FSA fact sheet

Federal Student Aid FACTS

Applying for FSA

To apply for Federal Student Aid (FSA), a student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The information entered on the FAFSA must be accurate because it is used t

Determine eligibility for all types of FSA.
Calculate a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on income and assets. The EFC determines how much money a family is expected to contribute toward the cost of a student’s education.

Students must apply for FSA each year. FSA award is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Also, if a student changes colleges, s/he must check with the new college to find out the proper procedures to reapply for FSA for the new college.

To complete the FAFSA you may follow two different processes. First of all, you may go directly to the FAFSA on the Web site at www.fafsa.ed.gov and complete the form. Secondly, you may follow the process as outlined under Completing the FSA Intent Form.

School Code

In order to complete the online FAFSA form, students at AMU or APU will need to enter our school code (038193) listed on the FAFSA website. We are listed under American Public University System:

AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
111 WEST CONGRESS STREET
CHARLES TOWN, WV 25414

Federal School Code: 038193

AMU and APU students are now able to register for courses and choose Federal Student Aid as their payment option or to apply for deferment of current Federal Student loans.

What is Federal Student Aid (FSA)?
Federal Student Aid is a term that describes grant and loan programs that are administered by the United States Department of Education, such as Pell Grants and Stafford Loans. Military tuition assistance, veteran’s benefits, and GI Bill programs are not FSA programs.

Is there a way to find out how much financial aid I might receive?

Yes, there is. The FAFSA4caster can give you an estimate of your eligibility for Federal Student Aid (FSA). You'll need tax information (your tax return and/or w2's) on hand; click here to get started: www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/

How do I use FSA at AMU or APU?
New students who wish to use FSA to fund their program must complete the following steps at least six weeks prior to their course start date:

Apply for admission at AMU or APU and choose an eligible program of study. Most certificate programs will not be FSA eligible. If you have questions about program eligibilty, please call us at 877-777-9081.
Complete the online Orientation.
If you are a transfer student, submit the Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE) application, one-time Transfer Student Fee, Transcript Release Authorization (TRA), and supporting documentation.
If you have no credit to evaluate for transfer, submit either the high school transcript, Bachelor degree transcript, or appropriate graduate-level transcript.
Fill out the FSA Intent Form. This form is located under OTHER FORMS inside the e-campus. Students using military tuition assistance, veteran’s benefits or employer payment plans do not have to submit this form unless they intend to combine funding sources. Students who want a deferment of previously received Federal Stafford Loans or Grad PLUS loans must complete an Intent Form so that we can process the deferment on your behalf.
Fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have already completed a FAFSA, retrieve it and add the AMU/APU school code: 038193.
Watch your email for your log-in information and other important notifications as your FAFSA is being processed.

Returning students who wish to use FSA to fund their program must complete the following steps at least 5 to 6 weeks prior to their course start date:

Fill out the FSA Intent Form and choose a semester start date. You may not choose a start date that overlaps with courses that have not yet been completed. Example: If you are in a course that began in September and ends in January, your start date must be February or later. Students using military tuition assistance, veteran’s benefits or employer payment plans do not have to submit this form unless they intend to combine funding sources.
Fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Someone from our Financial Aid office will be contacting you to assist you with this step. If you have already completed a FAFSA, retrieve it and add the AMU/APU school code: 038193.

Your FSA Intent Form may be cancelled if:

The start month you selected on your form does not match the start month of classes for which you have registered
You are not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress

If your FSA Intent Form has been cancelled, you will be notified by email. In order to submit a new form, you will be required to:

  Drop all pending registrations
  Create a new FSA Intent Form
  Re-register for classes prior to the start of the selected semester

Should you have questions regarding the completion of the FSA Intent Form, please contact Financial Services at finaid@apus.edu or call 1-877-468-6268 ext. 3660.

Members of our Admissions and Financial Aid teams will be contacting you via phone and email to provide assistance, but should you have questions or need assistance at any time, please feel free to call us at 1-877-777-9081 or you can email us at info@apus.edu.

To directly contact our AMU/APU Financial Aid Office Help Desk please call (877) 372-3535.

Programs of Study — Which majors are eligible for FSA funding?

Based on Federal eligibility guidelines that state that students must, “Be an admitted student enrolled in an eligible program of study for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate,” APUS states that the following academic programs as of July 1, 2008 are approved programs by the U.S. Department of Education and students who qualify for Federal aid may receive aid if enrolled in one of the following programs:

Undergraduate Certificate Programs

Corrections Management
Enterprise Web Applications
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Family Studies
Fire Science
Forensics
Hazardous Waste Management
Homeland Security
Human Resource Management
Infant and Toddler Care
Information Security Planning
Instructional Design and Delivery
Intelligence Analysis
IT Infrastructure Security
Microsoft Access Database Applications
Military Leadership Studies
Paralegal Studies
Real Estate Management
Security Management
Space Studies
Terrorism Studies
United Nations
Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness
Web Publishing

Associate Degrees

	Eligible Associate of Arts Degrees
		Associates of Arts in Accounting Associates of Arts in Business Administration Associates of Arts in Communication Associates of Arts in Counter-Terrorism Studies Associates of Arts in History Associates of Arts in Hospitality Associates of Arts in Early Childhood Care & Education Associates of Arts in Military History Associates of Arts in Personnel Administration Associates of Arts in Real Estate Studies Associates of Arts in Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness
	Eligible Associate of Science Degrees
		Associates of Science in Computer Applications Associates of Science in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Associates of Science in Fire Science Associates of Science in Public Health Associates of Science in Paralegal Studies Associates of Science in Database Application Development Associates of Science in Web Publishing

Associate of General Studies programs are not eligible for Federal Student Aid

Bachelor’s Degrees

All Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degrees

All Master’s Degree including the Master’s in Education in Administration and Supervision and the Master's in Education in Guidance and Counseling. Please note that we are working diligently to get the rest of the Master’s Degrees in Education eligible for financial aid. Look for more information later in the summer.

At this time no graduate certificate programs qualify for Federal Student Aid. If you have any questions, please contact the FSA Help Desk at FSAHelpDesk@apus.edu.