UAF: Financial Aid: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is financial aid?
Financial aid can help pay for tuition and fees, books and supplies and living expenses. Financial aid provides choice, access and persistence. Choice means students can choose to pursue a college education without first looking at the price tag. Access means students will be able to pay costs of getting into college. Persistence means students will be able to stay in college long enough to complete their educational objectives. Some examples of financial aid are scholarships, grants and loans. For more information about the types of financial aid available at UAF, contact the Financial Aid office at financialaid@uaf.edu or by telephone at 474-7256.

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2. Who receives financial aid?
Most full-time UAF students receive some type of financial aid. Even though students enrolled part time can receive some type of financial aid, the major programs require full-time enrollment. Full-time enrollment for undergraduate students is 12 or more credits each semester; full time for graduate students is 9 or more credits each semester.

To receive any financial aid, you must:

3. Who can apply?
You can apply for financial aid if you're a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and are admitted or plan to be admitted to the university. Although students holding a F-1 or J-1 visa are not eligible to apply for federal or state financial assistance, they may apply for UAF scholarships, fellowships and assistantships and some work programs. Clarifications about student eligibility based on citizenship and residency can be obtained at the Financial Aid Office.

4. How do I apply?
Complete: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Alaska Student Loan Application, UAF Privately Funded Scholarship Application, UA Foundation application and Federal Loan Master Promissory Note (also referred to as Loan Application.) You may be required to submit other documents before aid is received. The forms needed to apply for federal, state and UAF financial aid programs are also available at the Financial Aid Office at UAF.

5. How is eligibility determined?
Submitting a completed application, along with necessary documents, begins the process of determining who will get federal aid. An analysis of your ability to pay is compared with UAF's standard expense budget. If the amount of money available is less than total college expenses, you have a financial need and are eligible for aid.

6. How do I remain eligible for financial aid?
To receive financial aid, you must be "in good standing" (undergraduates must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be in good standing), you must complete at least 9 credits each semester if attending full time. You cannot receive aid for more than 12 semesters or for enrollment over 195 credits.

Graduate students must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and must complete the courses as identified on their Advancement to Candidacy.

Aid will be suspended if you fail to complete the required credits with the minimum GPA or exceed the maximum number of semesters or credit hours. Any student whose aid has been suspended may appeal that decision. A written appeal that states the reasons for the failure to maintain satisfactory progress standards and the steps taken to meet those standards in the future is required. Appeals should be directed to the appeal committee, which will determine if the satisfactory progress requirements will be waived. The satisfactory academic progress requirements are subject to change due to changes in federal or state law and institutional policy. A complete description of the satisfactory progress requirements is available at the financial aid pffice.

7. What does it cost to attend UAF?
UAF's undergraduate tuition and fees for a full load of classes are way less than the national average. View estimated UAF semester and annual costs.

Standard budgets do not always fit everyone. If you have unusual expenses such as medical bills, special child care or emergency items, the financial aid office will try to provide methods of covering these additional expenses. Since eligibility is based on prior year income, you may request a review of your eligibility when your income changes from loss of job, divorce, death or disability.

8. How do I receive payment?
Tuition, fees and all other amounts due UAF at the time of disbursement must be paid before the proceeds of your financial aid are released. Disbursement is usually in equal amounts, one-half of total award, at the beginning of each semester. All financial aid checks are released to students (at the Business Office in Signers' Hall). Proper identification with photograph must be presented before checks will be released.

Proceeds of any financial aid will be used to pay any outstanding amount due the university on a payment plan and all other amounts due when the financial aid is disbursed to you, regardless of the payment plan due dates. You should allow at least five days for processing after the financial aid notice is signed and returned before inquiring about your check.

According to the Tax Reform Act of 1986, all scholarships, fellowships and federal financial aid grants are counted as taxable income to the extent these awards, either individually or together, exceed the cost of tuition and related expenses. It is your responsibility to report all such aid on your tax return.

If you receive federal financial aid and totally withdraw from classes during a semester, you may be responsible for repayment of a portion of the federal financial aid received for that semester. The amount to be repaid is based on the number of class days in attendance before withdraw compared to the total days in the semester and the amount of federal aid received. If you are entitled to a refund of tuition and fees charges, all or part of the refund may be returned to the federal financial aid programs. The amount of a refund, repayment or return of federal financial aid is based on the U.S. Department of Education regulations concerning return of federal financial aid. Any refund or repayment calculation exceeding the amount of the refund that was determined by university policy will be charged to the student. Financial aid recipients are strongly encouraged to confirm the amount of any personal liability before processing a total withdrawal from classes.

Students may use UAOnline or visit the UAF Business Office to set up direct deposit of their financial aid refunds

9. Where is the financial aid office located?
The Financial Aid Office is located on the first floor of the Eielson Building on the Fairbanks campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The telephone number is (907) 474-7256 or 1-888-474-7256 and the fax number is (907) 474-7065.

Financial Aid

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Financial Aid