Frequently Asked Question
Applying for Financial Aid
How do I apply for financial aid?
You should
complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),
as soon as possible after January 1. You can complete the
FAFSA online at: www.fafsa.ed.gov.
The web version guides you through the application and assists
you in providing the right responses. Consequently, there are
little or no errors with this method and therefore, no delays in
processing your student aid. Clayton State University’s school code is 008976.
Please remember that you must reapply for financial aid every academic year.
How long does the financial aid process take?
Awards are made in the order in which files are completed. The
Financial Aid Office has no way of predicting how many people
may complete their files in any given week. As a result, no
prediction can be made as to how long it will take for you to
receive an award once your file is complete. Some students are
randomly selected for verification by the Department of
Education and will be required to submit other documents (i.e.
parent/student tax returns, verification worksheet, etc). The
additional time required will also depend on how quickly the
additional documents requested are submitted to the Financial
Aid Office. Please keep a copy of any documents that you submit
to the Financial Aid Office as copies cannot be provided for you
at a later date.
Are Post-baccalaureate students eligible for financial aid?
A student must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program to receive federal student aid funds. A regular student is someone who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment to Clayton State University for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate. Students admitted as Post-baccalaureate students into the category of Non-degree/certificate students are not eligible for federal student aid funds because these students are taking courses for career development or personal enrichment only and are not seeking a degree or certificate from Clayton State University.
Can I use my W-2 to fill out the FAFSA?
No. You
should complete your tax forms (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, etc) first
and use that information to complete your FAFSA.
How can I get a copy of my federal tax return?
If you did not keep a copy of your federal tax returns,
instructions on how to obtain a copy from the IRS can be found
by clicking here.
Must I be enrolled full-time to receive financial aid?
No. HOPE Grant and HOPE Scholarship will pay the tuition
regardless of the number of hours a student is enrolled. HOPE
will cover $229 of the fee charges. Pell Grant and other federal
grants will be prorated according to Department of Education’s
calculation if a student is less than full-time. Student loan
eligibility mandates that a student be enrolled for at least
half-time (6 semester hours). Please note that financial aid
will only pay for classes required for your major as identified
on the DUCK. Refer to your course outline before you register
for classes. When you register for classes, verify that the
classes are in your major listed on the DUCK.
Are student loans considered financial aid?
Yes,
loans are a form of financial aid. You must complete the FAFSA
and go through the regular application process. You should
indicate on the FAFSA that you are interested in loans.
Notification of your eligibility for loans will be on your award
letter. You must complete the online loan acceptance form after
you are awarded if you decide to accept a loan. However, you
must be enrolled in at least 6 hours to be eligible for a
student loan.
If I’m not living at home with my parents, can I be
considered independent?
2007-2008 (Fall 2007,
Spring 2008, and Summer 2008)
For 2007-2008, a
student's dependency status is determined by questions #48 - #54
in Step 3 of the 2007-2008 FAFSA Form. It does not matter
if you live with your parents, if you claimed yourself on your
tax returns, or if you pay your own bills.
2008-2009 (Fall 2008,
Spring 2009, and Summer 2009)
For 2008-2009, a
student's dependency status is determined by questions #48 - #54
in Step 3 of the 2008-2009 FAFSA Form. It does not matter
if you live with your parents, if you claimed yourself on your
tax returns, or if you pay your own bills.
You will be considered a dependent of your parents for 2007-2008 if you answer ‘no’ to all of the questions below:
- Were you born before January 1, 1984?
- At the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program?
- As of today, are you married?
- Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
- Do you have dependents (other than children or spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2007?
- Are (a) both of your parents deceased, or (b) are you (or were you until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court?
- Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
How do I check the status of my financial aid online?
You can check the status of your financial aid by using the
DUCK. Go to
http://duck.clayton.edu Enter the DUCK system via Personal
Access.
If you have difficulty with your log-on or
PIN, contact the HUB at
http://thehub.clayton.edu/, e-mail
TheHub@clayton.edu, or
call (678) 466-4357. Your password cannot be changed by an
email or phone request. To have your password changed or reset,
you must go to the HUB and show a picture ID.