Prince William Sound Community College

Student Financial Aid

Student Services can assist students in applying for state and federal aid programs. State and Federal governments, PWSCC, and many private organizations offer grants, scholarships, loans, and employment opportunities to students who demonstrate need for such assistance. Each student’s financial situation is carefully assessed, taking into consideration family size, assets, income, debts, and estimated costs of attending college. Types and amount of financial aid vary according to State and Federal guidelines, student needs, and availability of funds.

• Financial Awareness Counseling
  • Financial Awareness Counseling provides tools and information from the U.S. Department of Education to help you understand your financial aid and assist you in managing your finances.
• Hands on Banking
  • Financial awareness and money management resources for people of all ages.
• Cash Course
  • Cash Course is a free financial literacy resource available to you that teaches you a broad range of financial topics that will empower you to make positive and sound decisions when reaching financial goals.
• Student Loan Calculator
  • Nerd Wallet’s Student Loan Calculator helps you make the most informed decisions about financing your higher education. This calculator will not store your personal information, force you to register, or promote any commercial products.

Application Procedures

Interested students should contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for information and applications. Students should submit applications at least six months before the beginning of the semester for which they are applying. For the upcoming fall semester, the Office of Student Financial Assistance should have received completed applications and required additional forms by June 1 at the latest. Applications received after this date will be considered if funds are available. Specific procedures are as follows:

1. New students must first apply for formal admission to PWSCC through the Office of Admissions by the appropriate deadline.
2. All interested students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit the application to the Department of Education, list UAA’s Title IV code on FAFSA (011462). We recommend you apply online at www.fafsa.gov. It is faster and more accurate.
3. Students who wish to apply for a scholarship may complete an online application available in UAOnline at www.uaonline.alaska.edu.
4. Students who wish to apply for Bureau of Indian Affairs grants or scholarships should contact the BIA or their Native regional corporation for applications.

Eligibility

To be considered for financial aid, a student must:

1. Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
2. Be accepted for admission with no conditions.
3. Demonstrate financial need for federal assistance as determined by the FAFSA.
4. Meet satisfactory academic progress as defined by Student Financial Aid regulations. You can find the form on the UAA Financial Aid Form Web Page.

Federal Verification

The U.S. Department of Education selects approximately 30 percent of financial aid applications for the verification process. The Office of Student Financial Assistance verifies information on selected applications prior to students receiving financial aid awards. Copies of the following documents may be requested:

• Signed copies of Income tax returns
• Verification of household size
• Child support payments
• Statements of untaxed income
• Verification of number of family members in college
• If military, a copy of the December 31 Leave and Earning Statement for the appropriate year.

Students selected for verification must submit the requested documents if applying for federal financial aid. If documentation is not received, federal financial aid cannot be awarded.

Accepting Your Financial Aid Step by Step:

Accepting Loans:

1. Go to UAOnline
2. Log into the secure area
3. Click on Financial Aid Tab
4. Click on Award
5. Click on Award by Aid Year and select the appropriate Aid Year (refer to your Award Letter)
6. Click on Award Overview
7. This page gives you the details of your award and cost of attendance.
8. Click on the Accept Award tab. You will have some decisions to make at this point:
9. 1. You can accept all of your aid or decline it by clicking on the arrow in the drop down box under Accept Awards.
      You can accept part of the amount offered by entering the amount in the box under Accept Partial Payment
   2. If you make individual decisions about each type of loan DO NOT click on the Accept Full Amount button.
10. Click the Submit button to finish
11. If you have accepted any federal loans you will need to complete entrance counseling and a Master Promissory Note for the loan type you have accepted. Both can be completed at www.studentloans.gov.

After you accept your aid:

• Monitor your Financial Aid Award through your UAOnline account. This is the fastest way to know your financial aid status.
• Monitor your Admissions Status. Your financial aid will not pay until you are fully admitted. Don’t assume that everything is okay. Check to make sure.
• Monitor your Account Information to see when your financial aid has been disbursed into your account, what you owe, make payments, etc.
• Check your UAA email account and UAA financial aid website frequently for important updates and announcements.

Questions? Contact the Financial Aid Coordinator @ 834-1645.