By Ryan Laspina
Senior Specialist, Red Flags and External Reviews

Excellent customer service is of utmost importance to the success of our students. We have a Financial Aid Advising team that works to help students understand the FSA process, answer a multitude of questions and avoid mistakes.

Four Frequently Asked Questions and Their Answers

1. “I just filled out the FAFSA. Why are my classes not paid for?”

A lot of our students do not realize that the FAFSA is not an entity that pays out FSA. The FAFSA is the first step toward FSA eligibility. It must be filled out to receive any federal funding, but simply filling out this form does not mean the financial aid application process is over.

Once we receive your FAFSA and you meet other criteria, you can contact our Financial Aid Office (FAO) and complete the remaining steps to receive your FSA.

2. “When will my FSA disbursement be made available to me?”

The answer depends on certain factors pertaining to the student. Many students who ask this question are First Time Loan Borrowers (FTLB).

We use a multiple disbursement policy for FTLBs, so they can expect to receive their first FSA disbursement within 30-45 days of the beginning of their classes. Their second disbursement arrives around 30 days after the first disbursement.

3. “Why do I have a hold on my account?”

There are several reasons why you may be blocked from your student portal. If you were selected for record verification, you’ll need to submit the appropriate documentation before you can access the classroom.

Sometimes, you’ll have access to your classroom, but have a hold placed on your FSA disbursements. This situation occurs when we select you to be reviewed for academic engagement. As long as you progress and show adequate academic engagement (as outlined by the Student Handbook), we’ll remove the holds on your disbursements.

4. “Why did I not receive more of the Pell Grant?”

In order to receive the maximum amount of the Pell Grant for which you qualify, you’ll need to be enrolled full-time. To ensure full eligibility, have all of your registrations completed prior to census (Sunday of the class’s start week).

We advise students to make sure they have all of their class registrations in place (including registrations for classes that start later in the semester) in time to ensure they will receive the maximum amount of Pell.

There are other scenarios where a student does not receive as much Pell as they had anticipated. For example, students are no longer eligible for Pell if they hit their 600% lifetime allowance.

We’re Here to Answer Your Financial Aid Questions

We have a dedicated and knowledgeable financial aid team who are happy to answer your questions. If you are a university student and have financial aid questions, please feel free to call us at 855-731-9218 and talk to one of our helpful advisors.