FINANCIAL AID

Transcription

1 FINANCIAL AID

2 I am so glad I had the opportunity to work on campus during my college experience. The department I worked in put my schoolwork first; they were very flexible and accommodated my academic needs. I also have developed skills and learning methods that can be applied elsewhere in life. Caitlin, 13 Bachelor of Arts - Physical Education degree Davenport, Iowa By the Numbers UNI is ranked among the top 22 colleges in Iowa by Affordable Colleges Online as a university that provides students with the best lifetime return on investment. Ranked in the top 100 colleges in Washington Monthly s 2013 Best Bang for the Buck rankings, an exclusive list of the colleges in America that do the best job of helping non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.

3 Small University. Big Education. You want a big education, and you want it to be affordable. At the University of Northern Iowa, we deliver a college education with a wide range of majors, engaging classes, undergraduate research and Division I sports and do so as the most affordable four-year public institution in the state of Iowa. We are a place where you will discover a strong and challenging academic experience, along with the knowledge that will prepare you for your future. 83% UNI students receive some sort of financial aid. And, as you build your big future, we will do everything we can to ensure that financial barriers don t stand in your way. We don t believe cost should keep you from joining the UNI community. We believe that your big education is within reach.

4 Small Details. Big Future. From big dreams to bright futures, UNI s financial assistance can help make your future a reality. At UNI, more than 91 percent of first-year students receive some sort of financial aid. It s that kind of support you need to achieve your educational goals. Key Terms to Know Financial Aid Source of financial assistance that falls outside your or your family income. Financial aid is awarded in the form of scholarships, grants, loans and employment. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application you and your parents must complete to be considered for financial aid. Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 of your senior year, and it must be completed annually while you re enrolled at UNI. Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculated by information submitted in the FAFSA and is used to determine your financial eligibility. It is the amount that you and your parents can contribute to your college education. Financial Need Difference between the cost to attend UNI and your EFC. Your financial need determines your eligibility for some types of financial assistance. Financial Aid Awards After completing the FAFSA, this is the amount of financial assistance you will receive from UNI. Students have the opportunity to accept, decline or reduce all awards beings offered. Financial Checklist for Attending UNI Fall Apply for Scholarships Fill out the UNI Scholarship Application at You must have applied for admission to complete the application. When you apply for admission, you will be signed up for a MyUNIverse account. Winter Complete the FAFSA The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available after January 1. It s free, and it s found at UNI s school code is Spring Review your Financial Aid Award After completing the FAFSA, your UNI award information will be sent to your MyUNIverse account. Complete Loan Requirements If you take out any loans, you will need to complete the Direct Loan Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at Summer Report Non-UNI Scholarships If you receive additional scholarships, such as those from community organizations in your hometown, you will need to let UNI know. Scholarship checks may be sent directly to UNI and will be credited to your u-bill.

5 Small Investment. Big Payoff. From grants to scholarships, loans to on-campus employment, UNI offers a number of options to help pay for your big education. At UNI, we re committed to providing you with the best educational experience possible, and making sure that experience is affordable. Grants Grants are awards that don t have to be repaid. When you complete the FAFSA, you are automatically considered for a grant based on your financial need. UNI s grant programs include: Federally funded grants such as the Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant. State grants such as the Iowa Grant, Iowa Minority Academic Grants for Economic Success (IMAGES) and the All Iowa Opportunity Foster Care Grant. Institutional grants from UNI such as the Tuition Guarantee Program for Iowans (see sidebar), Tuition Guarantee Program for Multicultural Community College Iowans and the Tuition Assistance Grant. Scholarships Scholarships like grants are awards that don t need to be paid back. UNI wants to help you accomplish your dreams. One of the ways we do this is through hundreds of scholarship opportunities for our students. Last year, UNI allotted more than $21 million for scholarships for students across campus. For a detailed directory of scholarships, see uni.edu/finaid/scholarship. Tuition Guarantee Program for Iowans This is a full four-year commitment of tuition and fees with a combination of grants and scholarships. Requirements for this are: Must be an Iowa resident. A recent graduate from an Iowa high school. An Expected Family Contribution (EFC) between 0 1,000 on the FAFSA. To apply for scholarships at UNI, follow these simple steps: Apply for admissions at Visit to review all scholarships. Fill out the UNI Scholarship Application. You will then be considered for all scholarships at UNI. Even if you are undecided concerning your major, you can still complete the application. Individual departments as well as the Office of Student Financial Aid will contact you once decisions are made. Estimate My Aid Get a realistic estimate of your financial aid package with the online net-price calculator, which can be found at

6 Small Campus. Big Campus Life. Student Loans Many of our students also choose to borrow money through student loans. At UNI s Office of Student Financial Aid, we make every effort to ensure that you graduate with a reasonable debt level. In fact, we have the lowest student indebtedness of the three major public universities in Iowa. All student loans must be paid back once you graduate or are no longer enrolled at least half time, and there are a variety of low-interest loans to assist with the cost of college. To qualify, you must complete the FAFSA, and then you will be considered for the: Federal Direct Subsidized Loan This is a needbased loan and is interest free while enrolled at least half time. Payments are deferred until six months after you graduate. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan This is a non-need based loan with a fixed interest rate that accrues while enrolled. You can defer interest payments, or begin paying the interest once the loan is disbursed. Federal Perkins Loan A loan made to students at an interest rate of 5 percent. The interest and repayment are deferred until nine months after the student graduates or leaves college. Federal PLUS Loan Parents of dependent students can borrow annually the amount equal to the cost of attendance, less any other financial aid received. The interest rate is a fixed percent. Parents can defer payment until after their son or daughter graduates or enrolls less than half time. Annual Loan Limits Dependent students limit through the Federal Stafford Direct Loan Program. Freshman $5,500, up to $3,500 in subsidized loan Sophomore $6,500, up to $4,500 in subsidized loan Junior $7,500, up to $5,500 in subsidized loan Senior $7,500, up to $5,500 in subsidized loan UNI s Financial Aid Office is extremely helpful. I am confident I will be able to pay back my debt with the great education I am earning. Juana Social work major Waterloo, Iowa Student Employment Work while attending UNI, without ever leaving campus. Each year, approximately 3,500 students are employed on the UNI campus, many in areas that are directly related to their academic programs. Benefits of working on campus include: A flexible schedule of 10 to 15 hours per week. Average wage of $8.33 an hour. Networking and building your resume. Receiving a biweekly paycheck. Check out the Job Board at to see what is available. A guest user link is available to provide you access. Types of Student Employment To maintain student employment, you must be enrolled in at least six credit hours of courses. There are two types of student employment: Work Study Awarded to students based on financial need and is part of Financial Aid Award. You apply by completing the FAFSA, and the standard work study award is $2,000. Departmental Employment Available to any UNI student regardless of financial need. You don t have to complete the FAFSA to obtain a departmental position, and approximately 75 percent of on-campus student jobs are filled by departmental student employees.

7 Small Details. Big Results. We know a big-time education is important to you. A smart investment is just as important. At UNI, we combine a strong academic reputation with the resources needed to make college possible. As you look at UNI, remember that: We are the most affordable four-year public institution in Iowa. Our graduates have the lowest indebtedness of any four-year public institution. We have the lowest tuition of the three public universities in the state of Iowa. Tuition & Fees Expenses Iowa Resident Out-of-State Resident Undergraduate tuition* $7,685 $17,181 Room and board** $7,820 $7,820 Total $15,505 $25,001 *Tuition is based on 12 or more credit hours. Tuition includes mandatory computer, health, facility, recreation and student services fees. **Room and board is based on double room and Purple Meal Plan (including unlimited dining center access.). UNI Billing Process On the first of every month, UNI will send an notification to your official UNI address when your bill is available. Your monthly bill is due on the 20th of every month. This bill will include: Campus room and meal plans Mandatory fees Tuition Flexible Payment Options UNI offers numerous ways to pay for your college education, including: Deferred payment plans. You can split the bill into five monthly payments each semester. A $20 fee per semester is added when electing the deferred payment plan. Third-party resources. You can split the bill over the course of 10, 11 or 12 months. A $65 annual administrative fee is applied when selecting this plan. Learn more about both options at payment_options.shtml

8 What does it mean to "live like a student?" Living like a student means that you must make responsible decisions regarding money you should budget and have financial goals, live within your means and understand how actions today will affect your financial future. UNI s Office of Student Financial Aid offers a variety of services and programs to assist families in starting their financial future. Programs include: Live Like A Student Courses: Three- week courses (non- credit) offered at no charge throughout the semester where attendees will explore the concepts of personal budgeting, credit and credit cards, student loans and identity protection. One-on-One Money Management Counseling: Personalized budgeting assistance, information about your award notification and bill, and much more. Various online money management resources Visit for more information or to register. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in employment, any educational program, or any activity of the University, on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or on any other basis protected by federal and/or state law. The University of Northern Iowa prohibits discrimination and promotes affirmative action in its educational and employment policies and practices as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable laws and University policies. The University of Northern Iowa prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and serves as the University Title IX Officer: Leah Gutknecht, Assistant to the President for Compliance and Equity Management, Office of Compliance and Equity Management, 117 Gilchrist Hall, UNI, Cedar Falls, IA , , leah.gutknecht@uni.edu In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act, UNI publishes an Annual Security & Fire Report. The report contains information regarding campus safety and security including crime prevention, crime reporting policies, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual assault and student disciplinary procedures. The report also contains the three previous years' crime and fire statistics for on campus locations and certain off campus locations owned or controlled by UNI. To obtain a copy of the report, contact the UNI Department of Public Safety located at 030 Gilchrist Hall, Cedar Falls, IA 50614, call or visit Office of Student Financial Aid (319) fin-aid@uni.edu uni.edu/finaid UNI_FINAid unifinancialaid Office of Admissions (319) admissions@uni.edu uni.edu/admissions UNIadmissions UNI_Admissions UNIadmission UNIadmissions