Advisor Financial FAQ | 2025 Resources
The Office of Student Financial Assistance has prepared this list of answers to frequently asked questions so academic advisors can better support their students.
Helpful Links
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get assistance completing the FAFSA? OSFA – triage with Wildcat One-Stop and/or escalate to financial aid advisor
How can I get assistance completing a financial aid appeal? (This is specifically for students who may need to appeal because they didn’t get aid that they thought they would get, i.e. Pell Grant or other aid, based on their FAFSA.) OSFA – triage with Wildcat One-Stop. Financial Aid advisors can explore the context for each student to assist.
Where can I find scholarships? OSFA – triage with Wildcat One-Stop for rudimentary information.
I can’t pay the balance for my semester, what do I do? OSFA – triage with Wildcat One-Stop. For example, have you filed a FAFSA? Have you been awarded aid? If not, why not?
I have a cashier’s hold on my account; I can’t pay the balance. OSFA – triage with Wildcat One-Stop. See previous question/answer. If (all) possible aid options are exhausted – possible intervention with Cashier’s Office to place student on payment plan.
I don’t understand how my financial aid works. OSFA – triage with level #1 information at Wildcat One-Stop. Possible escalation for more contextual/complex questions centered on specific circumstances.
Do I have to do work-study if I received it as part of my financial aid? OSFA – triage with Wildcat One-Stop.
I don't understand my bill/financial statement. Check out this comprehensive tuition and fee schedule. For more questions, refer to Cashier's Office.
My parents don't help me pay for college but because of how much they make, I'm not getting financial aid. How do I pay for college? OSFA - typically this requires nuanced counseling from a financial aid advisor.
I don't know how I'm going to pay for college, rent, food, gas... Collaborative effort between Powercat Financial and OSFA. Refer to Powercat Financial and then they'll refer to Financial Aid as needed.
Can I pay for college without student loans? OSFA – best resource to answer this question. The vast majority of K-State students do not receive sufficient “free/gift” funds to cover all cost of attendance components. Consequently, loans or independent out of pocket payments are needed to ensure that a student can attend.
How do I determine how much student loan debt I will be able to afford after college? Collaborative effort between Powercat Financial and OSFA. Much depends upon the student’s reliance on student loans to close the COA “gap” and the earnings potential of the student’s educational credential.
How many credit hours do I need to enroll in each semester to maintain my scholarship? Generally, full time – 12 or more credit hours per semester. Student can check the scholarship renewal requirements or contact OSFA for insight.
I got an email about accepting a scholarship - is this email legit? (Typically they are official emails from K-State.) Wildcat One-Stop is the best place to get a quick answer or contact OSFA.
What are the GPA requirements for my scholarship? OSFA - consult renewal requirements shared at time of initial award. General information is online. If questions remain, OSFA can assist.
If I don't meet my scholarship requirements, can I get the scholarship back if my grades improve later? OSFA - much will depend on the sponsor of the scholarship.
Can I keep my scholarship during the final semester of college if I am a part-time student? OSFA - much will depend on the sponsor of the scholarship.
How do I apply for scholarships? Check out OSFA web resources. Have questions not addressed on-line? Check in with your financial aid advisor.
What are the deadlines for FAFSA and KSN? Check out OSFA web resources. If help is still needed, check in with your financial aid advisor.
What scholarships am I eligible for through KSN? How do I find other scholarships? Check out OSFA web resources. If help is still needed, the student can check in with Wildcat OneStop.
If I fill out the KSN application in early fall, are there any scholarships that could apply for the spring? Or is the KSN only evaluated once per year after the spring deadline? Messaging from both Wildcat One-Stop and/or OSFA staff will likely center on the fact that this information mostly depends on what entity makes the foundation sourced scholarship award out of KSN. Much will depend on which attributes of the student will successfully match up to available funding sources and scholarship donor wishes.
How much do classes cost? Check out these great Cashier's Office resources for this answer.
Is the cost for in-person classes lower than the cost of online classes? You can check out the Comprehensive tuition and fee schedules and contact the cashier’s office for more detailed information if needed.
How do I understand the balance showing on my KSIS account? How do I read my statements? Check out these great Cashier's Office resources for this answer and contact the cashier’s office for more detailed information as needed.
When is my balance due? Check out this FAQ list to help with this question.
How do I dispute charges from my apartment's landlord? Hi! Dr. M from Powercat Financial here. As an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) I have helped people with this question before and while there are some generalities, a lot of it is situation by situation. It depends on the charges and the reason for the charges.
1. City of Manhattan resources
2. K-State has a Tenant Handbook that may also be helpful.
3. If the student still needs help, they are welcome to email or call me directly. I am not an attorney and cannot provide legal advice.
1. City of Manhattan resources
2. K-State has a Tenant Handbook that may also be helpful.
3. If the student still needs help, they are welcome to email or call me directly. I am not an attorney and cannot provide legal advice.
Can, or how do I dispute K-State parking ticket charges? K-State Parking Office is the best resource for this question. Also, check out this K-State Today article for a Spring 2025 ticket resolution option.
If a student will not be enrolled for Fall semester because of internship, etc. can they receive their scholarships or other financial aid for the upcoming spring term? What do they need to do in order to receive the aid? If the student is not attending in the Fall or taking an internship class through K-State, the student would not receive anything for the Fall but would still be eligible for both the scholarship and the financial aid during the Spring. The student would not be eligible for the scholarship after the Spring term because the student would not have met the renewal requirements of completing 24 K-State credit hours. They would have the option of doing a scholarship appeal for a committee to determine if eligibility can be regained for the following school year.
A student lost their non-resident tuition waiver because their GPA dipped below 3.0. Now that their GPA is back above 3.0, will the scholarship be reinstated? If at the end of the Spring term, the student has a cumulative GPA below 3.0, the student will go into a probationary year where they will not receive the scholarship. If at the end of the probationary year (Spring) they have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, they will receive the scholarship for the following year. They will not receive the scholarship retroactively. If the cumulative GPA remains below 3.0 by the end of the probationary year(spring), the student will lose the scholarship entirely. Eligibility is determined by the end of the Spring and the scholarship is not reinstated mid-year.