Steps to Federal Stafford Loan
Financial aid is available to students who are enrolled at least half-time as a regular degree-seeking student. To apply for financial aid, all students must complete the following steps. All financial aid forms are available at www.apu.edu/graduatecenter/sfs/forms/.
STEP 1: FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
It is recommended that you use actual figures from your income tax return. This form can be most accurately completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. APU’s Title IV Code is 0001117.
The FAFSA can take 2-3 weeks to process before the school receives the electronic data, so please plan ahead.
STEP 2: GSLW (Graduate Stafford Loan Worksheet)
Your Offer of Assistance cannot be processed until you have completed the Graduate Stafford Loan Worksheet and APU receives information electronically from Central FAFSA Processing. You must be admitted and attending at least half-time, have completed your FAFSA and GSLW by April 1 to ensure processing of your Offer of Assistance before the coming fall semester.
STEP 3: SAR (Student Aid Report)
After you have submitted your FAFSA, you will receive a SAR. Read through the SAR carefully and review it for any incorrect information. If there are corrections that need to be made to your SAR, please make the corrections online for faster processing. This form will also tell you if you are chosen for verification. Please read the first page carefully to determine if you have been chosen for verification or if there are other issues that need to be resolved.
STEP 4: Verification – (Selected students only)
The Department of Education randomly selects approximately 30 percent of all students who have completed the FAFSA for a process called verification. If you are selected, you will be notified on your Student Aid Report (SAR) and will need to submit additional documentation to the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services. Minimum additional documentation includes a signed copy of your (and your spouse’s if you were married as of the date you completed the FAFSA form) 2006 Federal Income Tax Return and all supporting tax documents, and a verification worksheet completed and signed by you (and your spouse, if applicable).
STEP 5: Correction Documents (Only if corrections are needed)
If your SAR has any processing problems, you will be notified that we may need correction documents. These documents may include a copy of your Social Security Card, Birth Certificate page or Selective Service letter. Please check the first page of your SAR to determine if there are any issues that may need to be resolved. If you have questions about what may or may not be needed, please contact your Student Account Counselor.
STEP 6: Offer of Assistance
The Offer of Assistance will be sent to you with a list of all the needed forms and processes for you to complete. APU’s student priority deadline for completing the Offer of Assistance is June 1. Students who complete their Offer of Assistance by June 1 can expect loan funds to be disbursed as early as the first week of classes if they are enrolled at least half-time.
STEP 7: Online Entrance Interview and Master Promissory Note (For first-time graduate loan recipients at APU)
First-time graduate borrowers need to complete the Stafford Online Loan Entrance Interview and Loan Application paperwork at www.apu.edu/graduatecenter/sfs/loan/. Click “Begin Federal Stafford Loan Application.” As a new first-time user to Sallie Mae, you will be asked to create a new account login with user ID and password. Graduate Financial Services will receive daily reports listing students who have completed the Loan Entrance paperwork. All Stafford Loan borrowers are required to complete the entrance interview before their Stafford Loan funds can be disbursed.
STEP 8: Second Review/Compliance Check
Once the Offer of Assistance paperwork is complete, Graduate Student Financial Services will complete a second review and compliance check of all information to ensure compliance. Then your request for financial aid will be processed.
STEP 9: Refund Check
If you have a credit balance from your Federal Stafford and/or Federal Graduate Plus Loan(s) that is above and beyond the cost of current semester charges, your student account counselor will process your refund based on your answer to the Statement of Permission question on your Loan Request Form. You could be responsible to repay any refund you receive should you completely withdraw from the university.
- Per federal regulations, all required loan paperwork and processes must be completed and sent to the bank while the student is still in class.
- Keep copies of all information that you fill out and submit to APU.
- Financial aid is a lengthy process. Please start as early as possible and respond quickly to all requests for additional information from Graduate Student Financial Services.
- If you have any questions about the process or want to check your status, please call your student account counselor.
