Completing the FAFSA is the most important step for anyone applying for financial aid, but there are other steps involved in the application process. The first three steps include:

• Creating an FSA ID: Before you file, you and your parents (if dependent) must create as FSA ID. This ID enables you to electronically sign the FAFSA. Create an FSA ID at studentaid.gov.
• Filing the FAFSA: File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after October 1st and before the start of the upcoming academic year. File online at fafsa.gov.
• Viewing your Eligibility for State Aid: Log on to njfams.hesaa.org to view your eligibility for state aid.

Visit stockton.edu/fafsa to learn more about the steps in the financial aid process.

Yes, you must reapply for financial aid each year by filing a new FAFSA.

File at fafsa.gov.

You and your parents (if applicable) will use your FSA ID's to complete the application.

Visit stockton.edu/fafsa to learn more about the steps within the financial aid process, including changes to the FAFSA beginning with the 24-25 application.

Financial Need is calculated based on a formula developed by the federal government. The formula uses two factors to determine need, Cost of Attendance (COA) and Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Cost Of Attendance (COA) minus Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need

To learn more about how need is determined, click here.

Dependency status determines whose information you will report on the FAFSA.

• For the purposes of filing the FAFSA, a dependent student will report their and their parents information on the FAFSA.
  
  
  • In a situation where parents are divorced, the custodial parent (the parent who provides more than 50% of the student's support) will appear on the FAFSA. When the custodial parent is remarried, the step-parent's information is also required on the FAFSA.
  • In a situation where your parents are unmarried, but live together, both parent's information will appear on the FAFSA.
    
    
• For the purposes of filing the FAFSA, an independent student will report their information on the FAFSA.
  
  
  • In a situation where an independent student is married, they will also report their spouse's information on the FAFSA.

Visit studentaid.gov for more information on dependency status, including a list of questions used to determine whether a student is dependent or independent.

Your answers to the questions on the FAFSA determine whether you are a dependent or independent student for finanical aid purposes; therefore, you cannot choose your dependency status. See the list of questions on studentaid.gov.

Not living with parents, not being financially supported by parents or not being claimed by them on tax forms does not make you an independent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid.

In addition, you can’t be considered independent of your parents just because they refuse to help you with this process.

Federal student aid programs are based on the concept that it is primarily your and your family’s responsibility to pay for your education. Dependent students are required to report parental information on the FAFSA; however, some student situations will require extra discretion in determining their ability to provide this information.

Our office provides the opportunity for students to appeal their FAFSA Dependency Status by submitting documentation of their situation. Complete our dependency status review form below, so that we can determine if you may be eligible for a dependency status review.

When eligibility is determined, a financial aid offer is emailed to the student. Any grants or scholarships offered to the student are accepted when offered. They will be automatically applied to the bill and the student does not have to take action on these.

The student will have the option to accept, decline or reduce Federal Student loans and/or Federal Work Study within the goStockton Portal.

*Note: Any change to an offer due to the completion of federal verification or other changes to the student's eligibility will be provided to you through email in the form of a revised offer notification within 30 days of the change.

Financial aid is offered each academic year to to eligible students who file a FAFSA. Aid is offered for the entire year with equal payments for the fall and spring terms. After accepting the offer, these amounts will be reflected on the bill. The student is responsible for the remaining balance. Visit stockton.edu/fafsa to learn about ways to cover a remaining balance.

If the student's financial aid is enough to cover their bill, the Bursar’s Office will issue a refund to the student.The student will receive notification from the Bursar’s Office when refunds have been processed. Visit stockton.edu/bursars for more information.

Students can use financial aid funds to purchase books if their financial aid (grants, scholarships and loans) is more than enough to cover their bill. They can transfer remaining funds on to their OspreyCard, which can be used to purchase books at Stockton's bookstore.

To learn more about the OspreyCard and how to transfer/add funds, visit stockton.edu/bursars.

Once a student files the FAFSA, they may be randomly selected by the U.S. Department of Education, for review in a process called Verification. Stockton University is required by federal regulations to verify the accuracy of the information reported on the student's application.

In order to comply with these regulations, we may need to collect additional documentation and/or have the student transfer data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) into the FAFSA.

If you are selected for verification, the school will notify you of how to view your outstanding requirements. Your Student Aid Report(SAR) will tell you if you have been selected for verification.

Students with additional educational expenses, such as study abroad, child care, costs associated with a student's disability or other program related fees may need additional options to cover these expenses.

Here are three different options to help close the gap.

• Apply for Education Loans
• Enroll in a Payment Plan
• Apply for additional scholarships

Students who completely withdraw from the university or declare a leave of absence during an academic semester will have their aid adjusted up through the 60% point of the term. This means that some financial aid funds may have to be returned to federal and state governments when a student withdraws. This process is called Return of Title IV and is required by law.

Aid is disbursed at the beginning of the semester with the expectation that the student will successfully complete the enrollment term and thereby earn the aid that was disbursed. If the student withdraws or stops attending their courses, our office must determine how long the student attended and how much of the aid was earned. Unearned aid must be returned to the aid programs. A formula established by the federal government is used to calculate this amount. In most cases this will result in a balance owed to the University.

After funds are returned, any balance will need to be paid to the Bursar.

Institutional policies regarding refunds differ from financial aid policies. Visit stockton.edu/bursars to learn more about institutional refunds.

Eligible students who are enrolled at least half-time (6 credits for undergrads/5 graduate) for the Summer term may borrow up to their remaining annual loan eligibility for the academic year. Click here to learn more about loan limits and eligibility.

If there is no remaining loan eligibility, students can apply for PLUS or private/alternative education loans to finance their education during the summer semester. Click here to learn more about education loans.

After applying for financial aid, you may still have a balance with the Bursar's Office. You can view your bill through the Bursar tab on the goStockton Portal.

Here are three different options to help close the gap.

• Apply for Education Loans
• Enroll in a Payment Plan
• Apply for additional scholarships

Note: Veterans or Members of the Military should consider utilizing Military and Veteran Education Benefits.

Traditional Study Abroad Programs:

Education Abroad opportunities are developed and/or administered by the Office of Global Engagement (OGE), and students are urged to consult with the OGE early in their planning for study abroad.

Financial aid is available to students attending study abroad programs approved for credit by Stockton University. Enrollment in any program of study abroad approved for credit by Stockton may be considered enrollment at Stockton University for the purpose of applying for Title IV aid (federal financial aid).

Students participating in study abroad programs will meet with the Office of Global Engagement to begin the process. The student will submit a cost sheet to the Office of Financial Aid. After filling out the cost sheet, the office sends the document to the study abroad provider. Aid is then processed and sent to the service provider.

Faculty Led Programs:

There is no additional financial aid offered for faculty lead study abroad programs. Students who enroll in a faculty led program will see charges for the program reflected on their bill. If there is more than enough already offered financial aid, this aid can be used to cover these program costs. To learn more, visit the Office of Global Engagement.

Click here to learn more about study abroad opportunities and processes. Click here to learn more about Study Abroad Transfer Credit Policies.

A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. The federal government pays interest for the loan ("subsidizes" the loan) until you graduate or stop attending half-time and during authorized periods of deferment.

An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of need. You'll be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. You can either choose to pay the interest while you are in school or defer it until after graduation. You should note that if you defer the interest, it will be capitalized upon graduation and will raise the overall cost of your loan.

Learn more about Federal Direct Loans here.

Undergraduate Students:

A student may be eligible if they are eligible for federal financial aid and are enrolled in a degree seeking program and at least 6 credits per semester (half-time) at Stockton University. 

Eligible students borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education.

If dependent, your subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Loan annual eligibility is as follows:  

If independent, your subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Loan annual eligibility is as follows: 

The "lender" of Federal Direct Loans is the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of Education assigns each loan a "servicer" to handle the billing and other services on your federal student loan, at no cost to you. Your loan servicer will work with you on repayment options (such as income-driven repayment plans and loan consolidation) and will assist you with other tasks related to your federal student loans.

Learn more about loan servicers and repayment at studentaid.gov.

The Federal Government requires you to complete Entrance Counseling to ensure that you understand the responsibilities and obligations you are assuming by borrowing a loan. Loan counseling is required by federal regulations for all first-time borrowers at a school. The session gives an overview of the Federal loan program, discussing the types of loans, interest rates, borrower rights and responsibilities, etc. Complete Entrance Counseling here.

The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which you promise to repay your federal student loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to your lender or loan holder. Complete an MPN here.

The Office of Student Records/the Registrar handles Enrollment Certifications. You can submit a request for an Enrollment or Degree Verification form to submit to your lender for an In-school deferment on repayment of your loans here.

Note: Many student loans, including Federal Direct Loans are automatically deferred while the student is enrolled at least half time (6 credits for undergrad; 5 credits for graduate students). The Office of Student Records automatically sends a verification of enrollment through the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to notify all lenders of a student's enrollment. Students can choose to pay on their loans or on the interest while in school. Contact your lender to learn more about repayment.