, or other documents to the Financial Aid Office. 

For students who are selected for Verification, please keep in mind that your award is tentative, until such time that the requested materials have been received by the Financial Aid Office and final Verification has been completed.  

  HELPFUL HINTS

• Establish a Financial Aid file for your records -  Keep copies of all information submitted to the office. 

• Meet Deadlines!  - Don't wait until the deadline approaches.  Financial aid is a time-sensitive process and early applicants benefit.

• Ask for the name of the staff member with whom you are speaking when you call the office.  Follow-up calls will be much easier for you if you speak with the same person.

• Maintain communication with the office - Respond to all requests for additional information as quickly as possible.  Your award may be delayed until you have responded.   These requests may come via your official University email which can be activated using the following web site http://www.maine.edu/useraccount.html.  For further help activating your University email account, please contact the USM Help Desk at 207-780-4029.  

• Supply your name and Social Security number on all correspondence sent to the office!

• Receipt of outside aid (for example, scholarships and/or tuition reimbursements) must be reported to the Financial Aid Office immediately.  Federal regulations require that outside aid be taken into consideration when your award is calculated.  Failure to report them may result in an adjustment to your award.  For further information please review the most recent USM Undergraduate Catalog.  

• Your award will be calculated based on the number of credit hours you reported on your FAFSA.  Any changes in credit hours must be reported to our office to ensure that your award is based on the proper charges.  Failing to notify the Financial Aid Office may delay the disbursement of funds to your student account. 

• USM maintains an online service called MaineStreet which allows you to check the status of your financial aid award and provides access to your student bill 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   
  
  
  
• For more consumer information, please visit the USM Undergraduate Catalog