Financial Aid | Educational Opportunity Fund

Financial Aid

Financial Aid is a very important element for EOF students. We strongly encourage our students to inform themselves of all financial aid deadlines and to abide by them as financial aid is awarded on a first come - first serve basis. All documentation requested by the Financial Aid Office and/or the state office in Trenton (HESAA) must be submitted in a timely fashion. Failure to respond will result in a loss of financial aid. Additionally, it is important for students to keep their e-mail accounts current and check it often as the financial aid office will contact students via e-mail.

Financial Aid Information

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

All EOF students must file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) prior to each academic year.
The application cannot be filed before January 1, but must be filed before the Rutgers University institutional deadline of March 15th. If a student misses this deadline, the FAFSA must be filed before June 1st, the state deadline.
The FAFSA must be submitted online and signed by all appropriate parties using either a PIN or printing out a signature page which must be signed and mailed.
Failure to provide either mode of signature will delay the processing of aid. If taxes have not been filed, the student can estimate so as not to miss the established deadline.
Students are encouraged to print out the confirmation page and keep it for their records. Visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ for more information.

Student Aid Report (SAR)

Once the FAFSA is filed and processed, the student can view a SAR (Student Aid Report) on the FAFSA website or on paper if requested, approximately 4-6 weeks after submitting the FAFSA.
This document tells them whether they look eligible for the federal Pell Grant.
It displays the information provided on the FAFSA.
Students review this information and can make any changes/updates on this SAR by making corrections right on the SAR and mailing it back, or electronically on the web.
The respective financial aid office will get this information electronically so if it is correct, the student just keeps it for their records.

Student Eligibility Notice (SEN) and Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)

EOF students receive the SEN (Student Eligibility Notice) from the state.
This displays the dollar amounts for TAG (Tuition Aid Grant) and EOF (Educational Opportunity Fund). Both are state grants.
Students keep the SEN for their records as the financial aid office receives an electronic copy.

Additional Information Request (AIR)

A student may or may not receive an AIR (Additional Information Request) from the state.
These are time sensitive in nature and must be attended to as such.
If an AIR is not resolved by the June 1st state deadline, a student stands to lose several thousand dollars between TAG and EOF.

LOANS

EOF-funded students are partially packaged with loans.
Most students are offered both a Perkins Loan and a Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. The Perkins Loan is through Rutgers University and is a low interest loan. The interest is held until the student graduates or leaves school for more than six months. The Stafford Loan can be offered to students in two forms: subsidized and unsubsidized. The subsidized loan, like the Perkins loan holds the interest until either the student graduates or leaves school for more than six months.
The unsubsidized loan does not hold the interest. It begins to accrue interest upon disbursement. In some cases, if deemed eligible by financial aid, the interest will be held on an unsubsidized loan until a student graduates, but will be applied when payment begins.
If needed, a student can apply for the NJCLASS Loan. The application and instructions for this loan are on HESAA's website, http://www.hesaa.org/.

Rutgers Financial Aid Package

The Financial Aid Office will begin to package first year students in early spring.
Students will receive Preliminary Award Notices with a summary of what grants and loans for which they may be eligible.
Later in the spring, around May, they begin to mail the actual Financial Aid Offer Award Notice. This notice lists the awards and loans that the student is entitled to and all supporting documentation listed, if any, must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office.
During the summer, usually in June/July, financial aid works up a financial aid award letter offer for the continuing students. This is the actual offer of funds to that population. Visit the RU Financial Aid website for deadlines, information and forms at studentaid.rutgers.edu. Students can also go to this website to see if there are any documents outstanding.

Term Bills

In July, the fall term bills are mailed to the home addresses and the spring bills go out in late November, early December.
These must be reviewed, and either signed and mailed back with the appropriate funds (if applicable) or can be submitted online. In every case, a bill must be submitted as it activates the student's registration of classes.
This is a time sensitive document that must be submitted by the due date to avoid a late fee and de-registration.

Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA)

IF YOUR STUDENT AID REPORT SHOWS ESTIMATED VALUES, YOU ARE MISSING INFORMATION FOR THE STATE (HESAA). Call 800-792-8670 to find out what you are missing.
The document(s) can be faxed to (609) 588-2228. It is very important that you submit the necessary documentation before June 1st, the dealine for state aid.

Standards of Progress

Academic Progress is a requirement for all students receiving federal, state, or institutional aid.
In addition to maintaining good academic standing, based on maintaining a certain cumulative grade point average, students must successfully earn minimal numbers of degree credits for each term of attendance at the university.
Academic progress toward graduation is measured on a semester basis. Measurement is conducted at the close of the spring term of a full academic year. All terms of enrollment at Rutgers, including summer and winter sessions, are included in the measurement.
The number of credit hours necessary per term is outlined in the table listed below.

Undegraduate Credit Level Expectation

Number of Terms	Regular Students	Special Program Students*
2nd	18	0
3rd	30	12
4th	42	24
5th	54	36
6th	66	48
7th	78	60
8th	90	72
9th	105	84
10th	120	96
11th (5yr. program)	132	108
12th (5yr. program)	146	120
13th (5yr. program)	Not Eligible	132

* Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) students and students placed into courses which do not bear graduation credit.

FAFSA—What To Do and What To Expect

What to Do	What to Expect
Complete and mail FAFSA form or submit a FAFSA on the web by March 15.	Student Aid Report (SAR) approximately 4-6 weeks after submitting FAFSA. This tells you if you are eligible for a federal grant.
Complete and submit appropriate verification documents to the financial aid office (Tax Returns, Letter from Social Security, etc.)	Student Eligibility Notice (SEN) is sent from the State. It tells you how much Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) and EOF you are eligible for.
Carefully review the Financial Aid Award Letter from the college. Make sure to submit any promissory notes attached if you are accepting the loans offered. (Please note that loans are provided to offset the amount of money you might owe after all financial aid is considered. Check with your EOF counselor before making a decision not to accept a loan.	Additional information Request (AIR) may or may not be sent to you by the State. This is very time sensitive and must be attended to ASAP.
Pay (if applicable) any remaining balance to the Cashiers Office by the appropriate deadline.	Loans are offered as part of the financial aid package. Most students are offered a Perkins (institutional) and a Stafford Loan.

Office of Financial Aid

http://studentaid.rutgers.edu/

Visit this site often to check your Award Status, access online services and get information about the financial aid process.

Federal Work-Study

For information on Federal Work-Study, go to: http://studentwork.rutgers.edu.

For information on On- or Off-Campus Paid Community Service jobs available through the Federal Work-Study Program, go to: http://studentwork.rutgers.edu/08-09/SpecJobList.htm.

For information on Part-time and Seasonal Employment through the Job Location and Development Program, go to: http://studentwork.rutgers.edu/.

Summer Funding

Available to continuing EOF students, based on availability of state funds. Students must meet set criteria in order to be eligible. An application must be filed by the established deadline. See your counselor for more details.

AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD: 2009 Summer Funding Application