Frequently Asked Questions
Office of Financial Aid
Frequently Asked Financial Aid Questions
Q: Do I need to be admitted before I can apply for financial aid at a particular university?
A: No. You can apply for financial aid any time after December 1. However, you must be admitted and enrolled at the university before receiving the funds. Students should submit the FAFSA as soon as possible. Once admitted, the university will be able to process your FAFSA.
Q: How do I apply for a Federal Pell Grant and other types of need-based aid?
A: Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Q: What is Southern University's school code?
A: The title IV code to be used on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is 002025.
Q: What is Verification?
A: Verification is the audit process of reviewing and determining a student's eligibility for Title IV assistance. The verification process determines the accuracy of the information a student and/or parent reports on his/her FAFSA.
Q: Who determines whether or not a student is selected for verification?
A: The U.S. Department of Education determines whether or not a student is selected for the audit process called verification. Students are selected based on the information reported on the FAFSA application.
Q: How do I obtain an IRS Tax Return Transcript?
A: To obtain an IRS Tax Return Transcript, go to www.IRS.gov and click the "Order a Return or Account Transcript" link, or call 1-800-908-9946.
Q: What is the difference between a dependent and an independent student?
A: To be considered an independent for the 2025-2026year, a student must meet at least one of the following requirements from the FAFSA questions:
From Question 1: Student Identity Information
- The student was born before January 1, 2002.
From Question 3: Student's Current Marital Status
- The student is married (not separated) or remarried as of the application date.
From Question 4: Student College or Career School Plans
- The student is a graduate or professional student during the award year.
From Question 5: Student Personal Circumstances
- The student serves on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training.
- The student is a veteran of the U.S. armed forces.
- The student has children or other people (excluding their spouse) who live with the student and receive
more than half of their support from the student now and between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. - The student was at any time since they turned the age 13 were an orphan (no living biological or adoptive parent).
- The student at any time since they turned the age 13, was in foster care or were a ward of the court.
- The student is or was a legally an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship, as determined by a court in the student’s state of legal residence.
- The student is or was in legal guardianship with someone other than their parent or stepparent, as determined by a court in their state of legal residience.
From Question 6: Student Other Circumstances
- The student was, at any time on or after July 1, 2023, determined to be unaccompanied and (1) homeless or (2) self-supporting and at risk of being homeless with a determination from one of the entities listed on the FAFSA form.
Q: If I do not live with my parent(s) and take full financial responsibility for myself, am I considered independent?
A: No, you are not considered an independent student. Useless if you meet the above-listed criteria.
Q: If my parent(s) did not carry me on their taxes, does that make me independent?
A: It has no bearing on being considered "independent" whether or not your parents claimed you on their tax return. The Higher Education Act established requirements for establishing independence. Several questions are addressed on the FAFSA. If the answer is "YES" to any of the questions, you will be considered "Independent" in the financial aid process. Please note: Answering "YES" to some of these questions may require you to submit additional documentation to the Office of Student Financial Aid to support your claim. Sometimes, simply answering "YES" will NOT automatically make you independent.
Q: How is the family size determined on FAFSA?
A: Since the family size is based on the number of individuals listed and claimed on the IRS tax return if transferred directly, family size does not need to be verified by the IRS and is unchanged. However, when information is not transferred from the IRS, or if the applicant updated their family size when presented with the opportunity to do so on their FAFSA, the following documentation is sufficient for verification:
- A statement signed by the applicant and, if the applicant is a dependent student, by one of the applicant's parents,
that lists the name and age of each family member for the 2024-25 award year and the relationship of that family
member to the applicant.
Q: What is Pell Grant?
A: A Pell Grant is money the government provides for students who need it to pay for college. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid.
Q: Who qualifies for the Pell Grant?
A: Pell Grants are awarded only to students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. To be eligible for a Pell Grant, you must also meet the general federal student aid eligibility requirements.
Q: What is the difference between a subsidized and unsubsidized loan?
A: Subsidized Stafford Loans are based on financial need. The government will pay the interest to the lender on this loan while you are in school, at least part-time, and during a six-month grace and any deferment periods. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are a non-need-based form of aid. Although the federal government sets the interest rate on these loans, keeping it low, borrowers are responsible for all interest accrued. Interest payments can be deferred until graduation and will then be capitalized and added to the loan's principal balance, or you can make payments on interest while in school.
Q: What is a promissory note?
A: A promissory note is a signed document containing a written promise to repay a stated sum to a specified source on a specified date. You must sign a promissory note to receive your loan funds. This can be done online at https://studentaid.gov/mpn/. No loan funds will be disbursed without a signed promissory note.
Q: What is entrance counseling?
A: All first-time borrowers must complete an entrance counseling session before receiving their loan funds. You will be informed about your borrower rights and responsibilities during this session. Entrance counseling can be completed at https://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/
A. Repayment of your loan begins six months:
- After you graduate
- Withdraw from school
- Or drop below half-time status.
Q: Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year?
A: Yes. You must apply for financial aid every year if you want to be considered for federal or state aid, including grants, loans, and work-study.
Q: How will I be notified of the types of aid I'm eligible for?
A: If you have applied for federal or state aid, the Office of Financial Aid will create a package specifically for your family and notify you by email with instructions on how to view your award notification online.
Q: Will I receive the same amount of financial aid each year?
A: Your financial situation can change yearly, so your award may be affected. Your package will be evaluated annually to account for changes in income, family status, satisfactory academic progress and enrollment status. Exceptional circumstances may arise during the time you are in attendance. Some circumstances may be considered through a request for Professional Judgment Review by the parent or student. Forms may be downloaded from our web page. Please complete the necessary documents and submit them to the office as needed.
Q: What is the income cutoff for financial aid eligibility?
A: There is no income cutoff because income alone is not the only consideration. We consider the entire household income, family size, number in college, medical expenses, and other information to help us give you the best package possible.
Because many factors make each family's financial situation unique, we cannot make our judgments on income alone.
Q: What if my family's financial circumstances change after I receive my financial aid award?
A: You and your family must notify our office if you have a change in your family circumstances that will likely affect your expected family contribution. These changes include a decrease/increase in income, a decrease/increase in the number of family members in the household or supported by parents or a decrease/increase in the number of family members attending college.
Keeping a copy of your completed financial aid applications as a record of what was reported is essential. Other changes, such as a loss or reduction of family income, also may constitute a reason to ask us to re-evaluate an earlier award. This process requires families to submit in writing a specific explanation of their situation, including an itemization of any reduction in income. Contact your Financial Aid Counselor for further instructions.
Q: How much are work-study students paid?
A: Students awarded federal Work Study at Southern are paid $10.00 an hour.
Q: How often do students get paid?
A: Federal Work Study students are paid twice a month.
Q: How many hours can a student work a week?
A: Maximum work hours allowed during enrollment periods 20hrs/week
Q: Are the only available spots for work-study located on campus?
A: No, we also offer off-campus work Study within the community.
Q: What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?
A: Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) evaluates students' academic history to determine Federal Student Aid (FSA) funds eligibility. Students must make satisfactory academic progress in an eligible curriculum as a degree-seeking student. The student's entire academic history is reviewed for this process regardless of whether the student received aid for the course work or credit hours attempted, regardless if the work transfers into Southern or towards a change of major, or irrespective of how long ago the courses were attempted at Southern or another school. The official SAP policy under financial aid can be found on the Southern University website.
Q: Why must you evaluate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?
A: Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) ensures students can complete their academic program promptly while achieving a minimum academic standard. In an age of increasing accountability for using Federal Student Aid funds (and other Federal, State, and Institutional funds), institutions and students must demonstrate that financial aid funds are being used to assist students in completing their academic goals most efficiently.
Q: Can I still take out student loans if I do not meet SAP?
A: When a student does not meet SAP, that student cannot receive Federal Student Aid, including Federal grants, Federal Direct Loans, or Federal work-study. The student may apply for Private Loans through a lender of his/her choice. Private Loans differ from Federal Direct Loans in that the lender will check the student's credit history, and the student may require a co-signer.
