Completing the FAFSA

Any student needing financial assistance to attend Salem College should apply for financial aid through the process outlined in this information.

REMEMBER:  You must reapply for financial aid each academic year.

If you are a new Salem College applicant, make certain that you contact the Admissions Office and follow their instructions regarding the admissions process. Applying for financial aid and applying for admission to Salem College are separate processes. You should not wait for a response to your admissions application before applying for financial aid.  Your data will be reviewed for financial aid eligibility when you have been officially accepted for admission to a degree-seeking program.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

For the Financial Aid Office to determine your eligibility for need-based assistance, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The easiest way to apply for financial aid is to go FAFSA on the Web online.
Salem College Federal School Code:   002960

Before beginning the FAFSA, you should apply for a FSA ID from the U.S. Department of Education.  The FSA ID will allow you to sign your FAFSA electronically and also to correct your processed FAFSA information online, if necessary.  If you are providing parent information on the FAFSA, one of your parents must also sign your application.  To sign electronically, your parent must apply for his or her own FSA ID.

FAFSA Priority Filing Dates

The priority filing date for all students is March 1.

Eligibility

Eligibility for Federal aid at Salem College requires that you meet several criteria as follows:

• You must be a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
• You must certify that you are not in default on repayment of a Federal student loan and do not owe a repayment on a Federal grant.
• You must make satisfactory academic progress.

Notification of Federal and State Eligibility

After you submit your FAFSA, you will receive notification from the Federal government in the form of a FAFSA Submission Summary. This form will provide you with your Student Aid Index (SAI), the amount you and your family are expected to be able to contribute to the cost of your education, according to the standard Federal formula.  It will also indicate if you are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.

Your eligibility for State aid may be sent by the Office of Higher Education in your state of residence.  If you receive a notice from the North Carolina Higher Education Assistance Authority or from your appropriate state agency, it does not mean you are automatically eligible to receive a state grant.  You must meet all criteria required by the state granting the award.  You will be notified on your Financial Aid Award Letter from Salem College if you qualify.

Verification of Student Aid Application

• Salem College or the U.S. Department of Education may select your application for a process called “verification.”  As part of verification, you will need to provide certain documents and information to verify that the information reported on your FAFSA is correct. If your FAFSA is selected, you will be contacted, via e-mail, by Inceptia’s Verification Gateway. They will let you know what additional documentation is required and provide you with instructions on how to email or upload the documentation back to their office. Examples of additional documentation may include, but is not limited to: verification interview, parent and student tax transcripts, and w-2’s.
• You will also be asked to complete a worksheet regarding your income, your household size, family members enrolled in post-secondary education, and untaxed income and benefits.   You may also need to provide statements from agencies such as the Social Security Administration to verify benefits received.
• Be prepared to provide any required verification documentation as soon as possible.  Failure to provide documentation means you will not receive federal or state aid, and you may not receive other need-based assistance.
• To complete the verification process, the documentation you provide will be reviewed, and any necessary corrections to your FAFSA data will be made.  If your eligibility for financial aid changes based on these corrections, your financial aid package may be adjusted, and you will have to repay any portion of aid disbursed that you should not have received.

Any person who intentionally makes false statements or misrepresentations on a Federal aid application is violating the law and is subject to a fine, imprisonment or both.