Hampton University - Office of Financial Aid

Financial Aid recipients MUST apply for financial aid each year by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available each year after January 1st. In addition to completing a FAFSA, students must maintain other eligibility requirements including admittance, enrollment and satisfactory academic progress policy standards. Hampton University strongly advises all financial aid applicants to use available web resources to apply for aid, including the FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov .

Step 1 – Obtain a PIN www.pin.ed.gov
Step 2 – Obtain Necessary Documents
Step 3 – Complete FAFSA Online www.fafsa.ed.gov
Step 4 – Review Student Aid Report for Errors
Step 5 – Submit all Requested Documents promptly
Step 6 – Complete Entrance Interview & Master Promissory Notes

Step 1

Students will need a PIN number to electronically sign their FAFSA. Dependent student’s parents should also apply for a PIN. This will enable both the student and parent to sign the FAFSA each year electronically. Students and parents need to keep the PIN in a safe place so it can be used to sign the Master Promissory Notes and to complete the renewal FAFSA in subsequent years.

Step 2

It is helpful to gather the documents needed to complete the FAFSA ahead of time. You will need income tax returns (or estimated income amounts) as well as, banking and investment statements.

Step 3

Complete your FAFSA online as soon after January 1st as possible. HAMPTON UNIVERSITY’S PRIORITY FILING DATE IS FEBRUARY 15. Hampton University strongly recommends and prefers students and parents to complete the online FAFSA process. Hampton’s school code is 003714. Please be sure to print and keep all information regarding the processing of your FAFSA online. Students should NOT wait for an admissions decision before completing the FAFSA.

Step 4

Your SAR (Student Aid Report) is either mailed or emailed to the student from the Department of Education. The SAR shows the results of the FAFSA. If needed, the student can make corrections if needed online or by the paper method. If no corrections are needed, the student should keep the SAR for their records. The SAR lists the expected family contribution (EFC) number.
The EFC number is not a specific dollar amount you are expected to pay.

Step 5

If additional information is required to process the student’s financial aid eligibility, the student will be notified by mail.

Federal Verification Selection Process
FAFSAs are selected for verification either by the U.S. Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS) or by the school.
The CPS selects applicants either randomly or by choosing applications that do not meet a series of federal edits. These edits are not published by the Department of Education to the public.

The law also permits the school to select applicants based on the above reasons, as well as, to verify accuracy of data or resolve conflicting data that it believes is incorrect or discrepant. As important, a school may request additional documentation if information does not match FAFSA.

Notification of Selection
The CPS notifies students selected for verification by printing an asterisk (*) next to the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on the SAR; also, the Financial Aid Office will notify selectees via correspondence of specific items required in order to process a student’s financial aid eligibility. In addition, students are required to monitor their financial status via their HUNET account.

To access your financial aid status within HUNet after logging in select Financial Aid, then Eligibility, then Student Requirements. Select the current aid year from the drop down menu, and then click Submit. The forms required for this process are available from the financial aid website (http://www.hamptonu.edu/studentservices/financialaid/fa_forms.cfm).

The student is given 14 days to respond to this request for information. Failure to respond within this time period could have an adverse effect (in some cases) depending on the student's eligibility for certain types of financial aid awards.

What You Need to Know
In an effort to save you time with the processing of your verification documents, we like to recommend some important Tidbits:

Respond timely to requests for information;
Make certain that documents and appropriate worksheets are properly signed;
Electronic signatures authorizations for tax returns are not allowed;
Read your SAR thoroughly;
If you have filed for an extension with the IRS, you will need to provide us with a copy of Form 4506-T;
If an extension is granted by the IRS, you will need to submit IRS Form 4868 or a copy of the IRS approval or extension beyond the automatic six-month extension;
Copies of tax returns or alternative documentation must be submitted within the appropriate deadlines established by the Financial Aid Office;
If documentation is not received, students are ineligible for Title-IV funds and are required to repay any disbursed aid; and
In some cases, students could be selected for verification after awarding and disbursements. Should this occur, the student is responsible for any overpayment (for certain Title-IV programs) received as a result of verification.

Completing Verification
Once we have received and reviewed for accuracy all the requested items for the verification process, the student will receive notification that his/her award package is available to view and/or accept online. This will include the types and amounts of aid offered and instructions for acceptance.

If a student has not received any correspondence from our office within 14 business days from the receipt date of all requirements satisfied (as displayed on HUNet), please do not hesitate to contact our office at 1-800-624-3341.

We strongly recommend that you do not attempt to change data on the FAFSA, while your documentation is under review, without first contacting our office.

Please direct all questions and inquiries to your assigned Financial Aid Advisor, as posted on the Financial Aid Office website.

All Verification Documents must be mailed or hand delivered to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Step 6

Award information is available on your HUNet account.

Instructions

Access your HU Net account at: https://mycampus.hamptonu.edu/web/mycampus/home
Select HUNet Administrative Services
Enter Secure Area - Enter User ID and Password
Select Financial Aid
Select Award
Select Award for Aid Year
Select Upcoming Financial Aid Award Year

You MUST view, read and accept all policies and disclosures under the "Resources/Additional Information" tab before you will be able to access the Accept Award Offer tab to view and accept your award.

The student is given 14 days to respond to this request. Failure to respond within this time period could drastically reduce the amount of aid the student is offered. Once all information is received by our office, the student will receive notification that his/her award package is available to view and/or accept. This will include the types and amounts of aid offered and instructions for acceptance.

On-time GRADUATE students’ award notifications will be sent by July 15th.

Please read ALL correspondence sent from the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships and submit requested documents in a timely manner.

Step 7

Please be aware that all first time student borrowers will need to complete Entrance Loan Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) with Direct Loans. Using the PIN for the FAFSA signature, students must sign the Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the Federal Direct Stafford Loan. Parents who apply and are approved may also use their FAFSA PIN to sign the MPN for the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan.

Perkins Loan borrowers MUST sign a promissory note, loan interview form, “Truth in Lending” Form and fact sheet with the Collections Office.