When do I apply for Financial Aid?
The
FAFSA can be filled out as early as January 2 of each year, but should be done as soon as taxes are filed. You must also complete a new FAFSA for each school year.
What types of aid am I applying for when I fill out this application?
The
FAFSA application tells the school whether or not you are eligible for Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, ACG Grant, SMART Grant, TEACH Grant, Federal Work Study, as well as your eligibility for either Subsidized or Unsubsidized Stafford Loans.
If I'm going to UA Fort Smith and another school at the same time, can I get aid both places?
No. You are only able to get your aid from one school at a time. That may affect your aid eligibility, so if this is the case with you, please come by and speak with one of our Financial Aid Advisors.
If I decide to drop a class, will it affect my Financial Aid?
Both dropping and failing classes can affect your aid. In general, you must keep a 2.0 GPA, successfully complete 67% of the classes in which you enroll, as well as completing your degree within a maximum time frame. It should be noted that some scholarships have much stricter guidelines. If you would like more information, please come by our office and pick up a copy of our Satisfactory Academic Progress (or SAP) Policy. Also, if you are completely withdrawing from all classes, it is possible that you may have to repay some of your aid money. Make certain you come talk to one of our advisors before dropping all your classes.
If I am on suspension, can I still get my loan money?
If you are on suspension, you cannot get
ANY aid, including Pell, scholarships, and loans. However, you can still apply for alternative loans. Alternative loans can come from a variety of sources, and their terms vary widely, so be careful. For more information, you can visit the
SallieMae website.
What is UA Fort Smith's Title IV school code, and why do I need it?
Our federal school code is 001110. When you enter this code on your
FAFSA, we will automatically receive an electronic version of your Student Aid Report (SAR).
Why does the FAFSA need all this information?
Since the family is supposed to be the primary source for the student's ability to go to school, all sources of income from all family members is included to paint a clear picture of the student's situation.
What is "verification?"
UA Fort Smith does not choose who is to be verified and who is not. If your FAFSA is selected by the US Department of Education, you will have to complete verification. This means that UA Fort Smith must compare the information from your FAFSA to financial documents you must submit to our office. Required documents may include a "Verification Worksheet" from our office, a signed copy of your tax return (and a signed copy of your parents' taxes, if you are a Dependent student), and some other documents we may determine we need.
What does my "EFC" mean?
The "Estimated Family Contribution," or EFC, is a figure calculated from all the data you enter into the FAFSA. This figure is used to determine the amounts and types of aid for which you are eligible.
Why do I have to use my parents' information on the FAFSA?
Although we understand that many students are truly self-sufficient, the government has a handful of reasons why a student would be independent and would not be required to use their parents' information: if a student is over 24 years old, or is married, or has children the student provides more than 50% support for, or is an orphan or ward of the court (regardless of age), or is active or a veteran in the US Armed Forces. If none of these apply to you, you are a dependent student and must use your parents' information.
What happens if there is a difference between my FAFSA information and the financial documents I turn in to your office?
UA Fort Smith will need to make a correction to your FAFSA application. All corrections will be processed electronically, and may cause changes in your award amounts.
How do I get a copy of my tax return if I don't have one?
You may pick up a free copy of your federal tax return from the local IRS office here in Fort Smith on Old Greenwood Road, (479)649-8602. Or, you can call the national number at 1(800)829-1040 and request a copy.
How do I check the status of my Financial Aid?
The easiest and best way is through
LionsLink. Once you log in, click on the
Money Matters tab and follow the "Financial Aid" links. While you're in there, you can view all of your account information. It must also be noted that you should carefully read any mail you receive from the Financial Aid office.
Back to Financial Aid Main
What can I do if I accidentally miss a deadline?
Students can contact our scholarship coordinator, Brockette Minnick, at 788-7090, and each student's situation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Will scholarships pay for my books and housing?
Students with financial aid and scholarships in excess of their tuition and fees can use their scholarships for books and housing unless the scholarship has been designated otherwise. Please contact our Scholarship Coordinator for questions regarding your specific scholarship.
Can scholarships be combined?
A student may only receive one UA Fort Smith scholarship at a time; however, you may combine other financial aid such as outside scholarships, Pell grant, and student loans. There are federal and state guidelines for combining scholarships, as well. No amount of aid of any kind can exceed your "Cost of Attendance," which is set by the school.
If I have all of my educational expenses paid, but still have scholarship money left, is my UA Fort Smith scholarship refundable to me?
No, UA Fort Smith scholarships are not refundable. However, some state and federal money may be refundable. Please contact the Financial Aid office for more specific information.
How do I renew my UA Fort Smith scholarship?
When you received your scholarship, you were given a contract with the specific requirements that are necessary to keep and renew your scholarship. Please refer to your contract. If you still have questions, you can contact Brockette Minnick at (479)788-7090.
Back to Scholarship Main
How do I apply for a Stafford Student Loan?
You must fill out the
FAFSA in order to receive a
Stafford Student Loan. When you fill out the FAFSA, you need to make sure to answer that "Yes," you are interested in student loans. Or, you can fill out a
Loan Request Form(
PDF) and return it to our office.
Why haven't I received my student loan yet?
In order to receive your loan funds, you must make certain that all of the following have been completed in full: you must be enrolled in at least 6 hours; you must accept your loan through
LionsLink; you must complete Entrance Counseling (see question below), as well as a Master Promissory Note. The Master Promissory Note is completed one time when you first borrow loan money, as long as you don't change your lender or your school.
Is a credit check performed for my student loans?
No, the Stafford program does not take into account a student's credit. If a credit check is being performed, you are not applying for a federal Stafford Student Loan.
What is "Entrance Counseling," and when do I complete it?
The counseling session provides information about how to manage your student loans, both during and after college. All first-time borrowers must complete the counseling before a loan will be processed and paid out.
What is an MPN?
A "Master Promissory Note" (or MPN) is a binding legal document you sign in order to get a student loan. It lists the terms and conditions under which you are borrowing, and the terms under which you agree to repay the loan. An MPN must be filled out if you are a first-time borrower, and if you choose to change lenders.
How will I receive my loan money?
Your loan funds will come to the school electronically. If you borrowed more than was necessary to cover all your tuition, books, and fees, a refund check will be mailed out to you within 2-3 business days after we receive the funds.
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I am enrolled as a full-time student; why didn't I receive the full amount of Pell Grant?
The Pell Grant is paid based on your currently attended credit hours. If you have courses that are in separate sections, or are late starting (such as the block Algebra classes), you could possibly receive an additional Pell payment after starting those courses.
Why didn't I get the same grants this year as last year?
Some grants, such as the SEOG, are awarded based not only on need, but also by the date the FAFSA is completed.
Back to Grants Main
If my award letter shows that I will be receiving Work Study funds, when will that be applied to my account?
If your letter shows a Work Study amount, that only indicates you are eligible for the Work Study program. That is, Work Study is an opportunity to get a job on campus and earn up to the amount on your award letter. Not everyone who applies will be hired. However, if you are interested, please complete an
application(
PDF) and return it to our office. If you are hired, the wages earned will be paid directly to you as you earn them.
If I do work study one semester, will my employer hold the job for me for the next semester?
The usual order of business from the fall to the spring is that you will be in the same job. However, over the summer terms, there may be many changes.
Back to Work Study Main
How often to I have to fill out a Request to Certify?
You have to fill out a Request to Certify once an aid year, which, for UA Fort Smith, runs Fall, Spring, Summer I, and Summer II.
Back to VA Main
About Us
5210 Grand Ave. • P.O. Box 3649