Apply For Aid

At Slippery Rock University, approximately 85% of students receive some type of aid. This may come in the form of scholarships, grants, loans and/or work-study (part-time employment on campus). This page provides substantial resources to help you understand, apply for, and receive the financial aid for which you qualify.

Undergraduate

Application Procedures

In order to be considered for federal aid, which can include Pell and SEOG grants, Pennsylvania State Grant, Direct Loans, and Federal Work-Study, students must:

Be accepted to Slippery Rock University
Be enrolled in one of SRU's degree (bachelor's, master's, doctorate) or teacher certification programs
- Students who are enrolled at SRU as a "special" student are not eligible for financial aid.
- SRU students who are registered as a "transient" student may be eligible for financial aid consideration. Transient students should contact the SRU Financial Aid Office and speak with a director to discuss potential federal or non-federal aid options.
- Students who are enrolled at SRU as a "visiting" student are not eligible for financial aid through SRU. Visiting students should contact their home school's financial aid office to learn of aid options and processing requirements

Financial Aid Checklist

STEP 1: Apply for an FSA ID for both student and parent. FSA ID numbers are required to submit your FAFSA every year.

STEP 2: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid online.

Slippery Rock University School Code: 003327.
We strongly encourage families to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to securely transfer your federal tax information directly from the IRS to your FAFSA. For more information on the DRT, please click here. IRS data will be available to upload approximately two weeks after filing taxes electronically or approximately 6-8 weeks after filing taxes via paper.

STEP 3: Sign your FAFSA using your FSA ID and your parents' FSA ID as electronic signatures.

Your completed signature page must be received by the federal processor before your application can be processed.
Remember to print a copy of your submitted FAFSA with your confirmation number for your records.

STEP 4: Submit any required documentation to the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible. Each year the U.S. Department of Education randomly selects 30% of all FAFSA records for a process called verification.

STEP 5: Once all required documentation has been received, you will be mailed a Financial Aid Award Letter that will list all forms of financial aid you are eligible to receive.

STEP 6: Log onto your MYSRU portal to accept, decline or reduce your awards.

STEP 7: Students choosing to borrow a Federal Direct Loan must apply and follow the instructions on our Loans page.

Deadline Dates

First-year students: Incoming freshman are urged to file the FAFSA by February 28 if possible. By doing so, SRU can provide a financial aid award by mid-March, allowing students to use this information in their college decision process if necessary. If an incoming freshman files after February 28th, they should expect to receive their award letter approximately 2-3 weeks after filing the FAFSA.

Returning/Transfer students: Returning and transfer students are encouraged to file the FAFSA "after" filing their federal tax return, but before May 1st for maximum aid consideration.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) requires the FAFSA to be received by the processor no later than May 1 for Pennsylvania State Grant consideration for undergraduate Pennsylvania residents.

Information for Students Transferring to SRU

A student's financial need and eligibility for federal financial aid is determined by the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All financial aid applicants must complete the FAFSA for each year of attendance at SRU. Students only complete one FAFSA application per academic year. If you have already completed a FAFSA but did not list SRU as a recipient of the FAFSA results, you should do the following:

If you have an FSA ID from the U.S. Department of Education, you can list SRU as one of your schools on the FAFSA website by clicking on "Make Corrections to a Processed FAFSA". Simply list SRU and our school code (003327) on the FAFSA and submit those corrections electronically.

Federal Direct Loans cannot be automatically transferred from one school to another.

If your previous school processed a loan for a term that you will not attend at that school, you must have the previous school cancel the loan funds for that term.

Students are required to have completed a Master Promissory Note (MPN) in order to receive assistance from the Federal Direct Loan program. Contact the SRU Financial Aid Office (724.738.2044) to determine if you have a valid MPN on file.

Deferment of Payment on Federal Direct or Perkins Loans: You may be eligible to continue deferment of payment on any previous Federal Direct Loans or Federal Perkins Loans. Students should contact their loan servicer regarding eligibility for deferments. Please contact Academic Records (724.738.2010) if you have deferment forms or enrollment verification forms which must be completed by an SRU representative. Students can view the current servicer of their loans at The National Student Loan Data System.

Pennsylvania State Grant applicants must authorize SRU as the recipient of all state grant information. Contact PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) at 1.800.692.7392 to confirm that SRU has been listed as the recipient of your state grant information. Students may also update this information on the PHEAA Account Access portal.

Academic Progress: Transfer students and currently enrolled students are required to meet academic progress requirements to be eligible for state and federal financial aid. A transfer student's eligibility for the Pennsylvania State Grant may be based on credits completed at a previous school(s). You may contact PHEAA for further eligibility criteria. Students should view and understand the federal SAP Policy for federal financial aid.

Information for Students Transferring from SRU

All students transferring from SRU should contact their new school for financial aid application requirements and deadlines. However, the following steps are generally required as a minimum order to receive financial aid consideration at another school:

Add your new school to your FAFSA.
Notify your state grant agency of your enrollment change. Pennsylvania State Grant applicants should contact PHEAA (click on Account Access) with enrollment information.
Contact SRU's Office of Academic Services at 724.738.2012 to withdraw from SRU. Their office will notify our Financial Aid Office and we will cancel your financial aid.

Graduate

Graduate students must be seeking a Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree, or Teacher Certification to be eligible for Federal Direct Loans. Students in Endorsement and Certificate Programs are not eligible for federal aid, but may be eligible for Alternative Private Education Loans.

Financial aid for graduate students enrolled in eligible programs at Slippery Rock University can take the form of:

Scholarships
On campus employment (includes Federal Work Study)
Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Graduate PLUS Loans
Alternative Private Education Loans
Graduate Assistantships

Application Requirements

In order to be considered for federal aid, students must:

Be accepted to Slippery Rock University
Be enrolled in one of SRU's degree (bachelor's, master's, doctorate) or teacher certification programs
- Students who are enrolled at SRU as a "special" student are not eligible for financial aid.
- SRU students who are registered as a "transient" student may be eligible for financial aid consideration. Transient students should contact the SRU Financial Aid Office and speak with a director to discuss potential federal or non-federal aid options.
- Students who are enrolled at SRU as a "visiting" student are not eligible for financial aid through SRU. Visiting students should contact their "home" school's financial aid office to learn of aid options and processing requirements.

Applying For Federal Unsubsidized Loan

Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA should be submitted in the spring each year for the upcoming academic year.
SRU's Federal School Code is: 003327.

Direct Unsubsidized Loan

Graduate students are eligible for a maximum of $20,500 per academic year. An academic year is defined as fall/spring/summer.
Graduate Students must be enrolled for three graduate credits to be eligible for Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
For information on current interest rates and origination fees, students should visit Federal Student Aid.
Students are responsible for making the quarterly interest payments on their loan while they are in school, or capitalizing these interest payments (making no interest payments now, but the interest accrues and increases the amount you repay).
Repayment of the principal begins six months after you cease to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis which is three credits.
Students must be enrolled on a half-time basis, three credits, for deferment of previously borrowed federal loans.
Winter Session is not a regular semester; therefore, winter financial aid eligibility is tied to the following spring semester and spring enrollment. ALL students other than those enrolled in the Math/Science K-8 graduate program MUST be enrolled for the following spring semester. Detailed information on financial aid for the Winter Session, including guidance for students in the Math/Science K-8 program, can be found under the WINTER AID webpage.
To be considered for Direct Unsubsidized Loan for the summer, you will need to complete a Summer Direct Loan Request Form which is available on the Summer Aid webpage.

Graduate Federal PLUS Loan

Direct Graduate PLUS loans are federal loans that graduate or professional degree students can use to help pay education expenses not covered by the Direct Unsubsidized Loan. The U.S. Department of Education makes Direct PLUS Loans to eligible borrowers.

Applying for Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships are awarded by a particular department in conjunction with Academic Affairs.

Assistantship information and GA employment applications may be obtained from the Graduate Assistantships webpage. Completed application forms should be submitted directly to the office in which employment is being sought. If you are awarded a graduate assistantship after your Direct Loan has been processed, your loan eligibility may be reduced.

Federal Eligibility

In order to be eligible to receive federal student aid, students must do the following:

Be in good academic standing and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Be a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States.
Have a valid Social Security Number. (Students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are exempt from this requirement.)
Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed homeschooling. If you don't, you may still be eligible for federal student aid if you were enrolled in college or career school prior to July 1, 2012. Go to Federal Student Aid for additional information.
Not owe a refund on a federal student grant or be in default on a federal student loan.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. At Slippery Rock University, an academic year consists of fall, spring, and summer. Applications are accepted beginning in January for the fall semester through June 30 of the next year.
- If you plan to enroll in summer school, an SRU Summer Direct Loan Request Form is required.

Many types of federal student aid, such as the Federal Pell Grant or subsidized loans where the government pays the interest while you are in college, also require you to have financial need. Additionally, once you have a bachelor's degree or a first professional degree, you are generally not eligible for Pell or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG).

Other requirements may apply. If you have questions, please contact the SRU Financial Aid Office.

VERIFICATION 2024-25

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is the federal form that students complete to apply for all federal student financial aid.

GUIDELINES FOR THE 2024-25 VERIFICATION SELECTION

Each year, the United States Department of Education (USDE) selects approximately 30% of all Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submissions for verification, a process in which the school’s Financial Aid Office must verify and determine the accuracy of the information submitted on the FAFSA.

In addition to records selected by the United States Department of Education (USDE), Slippery Rock’s Financial Aid Office reserves the right to select any record for verification at its discretion. The following policies and procedures for verifying information are implemented in accordance with federal regulations.

REQUIRED VERIFICATION DOCUMENTS

For your convenience, our office accepts documents through an automated document management tool, Adobesign, which is designed to allow students and/or parents to complete and e-sign forms and securely upload documents directly from your computer desktop or phone for the 2024-25 financial aid year.

REMINDER: Students completing verification for the 2024-25 academic year will need to verify 2022 income tax information.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: You, the student, must submit all verification requirements by the last day of your enrollment during the school year.

The details listed below explain how to find, complete, and submit requested verification documents.

Find your documents for completing verification:

Log in to MySRU.
Select your financial aid card.
Select the “2024-25” aid year.
Select unsatisfied requirements.
Complete, e-sign, upload, and submit ALL required documents using our Adobesign

Students may be required to submit one or more of the following documents:

Family Size Form
Parent’s SIGNED 2022 IRS Tax Return, or IRS Tax Return Transcript. FAFSA’s recommended option is the Federal Tax Information (FTI) via the FA-DDX (the Future Act Direct Data Exchange) linking your IRS information automatically to the FAFSA site, if successfully transferred, no information is required.
Student’s SIGNED 2022 IRS Tax Return, or IRS Tax Return Transcript. FAFSA’s recommended option is the Federal Tax Information (FTI) via the FA-DDX (the Future Act Direct Data Exchange) linking your IRS information automatically to the FAFSA site, if successfully transferred, no information is required.
W2 Form(s) for 2022
Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose Form: must be completed in person at SRU’s Financial Aid Office or in front of a Notary Public. If completed in front of a Notary Public, the student must send the ORIGINAL form by mail to our office or deliver it in person with a copy of the unexpired valid government-issued photo identification ID that the Notary Public used to verify your identity.
Additional information, as needed, to resolve discrepant information.

When submitting the documents through Adobesign, please ensure you are attaching ALL applicable pages to the coversheet(s). Certain documents may have information printed on both sides of the paper.

We recommend that you submit all documents via the MySRU portal, Adobesign. If you prefer another method, you may mail or fax documents to:

Slippery Rock University
Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
108 Maltby Center; Suite 107
Slippery Rock, PA 16057

Fax: 724.738.2922

The verification process must be completed by your last day of attendance. The last day of attendance is dependent on your enrollment in classes. If you are attending one semester only, it is the last day of that semester. If you are attending for the entire academic year, it is the last day of the semester at the end of the academic year.

Certain criteria may be considered for a later disbursement per federal regulations once the semester ends. If this is your situation, please contact our office before the last day of attendance.

HELPFUL INSTRUCTIONS FOR IRS TAX RETURN INFORMATION

Parents and students who filed a 2022 IRS tax return can provide tax information by either:

FTI Tool on the FAFSA site at FAFSA (Recommended and if used, no information is required for the tax return.)
Providing a SIGNED copy of your 2022 IRS tax return
Request a Tax Return Transcript and upload to MySRU. You can obtain your tax information by:

Online option: request a tax return transcript at: IRS
Phone option: 1.800.908.9946

IDENTITY THEFT STUDENTS

If you are having issues because of identity theft, you may obtain a copy of your tax information by calling the IRS 1.800.908.4490.

CHANGES UPDATED TO YOUR FAFSA ONCE THE VERIFICATION PROCESS IS COMPLETED

After our office receives the documents, and if discrepant information is found after the review process, our office will make corrections and will wait for the electronic change to be updated. Keep in mind additional time, 3-5 business days, will be needed for processing the change. Our office will send the change(s) to the Federal Processing System, and you will receive a revised summary from FAFSA that changes were made by your school.

FINANCIAL AID OFFERS

First time, first-year freshman students may receive an estimated financial aid offer before the verification process has been completed. In this case, once verification has been completed, another offer will be sent to the student’s email/MySRU portal for the updated changes in your financial aid eligibility.

Returning/continuing students will receive their financial aid offer once verification is completed.

If a student has been offered aid, and the student is later selected for verification, aid will be cancelled until the verification process has been completed.

IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO PURSUE VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND DO NOT WISH TO RECEIVE ANY FEDERAL AID

If you, the student, do not wish to complete the verification requirements, or receive any federal financial aid, the student will need to submit a written statement that indicates you do not want to receive any federal financial aid for the specific year you are attending. You will need to sign the written statement, with a physical signature, and date it.

FINANCIAL AID FRAUD

SRU is required by law to report any information that is found while reviewing the verification process to the Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General of any fraud or other criminal misconduct. Examples of fraud/criminal misconduct are false claims of citizenship, forgery of signatures or certifications, false claims of independent student status, an intent to deceive to receive Title IV aid, any conflicting information, and false income statements.

SRU Financial Aid employees are required to report fraud or criminal misconduct to our Financial Aid Director. Our director will review the fraudulent findings and report it to the OIG Headquarters.

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Inspector General
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202
Fax: (202)245.7047

Verification 2023-24

GUIDELINES FOR THE 2023-24 VERIFICATION PROCESS

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) selects approximately 30% of all Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submissions for verification, a process in which the school's Financial Aid Office must verify the information submitted on the FAFSA. In addition to records selected by USDE, Slippery Rock's Financial Aid Office reserves the right to select any record for verification at its discretion. The following policies and procedures for verifying information are implemented in accordance with federal regulations.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Students completing verification for the 2023-24 academic year will need to verify 2021 income tax information.

REQUIRED VERIFICATION DOCUMENTS

For your convenience, electronic documents can be securely submitted using the Adobesign process. Students and parents can complete, e-sign, and/or upload all documents for the 2023-24 financial aid year.

The details listed below explain how to find, complete, and submit requested verification documents. Please log in to MySRU, and click on the Financial Aid card to view the status of your financial aid requirements. Many of the required forms can be accessed from MySRU or at Financial Aid Forms.

Students may be required to submit two or more of the following documents:

A Slippery Rock University Verification Form
Parent's SIGNED 2021 IRS Tax Return, IRS Transcript and/or successful IRS Data Retrieval via the FAFSA
Student's SIGNED 2021 IRS Tax Return, IRS Transcript and/or successful IRS Data Retrieval via the FAFSA
W2 Forms
Verification of Non-filing Letter
Verification of High School Completion
Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose Form (Must be completed in person at the school or in front of a Notary Public)
Additional information, as needed, to resolve discrepant information

Instructions for Tax Information

All tax documents can be uploaded securely to the Financial Aid Office using the Tax Information Coversheet.

Parents and students who filed a 2021 IRS tax return can provide tax information by either:

IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA at FAFSA (recommended)
Providing a SIGNED copy of your 2021 IRS tax return (This option is not available every year but is permitted for 2023-24 based on Department of Education guidelines)
Request a tax return transcript* and upload to MySRU. You can obtain your tax information by:
- ONLINE: Request a tax return transcript at: IRS
- PHONE: 1.800.908.9946.

When submitting the documentation, please ensure you are attaching ALL applicable pages to the tax information coversheets. Certain documents may have information printed on both sides of the paper.

Parent Instructions for the IRS DRT

After logging into the FAFSA and navigating to the Financial Information tab:

Go to the "Parent Financial Information" section
Answer the questions to see if you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
If eligible, select which parent is providing information for the FAFSA
Enter that parent's FSA ID
Click "Link to IRS"
Provide the information requested from the IRS to confirm your identity. If the site says it can't find your data, make sure the information you entered matches your tax return exactly, including items such as abbreviations in your mailing address (example: PO Box vs. P.O. Box)
After confirming your identity on the IRS site, choose the option to "Transfer Now." For your protection, your tax information will not display on the IRS site or FAFSA, but you will be informed that the transfer was successful. You will see "Transferred from IRS" in the fields where data was transferred
If you only need to update parent tax information, then proceed to the Sign and Submit page to sign and submit the updates

Student Instructions for the IRS DRT

After logging into the FAFSA and navigating to the Financial Information tab:

Go to the "Student Financial Information" section
Answer the questions to see if you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
If eligible, click "Link to IRS"
Provide the information requested from the IRS to confirm your identity. If the site says it can't find your data, make sure the information you entered matches your tax return exactly, including items such as abbreviations in your mailing address (example: PO Box vs. P.O. Box)
After confirming your identity on the IRS site, choose the option to "Transfer Now." For your protection, your tax information will not display on the IRS site or FAFSA, but you will be informed that the transfer was successful. You will see "Transferred from IRS" in the fields where data was transferred
If you have finished any updates you need to make, proceed to the Sign and Submit page to sign and submit the updates

Verification of Non-filing Letter

A Verification of Non-filing Letter from the IRS is required if the parent or an Independent student did not file and was not required to file a 2021 Income Tax Return with the IRS. You can request a Verification of Non-filing Letter by mail or online if you already have an IRS account established from a prior year. Use the IRS Form 4506-T located in the Financial Aid Forms section. Mail or fax the form to the IRS. Allow 10 to 15 days to receive the letter.

If the parent or an independent student did not earn money or are not required to file taxes, you are considered a "non-filer." Please note that if you earned income, you may be required to file taxes even if you think your income is not enough to file taxes. See the IRS Do I Need to File a Tax Return website to determine if you are required to file taxes.

Non-filers must provide:

An IRS Verification of Non-filing letter.
W-2s for each source of income earned from work (if income was earned)

An individual who worked outside of the U.S. and is not required to file taxes with their foreign central government must submit an earning statement from their employer and a statement certifying that they are not required to file taxes within their country. If self-employed, provide a statement with income information. You must also provide proof of the country's tax filing requirements, whether obtained directly from the tax authority or their website (can include a letter or email from the taxing authority or screen capture from their website).

How to obtain verification of non-filing letter

Online Request

Available at www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript.

Note: This is typically not available if you have never filed taxes before in prior years. If this is the case, please use the paper request process detailed below.

Click “Get Transcript Online” (If at any point, you cannot validate your identity – for example, you cannot provide financial verification information or you lack access to a mobile phone – you may use Get Transcript by Mail, see below)
Follow instructions for creating an account or log in. To create an account, you will need your Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number, email address, birthdate, mailing address from latest tax return, tax filing status, account number for loan or credit card associated with your name, and mobile phone associated with your name.
Select “Verification of Non-filing Letter” and in the Tax Year field, select “2021“.
If successfully validated, you will be able to view your IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter.
Submit the IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter, if requested, to the Financial Aid Office via the Non-filing form or by fax or email. Make sure to include the student’s name and SRU student ID number on the letter.

Telephone Request

Available from the IRS by calling 1-800-908-9946.

Non-filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter at the address provided in their telephone request within 5 to 10 days from the time of the request.
IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter requested by telephone cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.
Submit the IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter, if requested, to the Financial Aid Office via the Non-filing form or by fax or email. Make sure to include the student’s name and SRU student ID number on the letter.

Paper Request Form – IRS Form 4506-T

Download IRS Form 4506-T.

Complete lines 1 – 4, following the instructions on page 2 of the form.
Line 3: enter the non-filer’s street address and zip or postal code. Use the address currently on file with the IRS. Problems entering your street address?
Line 5 provides non-filers with the option to have their IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter mailed directly to a third party by the IRS. Do not have your IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter sent directly to SRU.
Line 7: Select the checkbox on the right-hand side for Verification of Non-filing.
Line 9: Year or period requested field, enter “12/31/2021”.
The non-filer must sign and date the form and enter their telephone number. Only one signature is required when requesting a joint IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter.
Mail or fax the completed IRS Form 4506-T to the address (or FAX number) provided on page 2 of Form 4506-T.
If the 4506-T information is successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter at the address provided on their request within 5 to 10 days.
Submit the IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter, if requested, to the Financial Aid Office via the Non-filing form or by fax or email. Make sure to include the student’s name and SRU student ID number on the letter.

How to fix address matching problems when ordering online

When entering the information into the IRS address matching system note the following:

The address entered must match the address already on file with the IRS exactly.
The address on file is typically the address on your most recent tax return.
Spelling out the word “street” rather than using the abbreviation “st.” can be enough to cause an error.
Addresses on the IRS system are auto-corrected through a post office program and may not match what you put on your tax return.

We suggest the following if you run into problems:

Have your taxes in front of you and enter the address carefully as it is on your return.
If you entered your address as it appears on your return and it doesn’t work, try using the standardized version of your address.
To get a standardized version of your address: 1) go to www.usps.com 2) Click Look Up a Zip Code 3) Enter Street Address, City, State 4) Click Find
If you still have problems, the IRS.gov Website Help Desk can be reached toll-free at 1-800-876-1715, Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR COMPLETING THE VERIFICATION PROCESS

Complete the requested verification documents in full. Do not leave any questions blank and provide all required signatures.
Once verification begins, you may be asked to submit additional documentation. If this occurs, an email will be sent to the student's SRU email account and all requested documents can be viewed on the student's MySRU portal.

FINISHING THE VERIFICATION PROCESS

Once all requested documents are received, we will review them accordingly. If discrepant information is found, corrections will be made and additional time will be needed for processing. Instructions as to where to submit your documents are listed below.

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships now accepts required documents through an automated document management tool, which is designed to allow students and/or parents to complete and e-sign forms and securely upload documents directly from your computer desktop or phone.

Current Slippery Rock University Students:

Login to MySRU
Select Financial Aid tab
Select the "2023-24 Aid Year"
Select required documents identified with red flag
Complete, e-sign, upload, and submit required information using our Adobesign process.

We recommend that you submit all documents via MySRU. Otherwise, you may mail or fax documents to:

Slippery Rock University
Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
108 Maltby Center; Suite 107
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
Fax: 724.738.2922

WARNING: Email is not a secure method for transmitting confidential information. Please do NOT include personal and financial information, such as your bank account, credit card or social security numbers in your email to us.

Award Letters

Financial aid recipients receive an "award letter" from the SRU Financial Aid Office that details the types and amounts of financial aid, including student loans, which a student will be receiving.

While all award letters are available on-line via MySRU, the initial award letter will be mailed to a student's home address. Upon receiving the initial award letters, students should check their financial aid status in MySRU regularly to view any requirements for confirming their aid.

If you have any questions about your financial aid award, please feel free to contact our office at 724.738.2044.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING INCOMING FRESHMAN AND TRANSFER FINANCIAL AID LETTERS

The 2024-25 FAFSA was available much later this year because of FAFSA changes, and the federal government will be delayed in sending the information from the FAFSA to Slippery Rock University and other schools. Slippery Rock is hoping to receive the information by mid-February.

When Slippery Rock University receives the FAFSA from the government, it will take some additional time to create a financial aid offer, once this occurs, we will begin sending financial aid letters to incoming freshmen and transfers.

The deposit commit date for the freshman of 2024 has been moved to May 15th due to the delayed FAFSA.

NOTE: Returning undergraduates and all graduate students will not receive a financial aid letter until early summer after spring grades are received and academic progress can be measured.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)/Changing to Student Aid Index (SAI) in 2024-25

A student must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for most federal student aid. At its simplest level, a student's financial need is the difference between the student's cost of attendance at the school and the amount the family is expected to contribute to the student's education.

The "Expected Family Contribution"/Student Aid Index is determined through a federal need analysis formula that is applied to the information a student supplies on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students can view their federally-determined EFC/SAI on the Student Aid Report.

Terms and Conditions

Students should read the following information to understand the terms and conditions of the financial aid funds they are receiving.

Satisfactory Academic Progress - Satisfactory Academic Progress - In order to receive financial aid (including federal loans), a student must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as required by regulations. Students should review their Academic Progress status on MySRU by checking the Satisfactory Academic Progress tab in your Financial Aid Card. Please Note: Students are responsible for knowing and meeting these requirements.

Direct Subsidized/Direct Unsubsidized/Direct Parent PLUS - Borrowers must be enrolled at least half-time (six credits) to receive federal loans. (Note: graduate students must be enrolled in at least three graduate credits to receive loans). Dependent students whose parents are borrowing a Parent PLUS Loan must also be enrolled at least half-time.

Direct Subsidized Loan - Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest while you are in school at least half-time.

Direct Unsubsidized Loan - Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students; there is not a requirement to demonstrate financial need. Students are responsible for paying the interest on the Unsubsidized Loan during all periods. If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school, your interest will accrue and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan).

Revisions - The financial aid award provided is valid to the extent that the information upon which it is based is accurate at the time of the award and remains accurate throughout the award period. Any change in student circumstances, as noted below, will void the Award Letter and require that a revision be made. Revisions may also be necessary due to changes in funds made available to the University by governmental or other sources or due to any other circumstances, including errors in the award itself, in order to prevent overawards and to maintain the integrity of the financial aid programs according to governing laws and regulations. Slippery Rock University does not guarantee substitution of funds for any portion of the award which is declined by the student or reduced by government agencies.

Overawards - Federal and state regulations require SRU's Financial Aid Office to consider all sources of financial assistance when awarding aid. Those sources include scholarships, athletic grants, tuition waivers, and Alternative Private Education Loans. If your Financial Aid Award Letter did not include all of the assistance you are receiving, chances are SRU was not aware of all those awards when your financial aid was packaged. The addition of other aid sources may cause an overaward, which means that our Financial Aid Office may have to reduce one or more of your awards; please note that a reduction in other sources of aid may create a balance due on your student account. You can help prevent an overaward by informing SRU's Financial Aid Office of all sources of financial assistance as soon as you know about them.

Federal Work Study (FWS) - A FWS award is not a guarantee of earnings. Students must secure their own jobs through this on-campus part-time employment program. Actual earnings are paid directly to the student bi-weekly; earnings are not automatically deducted from a student's bill.

Gift Aid Maximums - Several financial aid programs implement a "gift aid maximum" policy which limits the amount of total "gift aid" (scholarships, grants, waivers, etc.) a student may receive. The maximum is typically defined in such cases as a reasonable amount needed for tuition, fees, housing, food, books and at times some miscellaneous expenses. The Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship is an example of one such program. As the SRU Financial Aid Office identifies students who are exceeding any gift aid maximums, we will make appropriate adjustments and notify the student via a revised award package.

Payment of Financial Aid - Financial aid awards (except Federal Work Study) will be credited to the student's account each semester. Funds are usually disbursed around the first day of classes each semester. Disbursement of certain funds may be delayed until after the add/drop period for students enrolled part-time. Payment of financial aid funds will not be made until all eligibility requirements have been met. If the total aid credited/disbursed exceeds the total charges, SRU's Office of Student Accounts will generate a "refund" of the excess aid for the student. Please Note: Students should plan to have their own funds available to meet personal expenses (including books) at the beginning of each semester.

Part-Time Enrollment - Undergraduate students who enroll for less than 12 credits (graduate students enrolled less than 9 credits) in a semester may have their financial aid adjusted. For this reason, disbursement of certain funds may be delayed until after the official add/drop period for students enrolled part-time. Such students may still be eligible for all or partial payment from certain programs. A student considering less than full-time enrollment should discuss the effect on his/her financial aid with the Financial Aid Office staff.

Federal Verification - A number of FAFSA applications are selected by the federal processor for a process called "Verification". This process is used to determine that the information provided on the FAFSA is accurate. Beginning in February/March each year, the Financial Aid Office will begin requesting, from selected students, the documentation needed to complete the verification review. A student must respond to this request immediately to ensure timely processing and disbursement of their financial aid. If a student's financial aid package is calculated before Verification is completed, the package may change based upon the information received during the Verification process.

Changes in Student Circumstances - The student agrees to notify the SRU Financial Aid Office of any changes in financial or other circumstances which could affect financial aid eligibility. This includes, but is not limited to, changes in a student's academic and/or enrollment status, housing status, receipt of an outside scholarship or other awards.

The Financial Aid Award Shall be Void if:

You default on Federal Perkins Loans, Direct Loans, Grad PLUS Loans, or National Direct Student Loans;
You owe a repayment on any Title IV federal student aid funds received previously;
You do not report changes listed above to the Financial Aid Office;
You do not make Satisfactory Academic Progress;
Incorrect information is revealed on the FAFSA and/or;
You intentionally make false statements or misrepresent information on any financial aid application materials. Students who do so may be subject to fines, imprisonment, or both, under provisions of the U.S. Criminal Code.
You are convicted of any offense, during a period of enrollment for which you receive Title IV, Higher Education Act (HEA) Federal Student Aid (whether grants, loans or work-study), under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs. A conviction will result in the loss of eligibility for any Title IV, HEA grant, loan, or work-study assistance (HEA Sec. 484(r)(1)); (20 U.S.C. 1091(r)(1)).

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) - Information regarding federal loans (example: Direct, PLUS, Graduate PLUS, Perkins) will be reported to the National Student Loan Data System which is the U.S. Department of Education's (ED's) central database for student aid. NSLDS receives data from schools, guaranty agencies, the Direct Loan program, and other Department of ED programs. NSLDS Student Access provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants so that recipients of Title IV Aid can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data. This information is also accessible to authorized users of the NSLDS, such as guaranty agencies, eligible lenders, and eligible institutions of higher education. For more information and to review your federal aid history, go to the NSLDS website.

Financial Aid Definition of an Academic Year: For financial aid purposes, at SRU an academic year is defined as at least 30 weeks of instructional time in which a full-time undergraduate student earns 24 semester hours. Summer is a trailer to the academic year.

Tax Credits for Education - Tax credits may be available for families who are seeking additional university financing options. These may include the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the Hope Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. Families may benefit from one of these programs depending on financial circumstances. For more information about educational tax credits, please contact a tax advisor or review the IRS website. See Publication 970.

Taxable Income - Under certain conditions, portions of grants and scholarships must be reported as taxable income. Consult a tax advisor or the IRS to determine specific requirements. The University cannot give tax advice.

Study Abroad

Congratulations on deciding to study abroad!

As you know, you have made a decision that will impact you for the rest of your life. Preparing to study abroad can be hectic, confusing, and exciting all at the same time. We will do our best to prepare you for your time abroad.

Information about financing your Study Abroad program:

Financial Aid Checklist for financing Study Abroad

Students interested in financial aid for a study abroad program should contact the Office of Financial Aid and make an appointment to meet with the Associate Director at least one semester prior to the study abroad experience.

Summer Aid

If you are planning on taking classes in the summer, please contact us at 724.738.2044 or
financial.aid@sru.edu. Since summer terms are part of the full academic year and is considered
a trailer term for most students, eligibility for financial aid during this term may be limited if you have used most or all of your aid during the fall and spring terms.

Summer Aid Eligibility requirement:

• Must complete a 2023-24 FAFSA (for federal aid consideration). Deadline is June 30, 2024.
• Complete the 2024-25 FAFSA (Recommended for maximum aid consideration for summer)
• Must be enrolled half-time for student loans (six credits for undergraduates and three credits for graduates). The summer loan request form is required for student requesting summer Federal Direct Loan funds.
• Must enroll in the summer term
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
• Must be enrolled in an eligible program.
• Must meet eligibility criteria (Ex. Not in default, US citizen or eligible non-citizen, etc.)

Summer awards will begin posting in mid-April. The amount of financial aid disbursed will be
based on your actual enrollment.

Summer Federal Direct Loans:

Summer funding for Federal Direct Student Loans is limited to any remaining eligibility from the current academic year unless you plan to graduate in summer 2024 or fall 2024.

To request a Summer Federal Direct Loan, complete the 2024 Summer Direct Loan Request Form. Please do not complete this form until you have registered for your summer classes. Summer registration will begin on April 4, 2024.

Summer 2024 or Fall 2024 graduates may be eligible for Direct Loans. To be considered you must:

"Apply to Graduate" on MySRU (Go to the Student Links card, select Apply to Graduate). If you have not applied to graduate, the summer financial aid will be based on the 2023-24 academic year.
Questions about Applying to Graduate should be directed to the Office of Academic
Records and Summer School at 724.738.2010.
Complete the 2024-25 FAFSA

Summer Pell Grants:

The Financial Aid Office will review all students enrolled for summer for Pell Grant eligibility if
you completed your FAFSA forms. For maximum Pell grant consideration, we recommend that
you complete both the 2023-24 FAFSA and the 2024-25 FAFSA.

Summer PA State Grants:

If you are a Pennsylvania resident and you have not already used eight semesters of eligibility
for the Pennsylvania State Grant program, you can complete an application to be considered
for a Summer PA Grant at www.pheaa.org. Keep in mind that using a grant in summer may
impact future fall and spring grants.

Types of Summer Aid Available:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Direct Student Loans
• Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans
• Federal Graduate Direct PLUS Loans
• Federal Work-Study
• Private education loans
• Pennsylvania State Grant

Financial Aid Disbursement Information:

Direct Loans will not be disbursed until the session in which you are enrolled in at least
half-time (Half -time = 6 credits for undergraduates and 3 credits for graduate
students). Example: If you are an undergraduate student enrolled three credits Presession and three credits Summer Session II, your loan will not disburse until Summer
Session II. Make sure you plan accordingly.
- If you are an undergraduate student and drop to three credits before your loan is
  disbursed, you will no longer be eligible for a Direct Loan.
Pell Grants based on the 2024-25 academic year will not be disbursed until after July 2,
2024

Winter Aid

IMPORTANT

Winter Session is not a regular semester; therefore, winter financial aid is tied to the spring 2025 semester and spring 2025 enrollment. Students in the Math/Science K-8 Graduate Program are the ONLY students who can receive Direct Loans for winter alone.

MATH/SCIENCE K-8 GRADUATE STUDENTS

If you would like to be considered for a Direct Loan(s) please complete the 2024-25 Winter Direct Loan Request Form which will be available November 1, 2024. You must also have completed the 2024-25 FAFSA, if you have not already done so and be registered for your winter classes before your Direct Loan eligibility can be determined.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ENROLLED FOR THREE OR MORE CREDITS IN WINTER AND WILL BE ENROLLED LESS THAN HALF-TIME (3-5 CREDITS) SPRING.

If you would like to be considered for a Direct Loan(s) winter/spring please complete the 2024-25 Winter Direct Loan Request Form which will be available November 1, 2024. You must also have completed the 2024-25 FAFSA, if you have not already done so and be registered for winter and spring classes before your Direct Loan eligibility can be determined.

STUDENTS GRADUATING AT THE END OF WINTER SESSION

Students who are graduating at the end of Winter Session and have remaining loan eligibility for fall can increase their fall loan via the Direct Loan Change Request Form, however the Form must be receive BEFORE the last day of the Fall 2024 semester which is December 9, 2024.

If you do not have any remaining loan eligibility for fall you can apply for an alternative private education loan. These are educational loans via a bank and information on these loans can be found at www.sru.edu/loans.

NOTE: make sure you select a lender that will lend for the winter session only.

All Other Students
Students enrolled for at least half time (undergraduates, six undergraduate credits, graduates, three graduate credits) for the spring 2025 semester can use their spring financial aid to cover their winter costs if they have enough financial aid to do so. If your spring aid does not cover your winter charges, the following are some additional options.

If you have not borrowed the full amount of the Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized loan(s) for the 2024-25 academic year and still have financial aid eligibility, you may be able to increase your fall and/or spring loan(s) to cover your winter charges. This can be done via the Direct Loan Change Request Form.
Students who advance from freshman to sophomore or sophomore to junior grade level after the fall 2024 semester and are eligible can apply for the additional loan via the Grade Level Loan Change Request Form.
Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan (for dependent students only)
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan (for graduate students only)
Alternative Private Education Loans

LOAN DISBURSEMENT INFORMATION

Math/Science K-8 graduate student will have their loans disbursed on January 9, 2025 when spring financial aid is disbursed as long as you remain enrolled for the winter session.
Direct Loan funds WILL NOT disburse until the time you are enrolled for at half-time which is six undergraduate credits for undergraduate students and three graduate credits for graduate students.
Undergraduate students who are enrolled in at least three credits winter and three to five credits spring WILL NOT have their Direct Loans disbursed until after enrollment is frozen which is February 9, 2025.
Students who will reach six credits at the start of a mid-semester class WILL NOT have their loans disburse until the mid-semester class begins. Please plan accordingly.
Student who drop below half-time (six credits undergraduate, three credits graduate) before February 9, 2025 freeze date will no longer be eligible for federal loans.

Application Timeline

For your convenience, we have provided a general financial aid calendar below to help guide you through the aid application timeline. The timeline also provides direct links to other SRU web pages for additional details. This calendar reflects the typical timeline that high school seniors and their families will follow for fall 2023 enrollment at SRU.

Timeline 2023-24
Beginning in December	File the 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When filing on-line, be sure to create an FSA ID for both the parent and the student. The FSA ID serves as an electronic signature and can speed up the processing of the FAFSA. FAFSA opens in January.
February 28	Attention freshmen entering for fall 2023: SRU encourages families to complete the FAFSA by February 28, 2023.
Beginning in January	Verification. Any student whose FAFSA was selected for verification by the federal processor must provide additional documentation to the SRU Financial Aid Office. These students will be sent instructions from the SRU Financial Aid Office with documents or forms to be completed. Refer to MySRU. Students can go to MySRU to view current documents that are required. The award letter mailing also includes important information that students should review and understand. This information includes Terms and Conditions of Financial Aid; the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid, and a Worksheet to help families estimate out-of-pocket expenses. This information is also available from the Award Letters button on the Financial Aid Office webpage.
May 1	Pennsylvania State Grant Deadline. The FAFSA must be received by the federal processor by May 1st for state grant consideration through PHEAA. Students who are residents from other states can refer to the FAFSA for other state deadlines.
Beginning early June	Parents apply for a Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) if they wish to borrow a parent loan to assist with any college expenses that are not already covered by other forms of student financial aid. If a parent is denied the PLUS Loan, the student may be entitled to borrow additional Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds. Students who will borrow through the Federal Direct Loan program for the first time must complete both: Federal Direct Entrance Loan Counseling Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) Please note that no loan funds can be received by the student unless the student completes both the loan counseling and the master promissory note. IMPORTANT: Students must web-accept their loans at MySRU. Students should notify the SRU Financial Aid Office of any scholarships or grants they are receiving from outside sources (from high schools, civic or religious organizations, or others).

Late July	Students receive the first billing statement for the fall 2023 semester from the Office of Student Accounts. The bill reflects applicable charges for tuition, fees, room and board (meals), along with financial aid from federal, state and institutional sources that has been confirmed at the time of the billing. Students can view their bill online at MySRU.
Early August	First payment due for the fall semester for any expenses not covered by confirmed scholarships, grants and loans. Students and families are provided information about the SRU Payment Plan administered through the SRU Office of Student Accounts. Students should arrive on campus with money for books, supplies and miscellaneous expenses.
August 21, 2023	Fall Semester Begins. Welcome! The SRU Financial Aid Office encourages students to visit our office with any questions. No appointment is necessary.
Winter 2023	File 2024-25 FAFSA form using 2022 Tax Information. Students should also begin reviewing scholarship opportunities for the sophomore year under www.sru.edu/scholarships.
November	Fall bill must be paid in full in order for the student to be permitted to register for the spring 2024 semester.
Mid-December	Students receive their first billing statement for the spring semester.
December 9, 2023	Fall semester ends.

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