Federal Student Aid Need to Know

We recommend applying for Federal Student Aid (FSA) funding as soon as possible and at least 10 days before the month you intend to use it. You must be in an FSA-eligible program and meet basic FSA eligibility requirements to receive FSA. Visit our website for a complete list of ineligible FSA programs, and visit StudentAid.gov for basic eligibility requirements.

1. Complete the FAFSA with our school code (038193; WV) for each award year. You will need an FSA ID for this step.
   • Monitor for access to your FAFSA Submission Summary from the Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid.
   • Allow 1-3 business days for the school to receive your FAFSA results.
2. Register for courses and establish an academic year. Log into your ecampus and select "Register Now" from the top banner in your ecampus, select "Yes" to indicate you plan to use FSA, and select your FSA Academic Year start date, which places you in two consecutive 16-week semesters.
   • You must take at least one course in the start month of your academic year.
   • Register for all courses you plan to take within your entire 16-week semester before each semester begins
   • All courses must fit within each semester's start and end date
   • You must be enrolled at least half-time, per semester, to be eligible for student loans.
3. Access "My Financial Aid Office" in the Finance Center of your ecampus.
   • Log into your ecampus and access "My Financial Aid Office" under Federal Student Aid in the Finance Center. Here, you can monitor when the school receives your FAFSA, review your estimated package, and complete any required documents.
   • When you have completed all the steps in “My Financial Aid Office” and submitted your electronic financial aid file, allow 7-business days for review. 
   • Continue to monitor your email inbox for updates from [email protected]; additional documentation may be required. Ensure your email inbox is set to receive emails from [email protected].
   • Master Promissory Note (MPN): If you plan to borrow Federal Student Loans, you must sign an MPN (also known as a loan agreement) through https://studentaid.gov/mpn/.
4. Review your Confirmed Package: You will receive an email notification when your financial aid package is confirmed. Understanding your costs and financial aid package will help you effectively plan your budget for the academic year.   
   • All financial aid packages are assumed to be accepted unless you communicate otherwise to the university. 
5. Activate your BankMobile account
   • Use the PIN code you received in the mail to activate your account and select an option for receiving any credit balance refund.
6. Access Your Student Ledger: You can access your student ledger through the My Student Account link under the Finance Center menu in the ecampus. The ledger will list:  
   • Course registrations
   • Tuition and fee charges
   • Any outstanding balances
   • Credits on account
   • Payments received (type and amount)
   • Anticipated funding/payments (type and amount)
7. Maintain FSA Eligibility: You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to ensure FSA eligibility each semester.
   • Dropping or withdrawing from a course after your semester begins may require a recalculation of FSA and a return of funds; contact a Financial Aid Advisor if you are considering making changes.
8. Disbursements and Timing: Federal Direct Loan and Pell Grant funds disburse in installments over an academic year and each semester. Funds are paid directly to the university and applied towards semester charges. Disbursement timeframes vary by student population. For more specific information, please see the Disbursement Policy. Generally, funds are disbursed 30-45 days after the semester has started.