Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who should apply?
2. How do I apply and when?
3. What happens after I apply?
4. What is the Federal School Code for Fort Hays State University?
5. Who should I talk to about any problems or other questions I have regarding my financial aid?
6. How long does the financial aid process take?
7. How will the Financial Assistance Office contact me?
8. Do I have to apply for financial aid and scholarships every year?
9. What is verification?
10. What does EFC mean?
11. Can I transfer my Financial Aid from one school to another?
12. What does Cost of Attendance mean?
13. How much does it cost to go to Fort Hays State University?
14. How does the university decide how much money I will receive?
15 . Do I have to be enrolled in a certain number of hours to receive financial aid at Fort Hays State University?
16. I am genuinely independent. Why do I have to apply for financial aid using my parent's income and asset information?
17. Will the Office of Student Financial Assistance keep my records for me?
18. If I am eligible for aid, when do I receive funds and where?
19. What should I do if my or my family's financial circumstances change after I apply for financial aid?
20. What information regarding my financial aid account is available on Tiger Tracks and how do I access it?
21. How can I access my award letter online?
Still can't seem to find the phone number or web page you're looking for? Try our list of Frequently Used Contacts.

1. Who should apply?

Any student who feels they need financial assistance to attend college should apply for aid.
To be eligible for federal aid, a student must be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen, meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, be degree seeking student in an eligible program, not enrolled in elementary or secondary school, registered with selective service (males only), not owe a refund on Title IV assistance, and have ability to benefit. While there are other eligibility requirements not listed here, those described above are considered the major eligibility requirements for federal aid. The Student Financial Assistance Office will confirm all applicants eligibility requirements as your aid is being processed.
Top


2. How do I apply and when?

To complete an electronic Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) simply visit FAFSA on the Web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. You should complete your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible but before the March 15 priority deadline. Applications are accepted after the priority deadline but many types of aid are awarded to the eligible applicants who apply first.

FAFSA Deadlines:

January 1 is the first day a student can submit a FAFSA application for the following academic year. March 15 is the priority deadline which FHSU has established. This date does not guarantee any awards. However, a student is more likely to receive his or her full eligibility if a FAFSA is submitted before March 15. April 1 is the deadline for applicants to be eligible for the Kansas Comprehensive Grant. Top

3. What happens after I apply?

After you submit your FAFSA, the federal processor performs an initial eligibility check and calculates need levels on the information provided. You will receive confirmation in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor and your information will be forwarded to the FHSU Financial Aid Office electronically for additional eligibility checks. The FHSU Financial Assistance Office will contact you if further information is needed, so watch your e-mail account or mailbox for notifications.
Top


4. What is the Federal School Code for Fort Hays State University?

In order to supply a student's FAFSA information to an institution, the Federal Processor uses a six digit number called a Title IV Federal Code. The school code for FHSU is 001915.
Top


5. Who should I talk to about any problems or other questions I have regarding my financial aid?

While our student workers in the front office are highly trained and well qualified to answer the majority of your financial aid questions, certain situations may arise and you may either want or need to speak with a full-time member of our faculty. To see a brief overview of each of our full-time staff members' positions and areas of expertise, click here.
Top


6. How long does the financial aid process take?

Early Applicants (e.g. students who apply BEFORE March 15): Early applications are held in application date order until the eligibility and awarding process is implemented after March 15. Remember, applications will be processed and awarded in the order they are received, so applying early is your best bet.
Late Applicants (e.g. students who apply AFTER March 15): If you apply after the March 15 priority deadline , it generally takes around 6-8 weeks from the time you submit your FAFSA until an award letter is ready.
Because every student's situation is different, processing time will vary. A few of the factors that can effect processing time are: if a student is selected for verification, how quickly all requested documents are submitted to our office and when the FAFSA was originally submitted. In order to ensure your aid is finalized and available to release by the first disbursement date, you can either call our office or check on your personal Tiger Tracks account frequently. Although the Financial Assistance Office will try to keep in touch with you, it is your responsibility and very important that you make sure all documents are submitted in a timely manner and that your file is both accurate and complete.
Top


7. How will the Financial Assistance Office contact me?

Depending on what information you supplied on the FAFSA, our office may try to contact you in a number of ways. If you listed an e-mail address on your FAFSA, that will be our primary source of contact unless you notify our office otherwise. If an e-mail address is not listed on the FAFSA, we will mail the information to your permanent address. If other methods have not been successful and your file is still incomplete, our office may call your permanent phone number (if one is on file). Although the Financial Assistance Office will try to keep in touch with you, it is your responsibility and very important that you make sure all documents are submitted in a timely manner and that your file is both accurate and complete.
Top


8. Do I have to apply for financial aid and scholarships every year?

Yes, this process must be repeated annually. You'll want to be sure to apply for financial aid as soon after January 1 as possible each year. You will also want to fill out the online application for FHSU scholarships as soon as possible. The priority deadline for scholarships is December 15, and the final deadline is February 15.
Top


9. What is verification?

The Federal Government randomly selects applications for verification as they are submitted. It is then the school's responsibility to request copies of taxes and other information to verify that the data reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is accurate. Errors must be corrected and sent to the Federal processor. Eligibility for financial aid can change due to verification.
Top


10. What does EFC mean?

EFC is the Expected Family Contribution level determined by the US Department of Education. In short, EFC reflects the family's ability to pay for college during the award year. It is based on the information provided by the student on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or confirmed through the verification process. EFC is the sum of the parental contribution (dependent students only) and student contribution. EFC does not reflect what the student or parents may have in "cash on hand," but the amount the family is expected to pay throughout the award year. Click here if you would like to calculate an estimate of your EFC.
Top


11. Can I transfer my Financial Aid from one school to another?

No, only the information used to determine eligibility transfers to another school. The student must call the school he/she wants to attend and find out their processing procedures. Usually, a DRN number and Transaction number from the Student Aid Report along with the students name and social security number will allow schools to retrieve their information from the Federal processor. When you submit this information to the school you are transferring to, they can begin to process your aid. Please refer to the Checklist for Transferring Students for more information regarding the transfer process.
Top


12. What does Cost of Attendance mean?

Cost of Attendance (COA) is the allowable expenses a student will incur by attending college. COA can vary widely between certain categories of students within an institution and even between institutions. Based on the initial information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a student is placed in a particular COA bracket. For example, a dependent, undergraduate student, paying Kansas residency fees, is assigned a different COA than an independent, graduate student, paying non-resident fees. While there are differences, there are more similarities. The following list outlines the standard COA items allowed for all students:

Tuition and Fees Books and Supplies Room and Board Loan Origination Fees Travel Expenses Parking Fees Personal/Misc. Expenses

Students with dependents (e.g. children) are allowed additional expenses for child care while the student attends classes. Expenses associated with attending college cannot be tailored to individual needs, but must reflect allowable expenses associated with a defined category of students.
Figure an estimate of your Cost Of Attendance.
Top


13. How much does it cost to go to Fort Hays State University?

Specific costs to attend FHSU will vary between students depending on course load, living arrangements and several other factors.
Figure an estimate of your Cost of Attendance.
View the cost of tuition and fees per credit hour.
Top


14. How does the university decide how much money I will receive?

According to federal regulations, Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is subtracted from the allowable Cost of Attendance (COA) to determine need. If the EFC is low enough, a student may be eligible for a Pell Grant and/or other campus-based aid (campus-based aid is limited). It is the policy of the FHSU Student Financial Assistance Office to award students their maximum eligibility in all available funds categories.
Top


15 . Do I have to be enrolled in a certain number of hours to receive financial aid at Fort Hays State University?

Different types of financial aid require that you be enrolled in a specific number of hours before being eligible to receive that award. Students must be enrolled in at least a half-time status to receive loans; however, the number of hours required for grants vary depending on which grant you are receiving. For more specifics on the enrollment level requirements for different awards, feel free to contact our office. When awarded aid at FHSU, the awards and amounts are based upon your enrollment level. The FHSU enrollment levels are as follows:

Top


16. I am genuinely independent, why do I have to apply for financial aid using my parent's income and asset information?

The Higher Education Act of 1992 clearly states which students will be considered independent of parental support for educational costs. Independent students must be able to document at least one of the following criteria:

If you do not qualify under these rules, the financial aid administrator or Financial Assistance Committee may consider exceptional circumstances that would allow you to be independent. The unwillingness of a parent to provide support or the choice of a student not to accept support are unacceptable reasons to be considered independent. A copy of FHSU's Independent Appeal Form can be printed from this web page or by contacting the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
Top


17. Will the Office of Student Financial Assistance office keep my records for me?

Yes, official records are kept for each student receiving aid. However, many documents are not kept by the university. For example, loan promissory notes, notices of guarantee, and a variety of other documents are the student's responsibility to keep. Always keep good records and copies of materials you receive or submit.
Top


18. If I am eligible for aid, when do I receive funds and where?

Aid can not be disbursed until all required documents have been submitted and you officially enroll in the number of hours for which their aid was processed. Generally, this takes place during Express Enrollment or Arena Enrollment. The Student Fiscal Services office will apply all available funds to any outstanding university charges. Unless other arrangements have been made with the Student Fiscal Services office, excess financial assistance will automatically be place on the student's Tiger Card account.

The scheduled disbursement dates for financial aid can be viewed on the FHSU Academic Calendar.
Top


19. What should I do if my or my family's financial circumstances change after I apply for financial aid?

Unfortunately, family or personal circumstances can take a turn for the worse during an award year. The federal government allows each school to develop a policy of Professional Judgment to review unforeseen circumstances that limit a student or family's ability to pay for college expenses.
Top


20. What information regarding my financial aid account is available on Tiger Tracks and how do I access it?

Your financial aid information at FHSU (this includes your award letter, financial aid documents, your loan history and any personal messages we may have for you) can be viewed on your Tiger Tracks account. After successfully logging on to your Tiger Tracks account, you can access your personal financial aid information by following these simple steps:

1. Select the"Online Services" tab
2. Select the"Finances" link
3. Select the "Financial Aid Eligibility" link
4. Click the "Launch" button at the prompt
5. You should now be at the home page of your financial aid information. To be sure you are in the correct award year you wish to view, a drop menu is located in the upper right corner of the screen. From the home page, you can see the overview of your FHSU financial aid account. To access your other financial information, use the tabs located at the top of the page. Your official award letter is located in the "Your Awards" tab.
   Top
   

21. How can I access my award letter online?

After successfully logging on to your Tiger Tracks account, you can access your award letter by completing the following steps:

1. Select the"Online Services" tab
2. Select the"Finances" link
3. Select the "Financial Aid Eligibility" link
4. Click the "Launch" button at the prompt
5. Your award letter is available for you to either simply view or to print and submit to our office by using the "Your Awards" tab. To be sure you are in the correct award year you wish to view, a drop menu is located in the upper right corner of the screen.

If you need to complete Stafford Loan entrance counseling or select a lender, an appropriate link is provided for your convenience on the award letter.