Frequently Asked Questions

Explore questions related to:

• General Financial Aid
• Eligibility & Impact Factors
• Applying for & Accepting Aid
• Freshmen Timeline

You must file a FAFSA each year

General

What is financial aid?

Financial Aid is money to help students and their families pay for educational expenses. The philosophy behind financial aid assumes that the primary responsibility to pay for college lies with students and parents to their level of ability to pay. The Federal Office of Student Financial Aid (who governs the federal financial aid programs), established the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as a means to determine a family's ability to pay for their student's education. The FAFSA is referred to as a "need-assessment document." The Federal government contracts with an independent processor to compute the results of the FAFSA and report these results back to the student and the colleges the student has selected on the form. Longwood administers its State and institutional need-based aid programs parallel to the Federal programs requiring FAFSA eligibility as a criterion.

How does financial aid work?

Financial Aid Process at Longwood (PDF)

How often should I fill out a FAFSA?

You must file a FAFSA each year.

What is financial need and how is it determined?

Financial need is the maximum amount we are permitted (by Federal regulations) to award you in assistance. Financial need is derived from subtracting your expected family contribution from our total cost of attendance (budget)

Total Budget - EFC = Financial Need

What is cost of attendance?

When financial aid officers refer to "cost of attendance," "educational costs," or "budget," they usually mean the total direct and indirect costs of attending college for one year. Direct costs are the actual charges billed to students by the University (tuition, fees, room, board). Indirect costs are estimated by the financial aid office for items such as books, supplies, computer-related costs, personal expenses, and transportation. The financial aid officer adds these direct and indirect costs together to arrive at a total budget for a student who has filed for financial aid.

What Is "expected family contribution"?

Expected family contribution (EFC) is the amount of money a family is expected to contribute to their child's education for a specific period of time (usually one academic year). You file the FAFSA in order to have this figure determined. The FAFSA processor enters the information (from your FAFSA) into a formula (established by Congress) and the result is the family's EFC. You may calculate an estimate of your EFC using the FAFSA4caster.

What is "unmet need"?

After a student's need has been determined by subtracting the EFC from the total budget, an award is made. If we are unable to award students enough financial aid to meet their total computed need, the difference is unmet need.

Do I have to be accepted for Admission to Longwood before I file for financial aid?

Admission and financial aid are two separate processes. You do not have to be accepted to the University before you file your FAFSA; however, you do have to be accepted before you will receive an award notification.

Where can I get information about federal subsidized, unsubsidized and parent (PLUS) loans?

Our Loans Brochure (PDF) will answer all of your loan questions. You may also visit the student loan website.

Can someone other than myself request information about my financial aid?

Only if there is a release consent form signed and on file in the registrar's office. The staff in the Office of Financial Aid is committed to our students' right to have their identity protected. For this purpose, we will now ask students for a picture ID, the last four digits of their Social Security Number, and their date of birth before discussing or releasing any personal financial aid information to them. We will expect anyone else who has questions regarding a student's personal financial aid information, and is listed on the student's release of information form, to be able to provide this same information.

Can I have emails from the Office of Financial Aid automatically forwarded to my parents?

Yes. You can now set up your email account to automatically forward financial aid emails (PDF) from the Office of Financial Aid to your parents' email address. 

Why are you figuring my need on last year's income when this year is when the money will be spent?

Last year's income for most people is the best predictor for the current year. Using the last taxable year's income makes it easier for parents to provide accurate information on the FAFSA. This also allows Federal tax dollars to be distributed on the basis of something "real" rather than on an estimate.

Can work-study be subtracted from my bill?

No. Students receive a paycheck once a month for the actual number of hours they work. However, all other aid is credited to your account.

How do I receive my refund?

The easiest and fastest way to receive your refund is through direct deposit. You may sign up for direct direct under your student tab on your mylongwood portal.

Eligibility & Impact Factors

What aid is available for graduate students?

The Stafford Loan (unsubsidized) with a maximum of $20,500 per year. For additional opportunities for graduate students, you should check with the Chair of your department.

I am coming to Longwood to get a second undergraduate degree. Will I be eligible for aid?

Students pursuing a second undergraduate degree are only eligible to apply for a Stafford Loan at Longwood. This also applies to students obtaining a teacher certification who already hold a Bachelor's degree.

Can I receive aid if I am not in a degree-seeking program?

No. To receive aid you must be admitted to the University under the regular Admission process and be pursuing a degree.

Is there any aid available for summer school?

Loans are available for summer school. Grants may be offered if funds remain from the previous academic year. A student must be enrolled at Longwood for at least 6 credit hours during the summer to receive aid. Under certain conditions, a student may be enrolled less than half-time and receive a Pell Grant. A FAFSA for the current academic year must be on file along with a summer school application which can be downloaded from our web site in early spring.

Does not being eligible for the Federal Pell Grant mean I cannot get any aid?

No, the Federal Pell Grant is only one of the need-based aid programs, with eligibility being determined by a Federal formula approved by Congress. It is possible to be ineligible for the Pell Grant and still be eligible for other federal, state, and institutional types of aid.

Do my grades and attendance have any impact on my financial aid?

Yes. At the end of your freshman year, you must have at least a 2.0 GPA and a 75% completion rate.
For more information, see Satisfactory Academic Progress & Withdrawing.

My father/mother has just lost his/her job. Will this affect my financial aid?

It might. Students (or parents) should request a "Change in Income Form" from the Office of Financial Aid.

I have to pay a tuition surcharge since it has taken me longer than 125% of the allotted time to complete my degree. Will my financial aid cover this surcharge?

If you have eligibility for loan funds, you may be able to borrow to cover the surcharge; however, grant funds are not available for this purpose.

Applying for & Accepting Aid

How do I apply for a student or parent loan?

The University is a participant in the Direct Lending program, where the federal government will be the funding source. Please see How to Apply for specific instructions on application methods.

Where can I complete my loan entrance counseling and sign a master promissory note (MPN)?

Loan entrance counseling and MPN agreements can be found on the Federal Student Aid website.

Where do my parents apply for a PLUS loan to help with my college expenses?

Parents can apply for a Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) on the Federal Student Aid website under the "Parent Borrowers" tab.

Is the FAFSA the only aid application I must fill out?

The FAFSA is the only application you will be required to file to apply for federal, state, and institutional need-based assistance at Longwood. In addition, the Office of Admissions uses the admission application itself as the basis for selecting freshmen scholarship recipients.

After my 'FAFSA on the Web' is processed, how will I get my results?

There are several ways in which you can find out the results of processing your FAFSA. If you filed a paper FAFSA and did not provide your e-mail address, you will be sent a paper Student Aid Report (or SAR). If you filed using FAFSA on the Web and did not provide your e-mail address, you will be sent a paper SAR Information Acknowledgement.

However, if you provided your e-mail address, the FAFSA processor will send you an e-mail notification regardless of whether you filed a paper FAFSA or via FAFSA on the Web. The e-mail notification will contain a link for you to access and view your on-line Student Aid Report without requiring the use of a FSA ID. Of course, a student who has a FSA ID can access his or her SAR electronically using FAFSA on the Web.

When will I receive my financial aid award letter?

Financial aid award letters for incoming freshmen for the fall 2016 semester will be mailed by the first week in April. Please review your award letter carefully. Many awards require action from the student. If you have questions, please call our office at 434.395.2077 or email us at finaid@longwood.edu.

How Do I Accept My Financial Aid Award?

We offer instructions on how to accept your financial aid award package.

Freshmen Timeline

What is the Freshmen Timeline?

During this process, we suggest that you check your Longwood emails regularly. We do not send you junk mail. If we send you an email, it is important: either a change to your aid has occurred or action is needed on your part.

October 1 – March 1:

• Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1^st.
• Review your Student Aid Report (SAR). If you find errors or your information is incomplete, log back onto www.fafsa.ed.gov and select "make a correction."

April 1 (and ongoing):

• Receive your financial aid award letter in the mail.
• If you are selected for verification, please print and complete the verification worksheet from our forms page.

May 1:

• Pay your Longwood Deposit by May 1^st.
• If you are going to borrow a direct student loan, subsidized or unsubsidized, please complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and entrance counseling at www.studentloans.gov.

By June 1:

• Accept or decline the aid in your financial aid award package (as outlined in the step-by-step How to accept your financial aid award instructions.

At Orientation:

• If you are receiving any form of Veteran’s Assistance, bring your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to orientation. Please follow billing process instructions for "Post 9/11 GI Bill Information.

By August 24:

• Please familiarize yourself with our financial aid satisfactory academic progress policy.

ASAP:

• Please let the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) know about any outside scholarships that you have been awarded. If you receive a scholarship from an outside source (Ruritan Club, church, community foundation, etc.), please send our office a copy. Pay special attention to any requirements you must meet in order for them to send the check. If the organization requires an invoice or verification of enrollment from us, please note that on our copy. Please send letter to:
  
  Office of Financial Aid
  Longwood University
  201 High Street
  Farmville, VA  23909
  Attn: Bettie Bass