How do I apply for aid at Michigan Tech?
To apply for need-based federal and state financial aid, students need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. This can be done at
fafsa.ed.gov. To receive priority financial aid consideration at Michigan Tech, the FAFSA must be received at the federal processor by March 1.
I probably don't qualify for Financial Aid. Should I apply for aid anyway?
Yes. Stafford and PLUS loans are available regardless of need. The FAFSA form is free.
Can I submit my Financial Aid application before January 1?
No. If a Financial Aid application is submitted before January 1, it will be rejected by the federal processor.
Is financial aid available for international students?
Financial aid regulations for international students differ from those for US citizens. For more information, please visit the website for
International Programs and Services.
Do I need to be admitted before I can apply for Financial Aid?
No. You may apply for Financial Aid any time after January 1. To actually receive aid, you must be admitted and enrolled at the university.
When will I receive my Financial Aid award notification?
Michigan Tech Financial Aid award notifications begin to be emailed during the first part of March to new students. However, notices of Michigan Tech scholarship awards begin to be mailed during January and continue to be mailed through March of the senior year in High School. Returning students receive their Financial Aid award notifications in summer.
What if I did not complete the FAFSA by the March 1 priority filing date?
You can still apply for financial aid after the priority filing date but funds may be limited.
Do I have to reapply for Financial Aid every year?
Yes. Financial aid is not automatically renewed or guaranteed from one year to the next. You must reapply for financial aid every year by completing the FAFSA or the Renewal FAFSA. Also, program funding is dependent upon annual appropriations.
If I receive a scholarship, aid or benefit that is not already included in my financial aid package, do I have to report it?
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- Student Services and Financial Aid
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Federal and state regulations require applicants to report sources of assistance not shown on the Michigan Tech Financial Aid Award Notification. Your Financial Aid package may require adjustment.
What is verification?
In this process, the school’s financial aid administrator is required to compare information from your FAFSA with signed copies of federal tax returns, W-2’s, or other financial documents. Differences in data will be corrected and the Expected Family Contribution recalculated.
My parent(s)’ no longer claim me as a federal tax exemption and I work to support myself. Can I file my FAFSA as an independent student?
Federal statute defines the conditions for independent status. Self-sufficiency is not a criterion. Also parent(s)’ unwillingness to provide financial data or to pay for educational expenses cannot be recognized as the basis for independence. Currently, an applicant is independent if the individual meets one or more of the following:
- 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year;
- veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or has been a member of the National Guard or
Reserves called to active duty for purposes other than training, or was a cadet or
midshipman at one of the service academies, or attended a U.S. military academy
preparatory school. Must be released under a condition other than dishonorable.
- working on a master’s or doctorate program during the award year;
- married
- ward/dependent of the court, or was a ward/dependent of the court until age 18;
- has legal dependents other than a spouse
- a student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a documented determination of
independence by reason of other unusual circumstances.
If I live with a relative, should their income be reported on the FAFSA?
Only if the relative is your adoptive parent can their data be provided in lieu of parental data on the FAFSA.
If I have a legal guardian, should their income be reported on the FAFSA?
No, a legal guardian is not considered a “parent” for FAFSA purposes.
If I have a foster parent, should their income be reported on the FAFSA?
No, foster parents are not considered a “parent” for FAFSA purposes.
I’m going to get married prior to the fall semester. How do I answer the question that asks if I am married?
You cannot project your marital status. You must report your marital status as of the date that the FAFSA is filed. If you file the FAFSA as single, then marry, you cannot update the FAFSA by changing the response to “married”. A number of factors must be considered when making the determination of whether to postpone filing until you are married. For guidance, contact the Financial Aid Office.
If my parents are divorced, whose information do I need?
Report the information of the parent with whom you lived the most during the 12 months preceding the date you completed the FAFSA. It does not make a difference which parent claims you as a dependent for tax purposes. If you did not live with either parent or lived equally with each parent, the parental information must be provided for the parent from whom you received the most financial support during the preceding 12 months or the parent from whom you received the most support the last time support was given.
I live with my mother and stepparent. My mother was not married to my stepparent last year. Am I still required to provide his tax form information?
If on the date of filing the FAFSA your mother is remarried, you must provide the financial data of her spouse or you will not be considered for federal student financial aid.
My parents separated last year. I live with my mother. My parents filed a joint tax return. Do I report both of their incomes or just my mother’s?
Report only your mother’s income and asset information because you lived with her the most during the past 12 months.
My parents’ have not filed their tax return. Can I still complete the FAFSA?
Though it is recommended that you complete the FAFSA with completed tax form information, to meet awarding deadlines you can estimate. Once the tax form is available, you must correct the FAFSA data that is in error. Note that financial aid packages based on estimated FAFSA data may not provide an accurate depiction of your overall eligibility for financial assistance.
When completing the FAFSA, I reported $2,000 for the value of my cash, savings, and checking.
Since then, I bought a car. Can I change my response to “zero”?
Assets must be reported as of the date that the FAFSA was filed. If you reported the value in error a “correction” is required. An increase or decrease in value is considered an “update” and cannot be changed.
I received a Federal Pell Grant last year, but the Financial Aid Office did not award a Pell this year. Why?
Unlike other sources of financial aid, Federal Pell Grants are not awarded by the Financial Aid Office. To qualify for a Pell Grant, the FAFSA Expected Family Contribution (EFC) must range between 0 and 4110 and the applicant must meet all other federal general eligibility criteria. First review the FAFSA result with tax documentation and worksheets to determine if the data was provided correctly. If correct, then compare the income, assets, family size, number in college, marital status, and filing status (dependent or independent) on both FAFSA’s to identify the variables that changed.
How do I find out about student employment?
Both non-work-study and work-study positions are available on campus. Work-study positions are based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA results and are awarded as part of the financial aid package.
The majority of students working on campus are employed through non-work-study. The
Career Center also lists job opportunities.
How many credits do I need to carry for financial aid purposes?
How do I apply for veteran’s education benefits?
Contact the VA Coordinator located in the Office of Student Records and Registration for complete information regarding this application process. For financial aid eligibility purposes, the Financial Aid Office will verify through the VA Coordinator your chapter, basic rate, kicker value, and months of eligibility remaining.
How will my veterans’ benefits affect my financial aid?
First it is necessary to distinguish between veterans’ education and non-education benefits.
Veterans’ non-education benefits such as Disability, Death Pension, or Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and/or VA Educational Work-Study allowances must be reported on the FAFSA as a source of untaxed income. The value of these benefits is considered when calculating the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Veterans’ education benefits such as the Montgomery GI Bill, Active Duty-Chapter 30; Montgomery GI Bill, Selected Reserve-Chapter 1606; Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program-Chapter 35; and Vocational Rehabilitation-Chapter 31; and Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)-Chapter 1607 must be reported on the FAFSA, but the value of these benefits is not considered when calculating the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). VA education benefits are considered a “resource” and “estimated financial assistance” when considering your overall eligibility for federal and institutional aid.
How will my military tuition assistance affect my financial aid?
The value of military tuition assistance is not considered in the calculation of the EFC. Military tuition assistance received from the federal government or your state is considered a “resource” and “estimated financial assistance” when considering your overall eligibility for federal and institutional aid. The value of expected tuition assistance must be reported to the Financial Aid Office regardless of the timing of the payment.
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