How to Apply for Student Financial Aid

食色视频 State students use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for financial aid. Your FAFSA application for the upcoming school year should be completed by March 1.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

  • The  is used for state and federal aid programs.
  • Be sure to list 食色视频鈥檚 school code on your FAFSA, 001577.
  • 食色视频's Priority Deadline for FAFSA completion is March 1.
  • You must file a FAFSA each year to be considered for financial aid. For more information, view the  videos provided by the .
  • Consent to having your tax information transferred from the IRS into your FAFSA.

Georgia Student Finance Application (GSFAPP)

  • If you only want to apply for the HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship Program, you can complete the GSFAPP.
  • 食色视频's Priority Deadline for GSFAPP completion is March 1. 

Once your application has been received, the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid may ask you for additional documents.

Check your 食色视频 e-mail account often, and make sure you submit any additional documents as quickly as possible.

Verification

Verification is a process mandated by the U.S. Department of Education to confirm the accuracy of the information provided on the FAFSA. Students who are selected for verification will be required to provide certain documents to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid before their financial aid application can be processed. Examples of some documents that may be requested include:

  • Income Tax Transcript ordered from the 
  • Dependent/Independent Verification Web Form

Other documents may be requested as needed in order to process your financial aid application. To determine if you need to submit additional documents to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, please log in to Owl Express, select the Financial Aid Dashboard, and then click on the View Requirements and Submit Documents link. In addition, the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will send you email notifications. Check your 食色视频 e-mail account often, and make sure you submit documents as quickly as possible.

Requesting a re-evaluation of your aid eligibility

Families facing severe financial problems due to job loss, medical expenses, foreclosure, or business decline can request a review of their aid eligibility. This is called Special Circumstance 鈥� Student Aid Index Appeal. You will need to request a meeting with your assigned financial aid staff member to start the appeal process. Circumstances that will be considered include:

  • Loss of income because of unemployment
  • High unreimbursed medical or dental expenses (expenses not covered by insurance)
  • Separation or divorce
  • Death of a parent or spouse
  • Cost of attendance

Use of Professional Judgment: Evaluation of financial aid applications is handled through a review process using professional judgment by financial aid professionals in the 食色视频 Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Submitting a request does not guarantee approval. All requests are reviewed by our staff following guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. 

Timing of requests: All requests will be reviewed as they are received. You should allow a minimum of three weeks for your request to be reviewed.

Unusual Circumstances

The law governing Federal Student Aid (Title IV) categorizes students as "dependent" or "independent" based on the premise the student and parents have the primary responsibility for meeting the student's educational costs. This premise applies even when the parents are not actually supporting the student.

The institution's financial aid administrator is given the statutory authority to exercise "professional judgment" and declare a dependent student independent if he or she determines this action would be reasonable in light of documented unusual or unique circumstances.

NOTE: Parents' refusal to contribute financially or unwillingness to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the student not being claimed on the parent(s)' Federal Tax Return, or the student showing self-sufficiency are not reasons to declare a student independent for Federal Student Financial Aid.

However, some unusual circumstances that qualify as reasons to declare a student independent may include, but are not limited to, parental abandonment of the student, leaving an abusive family environment that threatens the student's physical/emotional health or safety, or a student's inability to locate parents for a long-term and on-going basis.  

Students will need to meet with their assigned financial aid staff member to begin the appeal process.