Federal Student Aid FACTS

Preparing to Apply for Federal Student Aid (FSA) Please review the following items that must be satisfied in order for any student to receive Federal Student Aid: Satisfactory Academic Progress Academic Semester and Academic Year Enrollment Status Requirements Course Drop/Withdrawal Consequences Satisfactory Academic Progress Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to receive Federal Student Aid.  According to Federal Regulations, students who fail to make satisfactory progress towards their degree or certificate may lose their ability to receive Federal Student Aid.  Students who lose their aid may appeal the loss provided there are ‘mitigating circumstances’ that inhibited their academic progress.  There are THREE criteria used to measure Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP):  Cumulative grade point average (qualitative) Credit hour completion (quantitative) Program deadline Our university system evaluates SAP at the beginning of each semester, defined as a 16-week period of academic study, and prior to the student receiving FSA for the first time at our university. The requirements of each criterion must be met and are described in detail below: Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA):  Cumulative GPA is the qualitative measure of SAP, meaning that it looks at the quality of the grades that each student earns in their courses.  Cumulative GPA is calculated after 12 undergraduate credits or 9 graduate credits are earned at one of our universities.  Evaluation thereafter occurs in the segments listed in the table below.  Only credits completed at one of our universities with a final grade of A through F count towards the CGPA calculation. To meet SAP requirements students must maintain a CGPA that meets or exceeds our minimum as shown in the chart below.  Students who fail to meet CGPA requirements also fail to meet SAP requirements, and will be denied Federal Student Aid.  (Information on Loss of FSA Eligibility is located under Policies and Procedures for Award of FSA.) Satisfactory Academic Progress Criteria Based on CGPA & Credits Completed Total Credits Completed (including transferred credits*) Minimum CGPA Required for Financial Aid Undergraduate Students 12 1.00 13-24 1.25 25-36 1.50 37-96 1.75 97+ 2.00 Graduate Students 9 2.00 10-18 2.50 19-27 2.75 28+ 3.00 *Credits transferred in from another college or university via an official Transfer Credit Evaluation is factored into the calculation of how many credits a student has completed for determining where on the chart the minimum cumulative GPA threshold will be determined.  For example, an undergraduate student with no transfer credits must have a minimum CGPA of 1.00 once they have completed their first 12 credits.  However, a student who transferred in 15 credits and then earned his/her first 12 credits must have a minimum CGPA of 1.50 (15 transfer credits plus 12 credits completed equals 27 completed credits which falls into the 25-36 total credits completed range in the chart above). Credit Hour Completion:  Credit hour completion is the quantitative measure of SAP, meaning that you must complete a certain percentage of your courses to maintain eligibility for Federal Student Aid.  Each academic program within our university system has a defined number of credit hours required for completion.  A student must complete his/her program within 150% of the published credits.  (For example, if your program requirements are 120 credits, you must satisfy all requirements of your program without having to attempt more than 180 credits.) Courses with a final undergraduate grade of A through D- or a final graduate grade of A through C will be counted towards credits completed.  Final grades that fall below the minimums (D- for undergraduates, C for graduates) are not counted as credits completed but will be used to determine credits attempted. Students who withdraw from a course are considered as having attempted the course.  Students who drop a course are considered as having not dropped the course. Courses with grades of incomplete (“I”) will not be counted as attempted until a final grade is earned by the student or the Registrar or Instructor converts the “I” grade to an “F.” Courses that are dropped prior to the course start date or during the add/drop period in Week One will not count towards attempted credits. Please note:  All students are required to log into each of their courses during Week One to confirm their attendance. Students who do not log into their classrooms during Week One will be dropped from any courses which has not been attended. Detailed information on classroom attendance can be viewed inside the online Student Handbook by clicking here. Remedial courses do not count towards attempted credits.  Any course in which the student remains beyond Week One will count towards attempted courses regardless of the grade received. Repeated courses will count as attempted courses. To maintain SAP, students must achieve a minimum percentage of credits earned versus credits attempted.   SAP Criteria Based on Credits Attempted versus Credits Completed Credits Attempted Credits Completed % Undergraduate Students 12 50% 13-24 60% 25-36 65% 37+ 67% Graduate Students 9 50% 10-18 60% 19+ 67% Credits transferred in from another college or university is not used in determining the percentage of credits completed.  Only those courses attempted and completed at AMU or APU are used to determine the percentage of credits completed for the quantitative measure.  However, after the percentage is calculated, any transfer credits that a student has from another college or university will be added to their credits attempted at AMU or APU to determine where they fall on the chart above. Example 1:  Student registers for 12 credits as an undergraduate student at AMU.  Student also has 12 transfer credits from College A.  At the end of the semester, here are the grades for the student: Courses Attempted    Course 1 (3 credits) Course 2 (3 credits)  Course 3 (3 credits)   Course 4 (3 credits)   Grades W F B C This student has attempted 12 credits at AMU, but has only successfully completed 6 of those credits (Course 3 and Course 4).  So their percentage of credits completed would be 50%.  The next step is to look at the chart above and determine what percentage is needed to make SAP.  To determine this, you must add ALL attempted credits, which would give you 24 credits (12 attempted at AMU + 12 transfer from College A = 24).  You then find where 24 credits falls on the chart above, and you will see that the student needs to have completed 60% of their AMU courses to make SAP.  So this student is not making SAP, and will no longer be eligible for their Federal Student Aid.  Example 2:  Student registers for 15 credits as a graduate student at APU.  Student has no transfer credits.  The student drops 3 credits during add/drop week of the semester.  Here are the grades for the student at the end of the semester: Courses Attempted    Course 1 (3 credits) Course 2 (3 credits)  Course 3 (3 credits)   Course 4 (3 credits)   Course 5 (3 credits) Grades W DP B F F This student has only attempted 12 credits at APU, because dropped courses do not count toward attempted courses.  The student has successfully completed 3 credits (Course 3).  So the percentage of credits completed would be 25% (3 completed / 12 attempted = 25%).  This student would not be making SAP. Program Deadline Program deadline start dates are determined when the student completes Week One of their initial course(s). Students must complete their program within the timeframe allowed as follows: Associate's Degree 7 years Bachelor’s Degree 10 years Master’s Degree 7 years Undergraduate Certificate Program 3 years >> Return to Top Academic Semester & Academic Year Students receiving Federal Student Aid (FSA) must follow an academic calendar which consists of an ‘Academic Year’ and two ‘Academic Semesters’. All courses taken must fit within the start and end dates of the ‘Academic Semester’. Once an Academic Year is started (Academic Start dates are listed below), registrations will not be accepted outside the student’s Academic Year.  Students are encouraged to work with their student advisor or the Provost’s Office if courses critical to their graduation are needed.  Academic Year (32 weeks, excluding breaks) Semester 16 weeks Semester 16 weeks Session I (16 weeks) Session I (16 weeks) Session II (8 weeks) Session III (8 weeks) Session II (8 weeks) Session III (8 weeks) Session IV (8 weeks) Session IV (8 weeks) For Financial Aid purposes, the student academic year at either of our universities is defined as 32 weeks of instructional time.  Within the weeks of the academic year, a full-time undergraduate student must be expected to complete at least 24 semester hours (12 hours each semester) and a graduate student must complete 18 semester hours (9 hours each semester). For detailed information on undergraduate grade level determination (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior), please visit Policies and Procedures for FSA Award. Academic Start Dates Prior to registering for courses, students pursuing FSA will complete a Federal Student Aid Intent Form where they will select their Academic Start Date (refer to Completing the FSA Intent Form for more information). Once the start date is selected, students must take courses that fall within their ‘Academic Semester’.  The table below lists ‘Start dates’ and their corresponding Academic Semesters and the Academic Year attached to the start date. Academic Year Start Date 1st Semester 2nd Semester July 7, 2008 7/7/2008 to 10/26/2008 11/3/2008 to 3/1/2009 August 4, 2008 8/4/2008 to 11/30/2008 12/1/2008 to 3/29/2009 September 1, 2008 9/1/2008 to 12/28/2008 1/5/2009 to 4/26/2009 October 6, 2008 10/6/2008 to 1/25/2009 2/2/2009 to 5/31/2009 November 3, 2008 11/3/2008 to 3/1/2009 3/2/2009 to 6/28/2009 December 1, 2008 12/1/2008 to 3/29/2009 4/6/2009 to 7/26/2009 January 5, 2009 1/5/2009 to 4/26/2009 5/4/2009 to 8/30/2009 February 5, 2009 2/2/2009 to 5/31/2009 6/1/2009 to 9/27/2009 March 2, 2009 3/2/2009 to 6/28/2009 7/6/2009 to 10/26/2009 April 6, 2009 4/6/2009 to 7/26/2009 8/3/2009 to 11/29/2009 May 4, 2009 5/4/2009 to 8/30/2009 9/7/2009 to 12/27/2009 >> Return to Top Enrollment Status Requirements A student's enrollment status (the number of credits registered for in a semester) will influence the amount of Federal Student Aid (FSA) a student will receive.  To be eligible for FSA, you must enroll in consecutive Academic Semesters with an enrollment status of at least half-time.  Undergraduate students need a minimum of 6 credits per semester and graduate students at least 3 credit hours in order to be eligible for Federal Student Aid.  Students must maintain at least half-time status so that it does not affect their Federal Stafford Loan eligibility.  Enrollment status is the same if you are in a certificate or degree program. Undergraduate (Bachelor’s Degree) Graduate (Master’s Degree) Full-time 12 credits + 9 credits + 3/4 time 9 credits 6 credits Half-time 6 credits 3 credits Less than half-time 3 credits N/A >> Return to Top Course Drop/Withdrawal Consequences Dropping or withdrawing from courses may affect a student’s enrollment status thus affecting Federal Student Aid eligibility.  If a course drop or withdrawal leaves a student below half-time status at any point during a semester, they may become ineligible for Federal Student loans, including any funds that have already disbursed.  Detailed information about Course Drops and Withdrawals and the tuition refund policy is located in the online Student Handbook under Drop/Withdrawal Policy. >> Return to Top

Eligibility for Federal Student Aid To be eligible for Federal Student Aid, students must: a. Be an admitted student enrolled in an eligible program of study for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate.  b. Not be enrolled solely in remedial coursework. c. Not be currently enrolled in a secondary school.  d. Have a high school diploma or the recognized equivalent (such as a GED).  e. Be a U.S. citizen or national, or an eligible non-citizen (verification of eligible non-citizen status may be required). f. Have a valid Social Security Number.  g. Not have been convicted of an illegal drug-related offense. If convicted, the student must visit FAFSA online, click “Before Beginning a FAFSA” and complete the “Drug Worksheet” (on the left) to determine if it will affect eligibility. Additional help is available by calling 800-4FED-AID (800/433-3243). h. Be enrolled at least half-time if applying to receive FFEL (Federal Family Education Loans). i. Not be incarcerated.   j. Not be in default on a Federal Student loan or owe an overpayment on a Federal Student Aid Grant or Loan. k. Not have borrowed in excess of the annual or aggregate loan limits for the Federal Student Aid.  l. If the student is male, he must be registered with Selective Service as required. m. Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) once approved for funding. (See Preparing to Apply for Federal Student Aid, under Satisfactory Academic Progress.) n. Certify that federal student aid will only be used for educational purposes. o. Demonstrate financial need exept for certain loans. *Students may only receive FSA funds at one institution at a time.   Therefore, a student should receive Federal Aid at the institution where the student intends on receiving his/her degree.  Please contact Financial Services at finaid@apus.edu if you have any questions.

Completing the FSA Intent Form Prior to registering for courses, students pursuing Federal Student Aid (FSA) must complete an online Federal Student Aid Intent Form where they will select their Academic Start Date. For students who are beginning to use Federal Student Aid for some or all of their tuition, the FSA Intent form will be available inside their online campus. For existing students who are beginning to use Federal Student Aid for some or all of their tuition, the FSA Intent form will be available inside their online campus.  After completing the FSA Intent Form, the student will continue on to register for his/her first semester.  Once a student has had their Intent Form validated, s/he will be sent an email that will explain where they need to go inside their online campus to access the university’s Financial Aid Office. Students who want to apply for a deferment for previous loans borrowed must complete a FSA Intent Form.  For more information about the Deferment process go to the Managing Federal Student Loans section of the FACT Sheet.

Available FSA Programs Federal Grant Programs Federal Loan Programs Federal Grant Programs Pell Grant Program – Undergraduates Only Federal Pell Grants are grants that do not have to be repaid. Pell grants are only awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. The Pell Grant Program provides grants to undergraduate students who have: Demonstrated financial need Have not received a Bachelor’s or other Professional Degree Meet the other requirements for Federal Student Assistance The Department of Education uses an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) formula to determine student eligibility and funding amounts.  The maximum Federal Pell Grant for the 2008-2009 award year is $4,731. The amount of Pell Grant will depend on: EFC (Expected Family Contribution) Cost of attendance at the university Enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, or less-than- half-time). Academic Competitiveness Grant – 1st and 2nd Year Undergraduates Only The Academic Competitiveness Grant is a grant that does not need to be repaid. An eligible student may receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) of $750 for the first academic year of study and $1,300 for the second academic year.  To be eligible for each academic year, a student must: Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen beginning on July 1, 2008 Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second-year student)” Be enrolled full-time or at least half-time in a degree program Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his/her program of study at a two- or four- year degree-granting institution First year students may not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program Second year students must have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year The program was available for the first time for the 2006-07 school year for first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 and for second year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005 The U.S. Department of Education will notify students who may be eligible for an ACG based on the information provided on the student’s 2007 – 2008 FAFSA.  The student must then go to a website and self-identify their eligibility with the program completed.  Our university will verify this information and students who meet all of the criteria may be eligible to receive this grant.  The Department will notify the school whether the student meets the criteria. National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant – 3rd & 4th Year Undergraduates Only *New as of January 1, 2009:  For the 2008-2009 award year, students may receive a National SMART Grant if they are attending at least half time.  The amount of the grant will be prorated based on similar methodology to the Federal Pell Grant. The National SMART Grant is a grant that does not need to be repaid. To be eligible for each academic year, a student must: Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen beginning on July 1, 2008 Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient Be enrolled full-time or at least half-time in a degree program Be enrolled in a four-year degree-granting institution Major in physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology or a critical foreign language; and Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the coursework required for the student’s major. Students identified by the institution that meet all of the eligibility requirements will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education for payment.  An eligible student may receive a National SMART Grant of $4000 for each of the third and fourth academic years of study.  A list of eligible programs is listed here. Return to Top Federal Loan Programs Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) There are several loans available as part of the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. These low interest loans must be repaid with interest. Repayment of loans is deferred until six months after graduation or you have left school. Federal Stafford Loan Programs – For Undergraduates and Graduates Stafford Loans are provided by our universities through the Federal Family Education Loan Program.  When you use a Stafford Loan, you are borrowing from a lender or bank.  The following types of loans are available in the Federal Family Education Loan program: Subsidized Stafford Loans are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need.  They are low interest loans that are insured by a guarantee agency and made to the student by a lender such as a bank, credit union, or savings and loan association.  The interest is subsidized by the U.S. Department of Education while the student is enrolled in college at least half-time as well as during grace and deferment periods. A Master Promissory Note (MPN) will be required for this loan. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are awarded to students regardless of financial need.  The student is responsible for paying the interest that accrues. These loans are available to eligible students, regardless of family income, who do not qualify (in whole or in part) for Subsidized Stafford Loans. Independent undergraduate students and dependent students whose parents are not eligible for a PLUS loan, have higher unsubsidized loan limits compared to the amounts a dependent student’s parent(s) can borrow under PLUS.  A Master Promissory Note (MPN) will be required for this loan. Students can receive a subsidized loan and an unsubsidized loan for the same enrollment period as long as they do not exceed the annual loan limits. New as of July 1, 2008---Effective for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008 and for students enrolled as regular students in eligible programs, students have an increase in the annual and aggregate Stafford Loan limits.  Annual Loan Limits Dependent Students (Except Students Whose Parents Cannot Borrow PLUS) Base amount Additional unsubsidized loan amount Prior to July 1, 2008 Effective July 1, 2008 Freshman $3,500 0 $2,000 Sophomore $4,500 0 $2,000 Junior or senior $5,500 0 $2,000 Graduate and Professional Students   Base amount Additional unsubsidized loan amount    $8,500 Unchanged at $12,000 Aggregate Loan Limits Undergraduate Dependent Students: $31,000 (no more than $23,000 of which can be subsidized); Undergraduate Independent Students: $57,500 (no more than $23,000 of which can be subsidized) Graduate and Professional Students: currently $138,500 (no more than $65,500 of which can be subsidized) Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) – For Undergraduates Only Federal PLUS Loans are available to parents of dependent students.  The loans help pay for the educational expenses of the student and allow parents to borrow on behalf of their dependent undergraduate students who are enrolled at least half-time.  The loans are not based on need, but when combined with other resources cannot exceed the student's cost of education. Applicants may not have an adverse credit history.  Interest is charged on a PLUS Loan from the date of the first disbursement until the loan is paid in full. Parents may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other aid per eligible dependent student. The interest rate for the Federal PLUS loan is 8.5% if disbursed on or after July 1, 2006.  There is no grace period for a PLUS loan and repayment normally begins 60 days after the final loan disbursement. If a deferment is requested, the student’s parents will not begin repaying any principal until the end of the deferment period. Deferments apply only to the loan principal, not interest.  Borrowers can not have an adverse credit history and must apply for a Federal Stafford initially and have their maximum eligibility determined for the Stafford prior to determining the amount of the Graduate PLUS loan.  The interest rate on the Graduate PLUS loan is a fixed rate of 8.5%.  A Master Promissory Note (MPN) will be required for this loan. Graduate PLUS – Graduate Students Only Graduate PLUS Loans are loans that are specifically for graduate or professional students.  Graduate students are now eligible to borrow under the Federal PLUS loan.  Those students may borrow up to their cost of attendance minus other estimated financial assistance.  A Master Promissory Note (MPN) will be required for this loan. Return to Top

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.

Determining the Amount of FSA Once the FAFSA application is completed, the information is used in a formula established by Congress that calculates ‘need’ and helps determine eligibility.  Student Aid Report Cost of Attendance Award Timeline SAMPLE Award Veterans' Benefits & FAFSA Military Tuition Assistance, Scholarships and Federal Student Aid Students with Prior Student Loans Student Aid Report (SAR) Once the FAFSA is submitted, a Student Aid Report (SAR) with be returned that will include the student’s EFC. There are two ways to receive the SAR: If the student supplied an email on the FAFSA, an email will arrive a few days after submitting the FAFSA.  It will include a secure link to access your SAR on the web. If an email address is not supplied on the FAFSA, a SAR will arrive a few weeks after the FAFSA is submitted. If more information is needed to calculate the EFC, EFC may not appear on your SAR. If you have questions about your EFC or the comments on your Student Aid Report, please contact the FSA Help Desk.  >> Return to Top Cost of Attendance ‘Cost of Attendance’ (also called the ‘Student Budget') is an estimate of the total costs for a student to attend any university.  A student’s ‘cost of attendance’ is determined by rules established by law.  If a student is attending at least half time, the Cost of Attendance is the sum of: Tuition Cost of room and board (although the university is an online institution, it is permitted by Federal Regulations to use a reasonable allowance for living expenses) Cost of books, supplies, loan fees, and miscellaneous expenses (including a reasonable amount for the documented cost of a personal computer) An allowance for dependent care Costs related to a disability Eligible costs for study-abroad programs Costs unrelated to the completion of a student's course of study are not included in calculating that student's cost of attendance.  Maximizing Loan Note:  Online students do not have a transportation component to their cost of attendance figures.  The university system will attempt to package you to your annual loan limits based on grade level, enrollment status and your student’s budget.  Detailed below are educational expenses considered in determining the student's cost of attendance (personal, room and board) and information on how those costs were derived.  When combined with other aid and resources, a student's aid package may not exceed the cost of attendance. The amount of personal expenses allowed all students is $240 per month (a figure determined by a national average obtained from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics). Room and board costs are also obtained from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.  The allowable costs for students without dependents who live with their parents are $382 per month. The allowable costs for students without dependents who do not live with their parents and students with dependents are $760 per month.  >> Return to Top Award After submitting the FAFSA, students will be contacted regarding the amount of their award.  For most students the process can be completed within 7-10 days, unless they are selected for verification, or additional information is needed.  Some students may have to provide additional documentation which may include W-2 forms, signed copies of a recent tax return, or other documentation.  We recommend that you have these documents handy when it comes time to file your forms so that your online financial aid process goes smoothly. >> Return to Top Timeline Students using Federal Student Aid must complete a Statement of Intent form, complete the online Financial Aid Office process and confirm that they accept their financial aid award letter at least 7-10 days prior to the start of classes.  To ensure the tmely arrival of your books you should complete your registration for all of your classes at least 14 days prior to the start of your semester.  If you living outside the United States you will want to finalize your registrations at least a month before the semester begins.  This will ensure that when you accept your financial aid award letter that you will gain access to their courses when the semester begins and will have your books in time when classes start. >> Return to Top SAMPLE Award So how do you know if you can receive enough financial aid to pay for your education at our university? Let’s briefly examine an undergraduate student who takes twelve (12) credits a semester for two typical semesters and is not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.    Twelve credits x $250/credit = $3,000.  For 2 semesters, that’s $6,000.  The following table shows how student loans could cover those costs:  First Year Undergraduate Student Costs for Two Semesters of 12 Credits Net Subsidized Stafford Loan (First Year Loan) Net Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (First Year Loan) Federal PLUS Loan (Parent Borrows) Is there a balance owed to the institution? Dependent Undergraduate Student (Must supply parental information) $6000 $3500 $2000 $500 No Independent Undergraduate Student (No parental information needed) $6000 $3500 $2500 $0 No >>Return to Top Veterans' Benefits & FAFSA For Federal Student Aid purposes, veterans' education benefits are treated as resources (not income) and are included as financial assistance for the unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans. Students receiving GI Bill/Veterans' Benefits must include those benefits received during their education on their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  Please contact Financial Services for more information. >> Return to Top Military Tuition Assistance, Scholarships and Federal Student Aid Students who are receiving Military Tuition Assistance (TA) and will also be receiving Federal Student Aid must be aware that TA is a form of financial assistance.  We encourage all students to apply for any scholarship or aid resource that you can to help you with your educational costs.  However, it is the responsibility of students to inform the Financial Aid Office of any or all outside sources of aid including Tuition Assistance, Employer Vouchers, outside scholarships, state grants, vocational rehabilitation, or agency funding.  Failure to notify the Financial Aid Office of these resources could result in a loss of Federal aid or a reduction of Federal or state aid.  If this happens after all of your aid has been disbursed then we may have to return portions of your Federal loans back to the lender.     You will have the opportunity to disclose all outside resources through the online Financial Aid Office. Should you receive notice of a new scholarship or decide to take additional courses in your semester using TA, you must notify the Financial Aid Office.  The best way to notify us of any outside scholarships or other types of non-Federal aid is to e-mail Financial Services at finaid@apus.edu.  Notify them of the type of aid you are expecting to receive, attach a copy of the letter or notice from the company or agency and tell us the amount of the scholarship or aid source.  Remember the sooner that you inform us about this new aid source the sooner that we can put this on your award letter and process refunds to you as timely as possible.    >> Return to Top Students with Prior Student Loans Students may not be eligible for partial or full amounts of Federal Loans if they have attended other post-secondary institutions within the last 30 weeks and if they have received or applied for Federal Student Loans to attend other post-secondary institutions. These students also may have an issue with loan periods that overlap between the two schools which may result in their financial aid package not covering the tuition bill.  To resolve such issues, students may need to provide information from the other school or may need to push their start date back until the overlapping loan issue is resolved.  Contact Financial Services for more information. >>Return to Top

Policies & Procedures for Award of FSA Verification Policies and Procedures Undergraduate Grade Level Determination Loan Counseling – Borrower Rights & Responsibilities FSA Disbursements Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility Financial Aid Appeal Procedure Reestablishing Financial Aid Eligibility Returning FSA Funds Institutional Tuition Refund Policy Graduation/Completion Rates Preferred Lender List Discloser Verification Policies and Procedures All selected applicants will be verified. Selected applicants must submit required verification documents within twenty-eight (28) days of notification. If the student fails to provide the required documentation within the established time frame, then the student will be treated as a cash-paying student until the documents are provided. If the student does not meet the deadline and is not capable of making cash payment at the end of the deadline he/she will not be granted access to their classes. The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to make exceptions to the above stated policies due to mitigating circumstances, on a case-by-case basis. Students will be given a clear explanation of the documentation needed to satisfy the verification requirements and the process for document submission. APUS will inform students in a timely manner of the consequences of failing to complete verification requirements.  This may include the notification that their courses were dropped for non-payment or that the student’s Statement of Intent form was cancelled due to inactivity or failure to complete the verification process. Students will be informed of their responsibilities regarding the verification of application information, including the college's deadline for completion of any actions required. Students will be notified if the results of verification change the student's scheduled award.  The college will assist the student in correcting erroneous information. Any suspected case of fraud will be reported to the Regional Office of the Inspector General, or, if more appropriate, to a State or local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction to investigate the matter.  Referrals to local or state agencies will be reported on an annual basis to the Inspector General. No interim disbursements. Students with questions about their verification status may email finaid@apus.edu for assistance. >> Return to Top Undergraduate Grade Level Determination In order to meet the grade level progression requirements for FSA and the FFEL (Federal Family Education Loan), the following policy is established to explain how undergraduate grade level progression is made and to explain how transfer credits are used to determine grade level advancement.  (There are no grade level requirements for graduate students.) Our university system uses the table below to determine the grade level of an undergraduate student for FSA purposes. Number of Credits Completed Student's Grade Level 0 to 24 credits Grade Level 1, or Freshman 25 to 48 credits Grade Level 2, or Sophomore 49 to 72 credits Grade Level 3, or Junior 72+ credits Grade Level 4, or Senior Financial Aid is required to be based on a minimum of 24 semester credits and a minimum of 30 instructional weeks. The Finance Department will evaluate the student’s grades and total credits completed at the end of each semester.  Based on the academic standards of the school, a student can only progress to a higher grade level at the same time that a student begins a new academic year (for loan limit purposes.) Transfer Credit Award Upon completion of an official Transfer Credit Evaluation, our Finance Department is notified of the number of transfer credits that the student has been awarded.  Based on the chart above, the Financial Aid Office will determine the student's appropriate grade level, and will calculate the annual loan limit for the student based on the student’s grade level.  If an existing student completes subsequent coursework outside of our university system and submits a TCE Update, the Financial Aid Office will recalculate the grade level for a student and a revised award letter will be done for the student so that the student’s account and grade level will be accurate. >> Return to Top Loan Counseling Entrance and Exit Interview/Loan Counseling The Department of Education requires that any student receiving a Federal Family Education Loan be notified concerning their loan and obligations.  The university counsels each student regarding loan indebtedness and gives each student an entrance test and e-mails or mails an exit interview regarding the loan to make sure the student understands the total amount borrowed and the Borrower Rights and Responsibilities regarding repayment. The student must contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawal or graduation for loan counseling.  The purpose of this session is to inform the student of their tentative total loans received while in attendance at the college, refunds that may be made, and to provide the student with an estimated payment schedule.  If the student is unable to contact the Financial Aid Office, an exit interview will be provided.  Borrower Rights & Responsibilities When a student takes on a student loan he/she has certain rights and responsibilities. The borrower has the right to receive the following information before the first loan disbursement: the full amount of the loan the interest rate when the student must start repaying the loan the effect borrowing will have on the student's eligibility for other types of financial aid a complete list of any charges the student must pay (loan fees) and information on how those charges are collected the yearly and total amounts the student can borrow the maximum repayment periods and the minimum repayment amount an explanation of default and its consequences an explanation of available options for consolidating or refinancing the student loan a statement that the student can prepay the loan at any time without penalty The borrower has the right to receive the following information before leaving school: the amount of the student's total debt (principal and estimated interest), what the student's interest late is, and the total interest charges on the loan(s) a loan repayment schedule that lets the student know when his/her first payment is due, the number and frequency of payments, and the amount of each payment if the student has FFEL Program Loans, the name of the lender or agency that holds the student's loan(s), where to send the student's payments, and where to write or call if the student has questions the fees the student should expect during the repayment period, such as late charges and collection or litigation costs if delinquent or in default an explanation of available options for consolidating or refinancing the student's loan a statement that the student can repay his/her loan without penalty at any time The borrower has a responsibility to: understand that by signing the promissory note, the student is agreeing to repay the loan according to the terms of the note; make payments on the student loan even if the student does not receive a bill or repayment notice; if the student applies for a deferment or forbearance, he/she must still continue to make payments until notification that the request has been granted; notify the appropriate representative (institution, agency, or lender) that manages the student's loan when the student graduates, withdraws from school, or drops below half-time status; changes his/her name, address, or Social Security Number, or transfers to another institution; receive entrance counseling before being given the first loan disbursement, and to receive exit counseling before leaving school. If you want additional information about your rights and responsibilities, the terms of loan repayment (including loan repayment schedules), the necessity of loan repayment and required loan exit counseling can use the links for the Department of Education at the bottom of this page. >> Return to Top FSA Disbursements When a student applies for financial aid, the package is generally awarded based on an academic year. The academic year is generally two semesters.  Federal Student Aid is generally paid in two disbursements, once each semester. Pell Grant disbursements will occur after the first week of class in the semester for those students who are eligible (once entrance into the classroom can be confirmed).  The disbursement of funds to the University will usually take a minimum of 14 days from the beginning of the semester.  Pell fund eligibility may be impacted for students who are dropped from a course or courses due to non-attendance.  To prevent adjustments due to non-attendance drops, students must log into all classrooms during the first week of class.  Federal loans for students will not be disbursed to the University until classroom enrollments have been confirmed.  This will be no sooner than 30 days after the semester starts.   Excess loan funds will be refunded to the student (or lender if designated by the student) within 14 days of receipt by the University.  Students may also elect to have the Finance Department manage their credit balance for them as long as the student provides a written statement. Once federal funds have been disbursed, students will receive a disbursement notice via email from the University’s Financial Aid Office.   Once the financial aid package is approved and accepted by the student, access to the classroom will be given.  (Please note that the classroom does not open until the first day of class.) >> Return to Top Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility Students failing to meet or maintain SAP during any period of evaluation will lose eligibility for Federal Student Aid, in accordance with Title IV of the Higher Education Act.  These students will be placed in a Financial Aid Denial status and will be e-mailed of their status by a Financial Services team member.  Once in “Denial” status students are no longer eligible for Federal Student Aid.  To regain FSA eligibility, students must satisfy all SAP requirements. >> Return to Top Financial Aid Appeal Procedure Any student placed on “Financial Aid Denial” status may appeal their denial due to mitigating circumstances (situations that have had a negative effect on the student’s ability to successfully meet the normal SAP standards).   The request for an exception to the policy must be a written petition submitted via email to our university’s Financial Services Office within 3 days of the notification of “Financial Aid Denial.”  Students who fail any SAP requirements have the ability to appeal their SAP denial status. An Appeals Committee will consider all appeals. Students will be notified in writing of the committee’s decision within 3 business days of receipt of their emailed request.  All decisions made by the committee are final. >> Return to Top Reestablishing Financial Aid Eligibility Students placed on “Financial Aid Denial Status” may reestablish their eligibility for FSA by registering for courses at their own expense and demonstrating their ability to meet SAP.  Once students demonstrate their ability to meet SAP, they may reapply for Federal Student Aid for future courses.  For example, a student who is in violation of SAP requirements completes 12 credits in a semester with good grades and has now completed 48 credits.  They raise their cumulative GPA above the 1.75 cumulative GPA threshold.  If their quantitative measure remains at least 67% or higher, then they are no longer in FSA Denial status and they can reapply for Federal Student Aid.” >> Return to Top Returning FSA Funds All institutions participating in the FSA Programs are required to use a statutory schedule to determine the amount of FSA Program funds a student has earned or qualified for when he or she ceases attendance based on the period the student was in attendance.  Our Financial Aid Office must calculate the amount of FSA Program assistance the student did not earn and those funds must be returned back to the lender or Federal Government.  Up through the 60% point in each payment period or period of enrollment, a pro rata schedule is used to determine how much FSA Program funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal.  After the 60% point in the payment period or period of enrollment, a student has earned 100% of the FSA Program funds. The percentage of the payment period or period of enrollment completed is determined by the total number of calendar days in the payment period or period of enrollment for which the assistance is awarded divided into the number of calendar days completed in that period as of the day the student withdrew. Scheduled breaks of at least five consecutive days are excluded from the total number of calendar days in a payment period or period of enrollment (denominator) and the number of calendar days completed in that period (numerator).  Title IV funds credited to outstanding loan balances for the payment period or period of enrollment for which a return of funds is required must be returned in the following order: Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program Subsidized Stafford Loan Program Unsubsidized Direct Stafford loans (other than PLUS loans) Subsidized Direct Stafford loans Federal Perkins Loan Program Graduate PLUS loans Federal PLUS loans Federal Direct PLUS loans If funds remain after repaying all loan amounts, those remaining funds must be credited in the following order: Federal Pell Grants for the payment period for which a return of funds is required Academic Competitiveness Grant & National SMART Grant Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) for which a return of funds is required Other assistance under this Title for which a return of funds is required. Students will be notified of any refunds due to a lender on their behalf through the mailed exit interview material.  Refunds to any of the Title IV or State programs will be paid within 45 days from the date of determination. Return of Unearned FSA Funds The school must return the lesser of the following: The amount of FSA Program funds that the student does not earn; OR The amount of institutional costs that the student incurred for the payment period or period of enrollment multiplied by the percentage of funds that was not earned.  When we mean earned, this means the percentage of funds that was earned over time (during the semester) by the student. The student (or parent, if a Federal PLUS loan) must return or repay, as appropriate: Any FSA loan funds in accordance with the terms of the loan The remaining unearned FSA Program grant (not to exceed 50% of the grant) as an overpayment of the grant. If a student earned more aid than was disbursed to him/her, the institution would owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement which must be paid within 120 days of the student's withdrawal. The institution is required to return the amount of Title IV funds for which it is responsible no later than 45 days after the date of the determination of the date of the student's withdrawal. Students who officially withdraw during a semester Students who elect to withdraw from the university during a semester must do so by dropping or withdrawing from all of their courses in the semester and then completing the Disenrollment Request Form. When this occurs the institution will review the official date of withdrawal and compare the total number of calendar days in a payment period or period of enrollment (denominator) and the number of calendar days completed in that period (numerator). Once the lesser of the amount of FSA Program funds that the student does not earn or the amount of institutional costs that the student incurred for the payment period or period of enrollment multiplied by the percentage of funds that was not earned is completed, the amount (if any) unearned funds are returned to the lender or back to COD.  Students who as the result of officially withdrawing have Federal funds returned and now owe money to the institution are notified by e-mail and a ‘Balance Hold’ is placed on the account.  Students who fail to pass any of their courses in a semester Federal guidelines require APUS to review the grades for all students who complete their semester.  The institution must not only check students for Satisfactory Academic Progress in their program of study but must also have a mechanism in place to determine if a student failed to complete any courses in a semester.  Students who failed at least one course in a semester and have drops or withdrawals as the remainder of their grades is considered to have not passed any courses within the semester.  These students are considered as ‘unofficial withdrawals’ and are no longer considered as enrolled at the institution and are subject to Federal Return of Title IV Funds rules.  The only exception to this rule occurs if the student has future registrations in their next semester. The following procedures are followed:  Approximately 21 to 24 days after the end of a semester (to allow for initial grade posting and any grade revisions due to student appeal) a report is run to determine those students who failed to pass any courses in their semester.  This report will identify any students who meet the involuntary withdrawal criteria.  Once identified, the institution will follow all procedures listed above in Returning FSA Funds and Return of Unearned FSA Funds. Effective Tuesday, October 23, 2007 the university changed its policy regarding how students will be calculated for earned and unearned Federal Student Aid when they involuntarily withdraw from the institution.  A student is considered an involuntary withdrawal from the university when at the end of a semester the student has failed to pass any of their courses from that semester, has at least one failing grade and the student is not registered for future classes.  In this situation where a student has involuntarily withdrawn and they received Federal Student Aid for the semester, the university is required by law to perform a Return of Title IV Aid calculation to determine the percentage and amount of aid that the student earned for the semester. Prior to the above date the institution chose to use a straightforward 50% earned policy allowed in the Federal Regulations.  Effective October 23rd, the policy will be as follows: For students identified as having not passed any of their courses in a semester, the institution will determine the last date that they participated in an academically-related activity (such as entering the classroom, participating in a discussion group, taking an exam, turning in homework, etc.)  Once the last date of an academically-related activity has been determined, the Financial Aid Office will determine if the mid-point date will be used for the calculation or if the date is after the midpoint of the semester, then the last attendance date will be used for the calculation.  This date will be considered as their Withdrawal Date for the purposes of determining the percentage of the payment period that a student was actively participating over the whole semester and subsequently the amount of unearned Title IV aid that must be returned to the Federal Government. The institution will review each student on the All Fail report on a case-by-case basis. Any questions regarding the Return of Title IV Aid calculation process should be addressed to Financial Services. >> Return to Top Institutional Tuition Refund Policy The Tuition Refund Policy of our university system can be viewed in our online Student Handbook by clicking here.  A student must officially notify APUS when he/she intends to withdraw from the school.  The official withdrawal date is the date that the student notified the school by completing the withdrawal request form.  Detailed information about the Drop/Withdrawal Policy at our universities can be viewed in our online Student Handbook by clicking here. >> Return to Top Graduation/Completion Rates APUS definition of Completion Rates APUS has a specifically defined definition of completion rates that it uses to evaluate a cohort of students progress towards graduation. Included in this cohort are ALL part time, full time, first time, continuing and transfer students. The APUS calculated completion rate for each group is as follows: Associate Degree    Bachelor’s Degree  Master’s Degree Undergraduate Certificate  Graduate Certificate  86% 84% 70% 64% 83% Student Right-to-Know Act Although American Public University System has developed the above cohort to determine the completion rates on our students, Federal Regulations require us to disclose completion rates based on a specifically defined cohort. U.S. Department of Education regulations require that we must make available, to current and prospective students, no later than July 1, 2008, the rates for the cohort for which the 150% of the normal time for completion elapsed between September 1, 2006 and August 31, 2007.  Based on the required calculation rate, 2% of our students meet the criteria of certificate- or degree-seeking, full-time, first-time undergraduate students.  American Public University System has a student population that is military or service-related. The vast majority transfer into either American Military University or American Public University and attend on a part-time basis; their completion rates are not reflected in the cohort as specified by the U.S. Department of Education. American Public University System, has computed graduation rates for our entire student population. The data for these calculations and the cohort year calculations are available from the university should you wish to review them.  You may contact Chip Woodward, Director of Financial Aid Regulations & Compliance at cwoodward@apus.edu for this information. >> Return to Top Preferred Lender List Discloser APUS firmly acknowledges and explicitly states that borrowers always have a choice in selecting a FFELP lender. APUS cannot deny borrowers that choice.  It is also our belief that it is our goal to provide choice to students and parents in selecting lenders that have been carefully evaluated on an objective set of quality and price criteria.  Therefore, our list of preferred lenders meets high standards of quality, customer service and generous benefits to help not only our student borrowers but parents who borrow on the behalf of undergraduate students. The following criteria were the basis of determining the lenders chosen for our preferred lender list: 1.  Experience & longevity   Is the lender a well-known, reputable company? What is the lender’s track record in the industry? Is the company’s focus on student loans? How many customers have loans with this lender? Is the lender financially sound and strong? 2.  Best value & benefits  Does the lender offer to pay fees on the student’s behalf? Does the lender offer interest rate reductions and rebates? How easy is it for borrowers to earn and keep rate reductions and rebates? Does the lender offer borrowers the opportunity to re-earn rate reductions? 3.  Customer service investment      Does the lender recommend that students maximize their use of free aid and federal loans before taking a private loan? Will the loan be sold? If so, will servicing remain with the originating lender? How convenient are the lender’s call center hours? Are the lender’s customer service representatives experienced, friendly and knowledgeable? 4. Flexible repayment options              Does the lender offer combined billing of their federal and private loans? Does the lender offer deferment and forbearance counseling? Does the lender offer flexible repayment options? Does the lender provide tools and resources to help borrowers determine the best repayment solutions for them? Does the lender offer loan consolidation options? Does the lender advise borrowers on debt management/default prevention? 5. Technology investments                  Can students and parents apply for loans online at any time? Can borrowers access and manage their account online 24/7? Does the lender offer support for technology and online services? If you have any questions on why a specific lender is on our preferred lender list, please feel free to send your question to the Financial Services office at finaid@apus.edu. >> Return to Top

Managing Federal Student Loans Please review the following guidelines to help you manage your Federal Student Loans. Having trouble:  If you're having trouble with loan payments, don't wait—contact your loan servicer immediately! If you don't know which organization(s) are servicing your loan(s), you can research your account information at www.nslds.ed.gov. If you have already contacted your loan servicer(s) and you still are unable to resolve an issue, you might wish to contact the FSA Office of the Ombudsman, which could help you and the loan servicer communicate better. The FSA Ombudsman can be reached online at www.ombudsman.ed.gov or by phone at 1-877-557-2575. Note that the Ombudsman's office will not relieve you of your responsibility to repay your student loan.  Note and safeguard the name and contact information for your Lender. Know Your Lender:  Note and safeguard the name and contact information for your Lender. Know Your Rights as a Borrower:  Review the Rights and Responsibilities for Borrowers section of your online Student Handbook under Tuition Assistance and Financial Aid in the section called Federal Student Aid.  Repay Your Loan:  There are four repayment plans available under the Federal Family Education Loan Program.   You can learn more about managing your loans and the various repayment plans at the web sites at the bottom of this page. Do not Default on Your Loan.   Once you accept Federal Student Aid, you are responsible for repaying your loan just as if it were a loan for a home or a car.  If you do not pay on your loan, it will go into default which could have financial consequences.  If your financial circumstances become difficult, you must research your options to determine the best way to continue taking responsibility for the money you have borrowed to fund your education. It is very difficult to have federal student loans discharged in bankruptcy and you cannot cancel your student loans if you did not get the education you expected, the job you expected, or did not complete your education, unless you leave school for a reason that qualifies you for a discharge of your loan. Understand Your Repayment Options.  Along with your contact name and information for your loans, you should also note your repayment requirements.  If you have problems repaying your loans, you have 3 options – deferment, forbearance and consolidation.  Deferment:  A deferment is a postponement of your loan payments.  For most Federal Student Aid (FSA) loans, it is a period of time during which no payments are required and interest does not accrue (accumulate).  Students receiving unsubsidized Stafford Loans must make interest payments or may allow the interest to be added to the principal.  This means that students may have to pay more on their loan over time. One of the ways to get a deferment is through an In-School Deferment. In-school deferment occurs when you are approved to postpone loan payments while you are attending classes.  In order to receive an in-school deferment: You must complete a Federal Student Aid Intent Form and register for courses as a FSA student regardless of whether you intend to pay for your courses using FSA. You will need to be enrolled in our semester format for a minimum of six (6) credits each semester as an undergraduate student or at least three (3) credits as a graduate student.  You must submit either a lender specific deferment form from your prior lender, or complete a Direct Loan In-School Deferment form (go to www.dl.ed.gov and click on the ‘Forms’ menu).  If you are not sure who your lender is, you can go to the National Student Loan Data System for Students at www.nslds.ed.gov and by using your PIN number you can access information about your loans and your lender. You must submit your deferment forms to our Registrar's Office at registrar@apus.edu. You can access an online Direct Loan Deferment form by clicking here.  (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher.  There is an option for a free download.) If you borrowed from a FFEL (Federal Family Education Loan) Program lender, you must contact your lender to request a deferment form.  Additional deferments The College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA), enacted on September 27, 2007, modified the Military Service Deferment, created the Active Duty Student Deferment and changed the poverty line standard for the Economic Hardship Deferment for borrowers in the Federal Family Education Loan, Direct Loan and Federal Perkins Loan programs (if you borrowed a Perkins Loan at a previous institution.)  For information on these specific deferments you can access the Student Aid on the Web page here.  For a complete listing of deferments, you can access the Loan Deferment Summary Chart through the Student Aid on the Web pages.  Forbearance.  Forbearance occurs when your lender or loan-servicing agency agrees in writing to either temporarily reduce or postpone your student loan payments.  If you are not able to meet your repayment schedule (and not eligible for a deferment), your lender might grant you forbearance for a specific limited period of time.  Interest continues to accrue (accumulate), however, and you are responsible for paying it, no matter what kind of loan you have.  Contact your lender for more information or use the links below for additional information. If you wish to ask about forbearance, you should contact your lender if you borrowed previously from another lender.  If you need forbearance for a Direct Loan, you can contact the Direct Loan Servicing Center at 800-848-0979, or click here for online information. Consolidation.   Loan consolidation is another way to decrease the amount you are paying on your FSA loans.  If you consolidate, you combine one or more eligible loans into one loan with one repayment schedule.  The following can be the benefits of loan consolidation: Your monthly payment might be lower You can take a longer time to repay (up to 30 years) You will receive a fixed interest rate on your Direct or FFEL Consolidation Loan With FSA loans, you can consolidate via a Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Consolidation or a Direct Consolidation Loan resulting in one monthly payment.  To apply for a Direct Consolidation Loan, contact the Loan Origination Center’s Consolidation Department at 1-800-557-7392. Or, you can click here for online information.  To apply for a FFEL program loan consolidation, you can contact the consolidation department of a participating lender for an application. If the same FFEL loan holder holds all the loans you (or your parents) want to consolidate, usually you must obtain your consolidation loan from that holder. Do Not Default on your FSA Loan.  Default occurs if you fail to make a payment for 270 days (if you repay monthly) or 330 days (if your payments are due less frequently).  Defaulting on your loan has severe consequences. Your lender or agency that holds your loan, the state, and the federal government may all take action to recover the money.  They all may notify national credit bureaus of your default which will negatively affect your credit rating for a long time.  The Internal Revenue Service can withhold your U.S. individual income tax refund and apply it to the amount you owe on your FSA loans.  The agency holding your loan may ask your employer to deduct payments from your paycheck.  If you default on your FSA loan, you are liable for loan collection expenses.  Students who default on FSA loans are not entitled to receive additional federal student aid if they return to school. Legal action may also be taken against you for defaulting on a Federal Student Aid loan. Need more help:  For more details on your options, go to the Repaying Your Student Loan section of Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid.  In addition, you can learn more about managing your student loans by clicking on the Learn How to Manage your Finances link on any of the FACT pages.