faqs

For most types of assistance offered at K-State, you only need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA). You can fill it out online or pick up a paper version from your school counselor, advisor, or a Peer Advisor in the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The priority filing date for the upcoming academic year is March 1. You will need to know K-State's federal school code: 001928.

3. What kind of assistance can I apply for?

There are four ways to pay for college: grants, loans, work-study jobs, and scholarships. You can apply for the first three by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA). To apply for K-State scholarships, just complete the K-State Scholarship application.

4. How much money will I get?

You will not know how much money you are eligible for until you apply. Based on the information you provide on the FAFSA, K-State will prepare a financial assistance offer that may include federal grants, loans, work-study, and/or K-State scholarships. Be sure to meet the March 1 priority deadline to maximize your federal financial assistance.

5. How much money can I get from grants, federal work-study, and loans?

That depends on what types of federal assistance you’re awarded and how much financial need you have. Here are some ranges or financial assistance for an academic year.

Grants: $50 to $4,310.
Work-study: $800 to $2,500.
Subsidized Stafford Loans: $500 to $3,500 for freshmen students. See Loan Limits.

6. When will I find out about my application?

The first award notifications are mailed around April 1 to your permanent address. Electronic award notifications are also on the K-State Access Technology System (KATS), but you must have a K-State eID before getting into KATS. Your award notification will list the types of financial assistance you can expect to receive for the academic year. Your award notification might be delayed if you’re selected by the federal government for a process called verification or if you are not fully admitted into a degree-seeking program at K-State.

7. What is the status of my financial assistance?

The Office of Student Financial Assistance notifies students of their status both electonically and by mail. Make sure that your addresses are current in KATS. Read and respond to all mail and e-mail from the Office of Student Financial Assistance to make sure that your status is satisfactory. You can also check your status in KATS.

8. When and where will I get my financial assistance check?

Financial assistance is applied to your K-State student account at the beginning of the semester. Refund checks can usually be picked up in the Cashier's Office, in 211 Anderson Hall, the day the semester begins. If refund checks are not picked up within a week, they will be mailed to your local address in KATS.

9. Where is my financial assistance check sent?

Your financial assistance funds are sent directly to K-State from the federal government, other agencies, and donors and put into your K-State account in the Cashier's Office. The Cashier's Office automatically takes out payment for tuition, campus privilege fees, and other fees authorized by you. If there are any remaining funds, a refund check for the difference is printed and made out to you. You can pick up your refund check in the Cashier's Office, in 211 Anderson Hall, the day the semester begins. A more convenient way to receive your refund check is to have it electronically forwarded to your checking account when the semester begins. Please fill out this EFT form to take advantage of this convenient opportunity.

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FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

1. What is the FAFSA deadline? March 1 is the K-State priority deadline.

If you apply after this date, your chances for receiving all types of financial assistance will be reduced. Eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant and/or Federal Stafford Loans are not affected by this priority deadline. It’s easier to complete the application when you have already completed your income tax return. For more details, see FAFSA deadlines.

2. Why do I need a PIN?

You’ll need a personal identification number to electronically sign your FAFSA. If you don’t already have a PIN, please apply for a PIN now. Your financial assistance PIN is just like the PIN you get from your bank. It is confidential and should not be shared with anyone, even if someone else completes your FAFSA for you. If you’re a dependent student, your parents should also apply for a PIN so they can electronically sign your FAFSA.

3. My parents have more than one student in college. Do they need a separate PIN number for each student?

Your parents can use the same PIN to sign all the FAFSA forms. They don’t need a new number for each student, but a FAFSA needs to be completed for each student.

4. Can I estimate my tax information if I have not completed my taxes by the deadline?

You can estimate your taxes from the prior tax year on your FAFSA, but you may have to go back and correct your FAFSA if the income or tax information is incorrect. Filing your tax return first makes completing the FAFSA easier.

5. What is an EFC?

EFC stands for expected family contribution. The federal processor calculates this number based on the information you provide on your FAFSA. It represents how much you/your family can afford to pay toward your education for the academic year. The EFC is subtracted from your cost of attendance (COA) to determine your financial need. If you have any financial need, the Office of Student Financial Assistance will offer you need-based aid on your award notification. COA - EFC = Your financial need

6. My family’s financial situation has drastically changed since I filed the FAFSA. How do I report this?

In some instances, the Office of Student Financial Assistance can consider special circumstances (such as divorce or job loss) that are not reflected by information provided on the FAFSA. Contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance if this applies. You will be required to submit supporting documentation before your situation is reviewed.

7. Do I need to report my parents’ information on the FAFSA?

To be considered independent for financial assistance purposes you must be able to answer yes to at least one of the seven questions on the FAFSA . If you can answer yes, you do not need to report your parents' information.

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Loans

1. Besides the Federal Perkins and the Federal Stafford Loans, are there any other student loans available?

Many banks offer their own form of alternative student loans. The student is the legal borrower and usually only borrows these loans to cover additional expenses not covered by their federal, state, institutional, and other financial assistance.

2. What is a Federal Parent PLUS Loan?

A Federal Parent PLUS Loan is a low-interest, unsubsidized federal loan that allows a parent of a dependent student to assist in paying for the student's college education. If a student accepts the offer of a Parent PLUS Loan on an award notification and the parent wants to borrow the loan, the parent must apply for the Parent PLUS Loan. Additional information, including interest rate and associated loan fees, can be found in our publication: Stepping Through the Application Process.

3. Where is a Federal Parent PLUS Loan sent?

The parent’s lender initially sends the proceeds to K-State. If the parent has signed a release form that allows the student to receive the Parent PLUS Loan proceeds, the student will be able to pick up a refund check at the Cashier's Office, in 211 Anderson Hall. If the parent did not sign the release, a check will be printed and mailed to the parent at the address listed on the PLUS Loan application.

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Scholarships

1. What types of scholarships are available?

K-State offers scholarships based primarily on merit. In order to qualify for general scholarships, prospective and incoming freshmen students must be admitted to the university and have completed a K-State scholarship application by November 1. Priority date for current students and transfer students is February 1.

2. How do I apply for scholarships?

There is only one scholarship application at K-State. You can fill out the paper application in our application workbook, available through our Office of Admissions, or you can fill it out online on the K-State scholarship application. The only scholarships not included in this process are athletic and performance scholarships. Prospective and incoming freshmen students must submit the K-State scholarship application by November 1 of the preceding academic year. Current students and transfer students must submit the K-State scholarship application by February 1 of the preceding academic year.

3. I’m getting a non-university scholarship. Will this affect my financial assistance?

Please notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance as soon as you learn that you will receive any non-university scholarships or funding. Non-university funding may affect your financial assistance, especially your loan eligibility.

4. How will I get my non-university scholarship?

Most non-campus scholarship agencies send scholarship checks to K-State. If you receive a non-university scholarship check directly from a scholarship agency, please endorse it and write your full name and Student ID number on the front of the check. Then mail or deliver the check to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

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Award Notification

1. I just got my award notification. What do I do now?

If you received a paper award notification, please read all enclosed pages carefully. If you received an electronic award notification through KATS, please read all the information regarding your awards. After reviewing your award notification, make any changes or deletions you desire and submit it to the Office of Student Financial Assistance. If you received a paper award notification, please keep one copy for your own records.

2. I still haven’t received an award notification. Why?

There are three reasons this could happen. (1) K-State did not receive your FAFSA information. You must list K-State (school code 001928) on the FAFSA as a school to receive your information or the Office of Student Financial Assistance will not know you want financial assistance. Please contact the Department of Education to add K-State to your list of schools. (2) Your K-State application file is not complete. Please check with the Office of Student Financial Assistance to determine what you need to do to complete your file. (3) You did not update your addresses with K-State and your award notification was mailed to an old address. Please update your mailing addresses in KATS.

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SAR (student aid report)

1. I just received my student aid report (SAR). What do I do with it?

This report is sent to you by the fedearl government. It summarizes financial and other information reported on the FAFSA. Your financial aid need or eligibility is indicated by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is printed on the document. Read the SAR and check it for accuracy. If there are no corrections, keep the SAR for your records. If you need to make corrections, do so and submit the SAR online. After the corrections are made, you will receive a new SAR. For further assistance: FAFSA Corrections.

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Flight account

1. How does the flight account work for students in the pilot program?

Your flight account is separate from your student account, although it is also maintained in the Controller's Office. You are required to put in a percentage (usually 25%) of the estimated semester flight costs before you can begin flying.

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Federal Work-Study

1. What is Federal Work-Study?

Federal Work-Study is a program that helps you earn money for college by working on campus. Typical work-study awards range from $800 to $2,500. Most jobs are on campus and pay by the hour. You will be responsible for finding a work-study job and must be enrolled at least half time (6 credit hours per semester for undergraduates or 5 graduate credit hours per semester for graduates).

2. How do I get Federal Work-Study?

Consideration for Federal Work-Study is given to students who demonstrate financial need and meet K-State's priority date for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For the 2008-2009 academic year, our priority date is March 1, 2008. You must indicate on the FAFSA that you are interested in work-study as part of your financial assistance.

3. How do I find a Federal Work-Study job?

Check out the part-time job list on K-State’s Career and Employment Services Web site, which includes an up-to-date listing of part-time job opportunities.

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Transfer and Non-Traditional Students

1. I’m transferring from another school to K-State next semester. What do I need to do?

If you have not filed the FAFSA, you will need to do so and list K-State in the school section. The K-State school code is 001928. If you have already filed the FAFSA, but did not list K-State in the school section, you will need to call the Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243 or update your FAFSA online to add K-State to the school section.

2. What type of assistance is available to transfer and non-traditional students?

There are four basic types of financial assistance available to help you meet your educational costs: grants, scholarships, educational loans, and student employment.

3. How do I apply?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for more information.

4. What scholarships are available for transfer and non-traditional students?

If you are a transfer student, see the Transfer scholarship checklist for additional information.

If you are a non-traditional student, please do the following:

Submit the K-State scholarship application by February 1 of the preceding academic year. Adult non-traditional undergraduates should also submit typed information that includes address, Social Security Number, student status (full or part-time), and one paragraph each describing: (1) your career goals/plans, (2) your financial need, and (3) your unique circumstance to Adult Student Services, Kansas State University, 101 Holton Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-1305, by February 1 of the preceding academic year.

5. What should I do if I'm transferring to K-State for the spring semester and want to continue receiving financial assistance?

Please call the Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243 or update your FAFSA online to add K-State to the school section of the FAFSA. You will need your PIN number given to you by the Department of Education and K-State's federal school code (001928).

6. Do I have to be admitted to K-State before I receive assistance?

Yes, you must be admitted into a degree program. Your FAFSA can be processed once the Office of Admissions has notified you that you have been admitted to K-State.

7. Since I'm transferring, will my checks be at K-State next semester?

Depending on how soon you begin the process of having your financial assistance information sent to K-State, your checks may or may not arrive in time for the start of the semester. Please plan accordingly.

8. I have previous student loans. Do I need to do anything for them?

Yes. You will want to obtain an in-school deferment form from the holder of your loans. Submit that form to the Registrar's Office at K-State. Be sure to complete your information first. The registrar will complete the certification portion of the deferment. You will then need to mail the in-school deferment(s) to each of your loan holders.

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Special circumstances

1. How do I acquire independent status?

Not living with your parents doesn’t automatically classify you as independent. Independent status is determined by the federal government based on eight FAFSA questions about your birth date, degree, marital status, veteran status, and more. To be considered independent for financial assistance purposes you must be able to answer yes to at least one of the eight questions in step 3 on the paper FAFSA or step 2 on the online FAFSA. If you can answer yes, you do not need to report your parents' information.

2. What if I have a special circumstance?

If you have a special circumstance, such as your family’s unusual medical expenses or recent unemployment, K-State may be able to adjust your financial assistance. Contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance if you think you might have these, or other, special circumstances.

3. I’m dropping a class. Will this affect my financial assistance?

Current and future financial assistance eligibility can be affected by dropping credit hours. In order to determine your future eligibility for financial assistance, the Office of Student Financial Assistance tracks credit hours completed in relation to the credit hours attempted.

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Verification

1. What is verification?

Verification is a process that ensures that the information you report on your FAFSA is accurate. Approximately 30% of students are randomly selected by the federal government to go through the verification process.

2. What happens if I’m selected for verification?

You will be required to submit your and your parents’ signed federal income tax returns with W-2 forms and any schedules you filed with your and your parents' tax returns. You will also be required to complete the institutional verification forms. Any discrepancies our office finds must be corrected, and your financial assistance eligibility may be affected.

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