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Financial Aid FAQ

Financial Aid FAQ

How can students file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online?
When does the FAFSA need to be submitted for the new school year?
What scholarships are available?
When can I apply for a Parent Plus loan?
What can I do to get extra money if financial aid does not cover?
What is verification and why did I get chosen?

How can students file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online?
Students can apply for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov. In order for us to receive your FAFSA, students must input our school code which is 001416.

When does the FAFSA need to be submitted for the new school year?
To receive your maximum eligibility you should complete your FASFA by March 1st of every year you plan to attend. However you may still submit your application after the deadline but we cannot guarantee your maximum eligibility.

What scholarships are available?
We have numerous scholarship opportunities. The application for admission serves as the application for most scholarships. We automatically consider admitted students for scholarships. Also, students should visit our website for further scholarships at www.bridgeport.edu/finaid

When can I apply for a Parent Plus loan?
Federal Parent PLUS Loans enable parents with good credit histories to borrow money to pay the education expenses of their children. Each child must be a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half time in an approved college or university. You should start applying for the Parent Plus loan 8 weeks before classes start at www.bridgeport.edu/finaid.

What can I do to get extra money if financial aid does not cover?
Your family doesn’t have to bear the whole cost of a college education by themselves. Paying for college is a partnership, and this partnership includes your family, the government, and the school your student selects. At the heart of this partnership is your family, which includes you, your student, and any other relatives who are willing to help out, such as grandparents. An option to help parents participate in this partnership is the Parent PLUS Loans. The primary benefit of the PLUS Loans is that parents can borrow federally guaranteed low interest loans to help pay for their child’s education. A Federal PLUS Loan allows parents to borrow the total cost of undergraduate education including tuition, room and board, supplies, lab expenses, travel less any other aid. These parent loans are non-need based. Eligibility for the PLUS Loan depends on a modest credit check that determines whether the parent has any adverse credit. Unlike other type of loans, including home equity, parent PLUS Loans require no collateral. Interest may be tax deductible.

What is verification and why did I get chosen?
Verification is a process to confirm information you provided on the FAFSA. These are the main reasons for being selected; you were chosen randomly by the U.S. Department of Education, the FAFSA you submitted was incomplete, your FAFSA contains estimated information or the data you provided on the FAFSA is inconsistent. If you are selected for FAFSA verification, you must provide specific documentation. Not all students selected for verification have to submit the same documents. Save the records and materials that you used to complete the FAFSA. Verification ensures that the information students and parents report is accurate. Verification prevents ineligible students from receiving aid by reporting false information and ensures that eligible students receive all of the aid for which they are qualified. The sooner you verify your information, the sooner you’ll be able to receive financial aid if you’re eligible.