Returning undergraduate students attending some state college must submit financial aid application materials by published deadlines to receive maximum institutional aid eligibility.

• To be considered on-time the CSS Profile, FAFSA, and IDOC packet [tax returns for the student and/or parent(s)] must be received by May 1st.
• If any of the above application materials are received after May 1st, the student's application will be considered late.
• Late applications are assessed a penalty which reduces institutional need-based grant eligibility.
• The later the submission past May 1st, the greater the penalty.
• Federal Work-Study will not be awarded to students with late applications.
• Applications received after the first day of the fall term will not be considered for institutional grant funding.
• Supplemental documents or forms [federal and/or institutional verification items] may be requested at a later date.
• Supplemental materials may be submitted after May 1st without penalty.

A financial institution (bank, savings and loan, or credit union) that provides the funds for students and parents to borrow educational loans. Some schools are also lenders.

Caps need-based debt at $15,000 for families with incomes between $50,000 and $100,000 per year. Once the family contribution is determined and the $15,000 loan cap is borrowed, the balance of costs will be subsidized through need-based grants. This program is available to dependent, full-time undergraduate students entering some college fall 2007 semester or later. This program assumes on-time progression toward degree completion, covering eight semesters of study.

Grant funds replace Federal Subsidized Stafford loans in the initial award package for eligible dependent undergraduate students. The eligible grant amount represents the student's self-help portion normally given in the form of a loan.

Financial aid that is awarded based on a student's academic, leadership or artistic merit, or some other criteria, and does not depend on financial need. Merit-based awards may look at a student's grades, test scores, special talents, or extracurricular activities to determine eligibility. college athletic program is guided by NCAA Division III regulations and does not offer athletic scholarships. To apply for University merit-based aid, please contact your admissions office

Financial aid that is awarded based on a student's financial circumstance. Need-based aid can be awarded in the form of grants, loans, or work-study. Students who believe their families will need help in supporting their educational costs are encouraged to apply for need-based aid at the time they apply for admission to the University.

A process of reviewing a student's aid application to determine the amount of financial aid a student is eligible for. Completing a needs analysis form is the required first step in applying for most types of financial aid.

A borrower who has no outstanding (unpaid) loan balances on the date (s)he signs the promissory note for a specific educational loan. New borrowers may be subject to different regulations than borrowers who have existing loan balances.

The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the national database of information about loans and grants awarded to students under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965. NSLDS provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants during their complete life cycle, from aid approval through disbursement, repayment, delinquency and closure.

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