Financial Aid

Fayetteville State University seeks to ensure that qualified students will not be denied the opportunity to attend this university because of a lack of financial resources. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, located on the lower floor of the Lilly Building, provides information and assistance to students applying for financial aid. Inquiries about financial aid should be directed to:

Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
Fayetteville State University
1200 Murchison Road
Fayetteville, NC 28301-4298
910- 672-1325
800-368-4210

finaid@uncfsu.edu

All applicants should be aware that the financial aid application review process is lengthy. Applicants can avoid unnecessary delays in the processing of their applications by submitting all application materials by the published deadlines and making sure that all information provided on the application is correct and complete (this includes, but is not limited to, verification documents, if applicable). Since financial aid funds are limited, students are encouraged to apply for Early FAFSA immediately after October 1.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to receive financial aid assistance by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, the applicant must:

1. Be admitted and currently enrolled in at least half-time status as an undergraduate or graduate student;
2. Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at Fayetteville State University;
3. Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen;
4. Make satisfactory academic progress (See “Satisfactory Academic Progress,”);
5. Not be in default status on any Title IV aid from a previous enrollment period;
6. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the priority deadline of December 15.

Eligibility for most financial aid programs administered by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid is based on “Financial Eligibility” as demonstrated on the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). Eligibility need is the difference between the costs to attend college and what the applicant and his or her family can reasonably afford to contribute toward the student’s education. Graduate students are eligible for unsubsidized student loans.

Total Educational Cost - Expected Family Contribution (EFC) (Based on congressional calculation) = Eligibility (Need)

A student’s eligibility for financial aid is determined by the U.S. Department of Education from information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is often referred to as the need analysis document. A need analysis is a systematic method of measuring a student’s ability to pay for educational costs, and the student’s eligibility to receive funds from federal, state, institutional, and/or other financial aid programs.

Deadlines

Students submitting an initial application for aid from federal or state sources, as well as students seeking renewal of financial aid from these sources, must submit completed applications by the priority deadlines below to ensure funding notification prior to the anticipated enrollment period. To be complete, an application must include accurate data and all supporting documentation, including all required materials (to include, bu not limited to, verification documents) if the application is selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education.

To apply for Federal Loans and/or Plus Loans, you must have a completed FAFSA on file by the applicable deadline date.

Default Policy

Students whose financial aid has been terminated because they have defaulted on a student loan at a previous institution(s) or at Fayetteville State University may become eligible for reinstatement of financial aid when the U.S. Department of Education submits, in writing, to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at Fayetteville State University that the student is “No Longer in Default.”

A student whose default status is cleared by the U.S. Department of Education will be eligible to receive funding for which that student qualifies.

Warning to All Financial Aid Applicants

Information provided by applicants may be verified by the university, the state, or by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants may be asked to provide U.S. Income Tax returns, non-filing documents, untaxed income verification, and other requested documents. Applicants who do not provide these records will not be awarded federal student aid. If federal student aid is awarded based on incorrect information provided on the FAFSA by the student and/or documentation submitted to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, the applicant will have to pay it back, in addition to fines and fees. If an applicant gives false or misleading information on the application, the applicant may be fined up to $20,000, sent to prison, or both.

Steps for Applying for Financial Aid

To be eligible for scholarships, grants, work-study, and/or loans, students must complete each of the following steps.

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - This form can be obtained at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA must be filed to determine a student’s financial need and eligibility for financial aid at Fayetteville State University.
2. Verification - The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects a certain percentage of financial aid applications for verification. Students whose applications are selected for verification will be contacted by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. For questions regarding the verification process, please call the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at 910-672-1325 or email at finaid@uncfsu.edu. If you do not submit the requested documents in a timely manner, your award letter will be delayed.
3. Award Notification - When the review process is complete, the student will receive an award notification email. All award information is available in Banner Self Service. Students who receive an award notification email should go to Banner Self Service at 
   https://ssbprod-fsu.uncecs.edu/pls/FSUPROD/twbkwbis.P_WWWLogin to accept the terms and conditions of their financial aid, and to accept, reduce, or decline their federal student loans. Loan funds will not pay to student accounts unless they are accepted on Banner Self Service. In Banner, students can view their financial aid status at any time. They can also view any outstanding requirements, view their student account summary, and view and pay bills. Students are required to accept the terms and conditions of their financial aid. To do so, students can visit the Terms and Conditions tab on Banner Self Service.

Federal Financial Aid Available

Students who meet all eligibility requirements for financial aid will be awarded a financial aid package that combines funds from one or more of the following funds:

Federal Pell Grants

The Pell Grant Program provides federal grant funds for needy students who have not completed a first bachelor’s degree. To be eligible, the student must demonstrate financial eligibility as determined by the U.S. Department of Education. At Fayetteville State University, these grants range from $639 - $6,345 for the 2020-2021 academic year.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112-74), was passed into law limiting the number of semesters a student may receive Federal Pell Grant funding from eighteen (18) semesters or 900% to twelve (12) semesters or 600%. Students may not appeal their Pell Grant eligibility; the Federal Pell Grant limits have been set by the U.S. Department of Education.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

These federal grant funds administered by the university are awarded to students who have not completed degree requirements for a bachelor’s degree, and who demonstrate exceptional financial need on the FAFSA. The grants can range from $100 to $4,000 per award year and are awarded to the neediest students (ordinarily students with a zero EFC) as allowable based on the availability of funds.

Federal TEACH Grant Program (TEACH)

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. Each grant recipient agrees to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. Grant recipients must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which they received a TEACH Grant. IMPORTANT: If a grant recipient fails to complete this service obligation, all amounts of TEACH Grants received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan which must then be repaid to the U.S. Department of Education. In this event, recipients will be charged interest from the date the grant(s) was disbursed. Note: TEACH Grant recipients will be given a 6-month grace period prior to entering repayment if a TEACH Grant is converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

Federal Work Study Program (FWSP)

This federally funded employment program is administered by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and provides part-time jobs on the Fayetteville State University campus for students who have financial eligibility as demonstrated on the FAFSA. Students normally work eight to ten hours per week in a University facility. Wages paid are at least at the minimum wage rate and are used to assist the student in meeting educational expenses. If there is an unpaid bill reflected on the student’s account, federal work study funds should be used to pay balance.

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program is divided between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. These loans aid students in meeting educational expenses. Interest is deferred on the principal of the subsidized loan while the student maintains continuous enrollment. Depending on eligibility or unmet cost of attendance, a student may borrow up to:

• $5,500 a year during the first year;
• $6,500 a year during the second year of undergraduate study;
• $7,500 a year for students with junior or senior status.

To apply for William D. Ford Direct Loans, the student must have completed the FAFSA process by the applicable deadline dates:

Students must complete a Renewal or Early FAFSA each academic year beginning after October 1 to be considered for loans.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Plus Loans

Direct Plus Loans are loans for the parents of dependent students and for graduate/ professional students. PLUS loans help pay for education expenses up to the cost of attendance minus all other financial assistance. Interest is charged during all periods. The student must complete a FAFSA to determine eligibility for financial aid funds prior to the completion of the PLUS promissory note and a credit check will be performed.

To apply for Direct Plus Loans, the student must have completed the Financial Aid process by the applicable deadline dates:

Students must complete a Renewal or Early FAFSA each academic year immediately after October 1 to be considered for loans.

State Scholarships and Grants for NC Residents

The State of North Carolina offers a variety of aid for NC residents. A current and complete list of grants, scholarships, and application criteria is available at https://www.cfnc.org/index.jsp.    

Institutional Scholarships and Grants

Fayetteville State University offers a variety of institutional scholarships and grants. A current and complete list of scholarships, selection criteria, and application materials is available at the Fayetteville State University website at https://www.uncfsu.edu/paying-for-college/scholarships-(paying-for-college).

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Financial aid recipients (both undergraduates and graduate students) must make satisfactory academic progress to maintain eligibility for financial aid. Fayetteville State University defines satisfactory academic progress in quantitative and qualitative terms. Students are evaluated for satisfactory academic progress at the end of the academic year (spring) and summer, at which time students must have earned at least 67% of their attempted hours with a minimum GPA of 2.0 for an undergraduate student and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for a graduate student. Students whose total of attempted hours (including all transfer hours) exceeds 180 for an undergraduate student and 150% of program degree hours for a graduate student may re-enroll if their GPA is 2.0 or higher for an undergraduate student and 3.0 or higher for a graduate student, but will be ineligible for financial aid without successfully appealing through the Academic Appeals Committee. Students will be evaluated for financial aid eligibility at the end of the academic year (spring) and summer and will be notified by the Academic Appeals Committee of their eligibility status. Students may appeal their financial aid eligibility by following the process delineated below in the section titled “Appeal Procedure”. Financial aid eligibility or ineligiblity is based on a student’s satisfactory academic progress and/or academic standing. 

Good Standing applies to students who earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students are eligible for continued enrollment and may be eligible for financial aid (see Financial Aid, “Satisfactory Academic Progress”).

Probation Standing applies to students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the fall semester or summer term. A student on probation at the end of the fall semester is eligible for continued enrollment and may be eligible for financial aid. Students have the opportunity to improve their cumulative GPA to 2.0 by the end of the spring semester.  Students placed on probation at the end of the summer term must submit an Academic Appeal Form to determine continued enrollment and financial aid eligibility for the subsequent academic year. Students placed on probation have an enrollment limit of fourteen (14) credit hours and must meet with their officially assigned advisor to create an Academic Success Plan. Students placed on probation will sometimes be advised to delay subsequent enrollment to resolve the problems causing poor performance.

Suspension Standing applies to students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the spring semester. Students must submit the Academic Appeal Form to determine continued eligibility for enrollment, financial aid, or both, for the subsequent summer term or academic year. Students who are reinstated after successfully appealing suspension will be required to adhere to their Academic Success Plan and enrollment will be limited to 14 credit hours for the subsequent fall semester and seven (7) hours for the summer term. Students who are suspended a second time must successfully appeal to attend summer school to improve their status. If the appeal is not successful, the student can only return under the Academic Fresh Start program. The student should confer with their advisor to determine the best plan of action.

A student whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the fall semester and who withdraws from the university during the spring semester will be placed on suspension and must submit an Academic Appeal Form to determine continuous enrollment and financial aid eligibility. In these instances, withdrawing from the university can have an adverse effect.

Course Repeat Policy

Students may repeat a course, but can only earn credit hours once for any given course (except in cases where the faculty designate a course as one that can earn credit more than once). When a student repeats a course, the lower grade is excluded from the calculation of the Grade Point Average and the higher grade is included. A student is allowed a maximum of 16 credit hours for course repeats without penalty (a student cannot replace the grades of the same course more than once). “Without Penalty” means that only the higher grade will be calculated into the student’s Grade Point Average. All original entries and grades will appear on the student’s permanent record, with the designation that lower grade has been excluded from the Grade Point Average.

If a student repeats the same course for a second time or more and/or exceeds the maximum of 16 credit hours, all attempted hours will be counted, and all grades will be calculated into the Grade Point Average. However, students can only earn credit once for each course.

If a student earns a passing grade twice for the same course, only one set of course credit hours will be counted toward graduation.

Per federal regulations (34 CFR Section 668.2), repeated coursework that falls under the following conditions cannot be included in a student’s enrollment status for Title IV Federal Aid eligibility:

• This regulation will allow a student to receive Title IV federal financial aid for only one repeat of any previously passed course or its’ equivalency.
• A student attempting a second repeat of a previously passed course cannot have the enrollment for the course count toward the student’s Title IV financial aid eligibility.

All repeated courses are included in a student’s total attempted hours.

Incomplete Grades

The grade of “I” may be assigned only when a student has maintained a passing average but for reasons beyond his or her control, is unable to complete a specific course requirement such as a report, field experience, experiment, or examination. An Incomplete Grade may not be assigned to students who have failed to fulfill multiple requirements in a class.

An “I” grade must be removed before the end of the next regular (fall or spring) semester immediately following the semester or term in which the “I” grade was assigned. If the “I” grade is not removed within the stipulated time limit, the grade will be converted to a grade of “F.” Students are responsible for initiating the actions necessary to remove “I” grades.

Incomplete Grades for Students Who Miss Final Exams

A student not present at an officially scheduled final exam may only be assigned an Incomplete grade if he/ she contacts the instructor of the course before the end of the final exam week to request a deferred final examination. Students who need to defer an examination must furnish valid support for the request. If the faculty member approves the deferred examination, a grade of “I” will be assigned.

Students whose request for deferred exams are not granted or who miss final exams without contacting the instructor before the end of the final exam week are not eligible to receive an Incomplete Grade.

Part-Time Undergraduate Students

Part-time students are expected to progress at proportionally the same rate as full-time undergraduate students and are governed by the same Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy as full-time undergraduate students.

Academic Fresh Start

Academic Fresh Start allows students whose academic record would otherwise prevent them from enrolling to resume their studies at Fayetteville State University after a period of non-enrollment without the burden of their prior grade point average. Under Academic Fresh Start,

1. All course work completed at FSU prior to the semester of re-admission will be excluded from the GPA calculation.
2. All previous courses in which the student earned a final grade of C or higher will be used to fulfill degree requirements. Such courses will be designated “XG” in the academic transcript.
3. Previous courses in which the student earned a D or lower will not be used to fulfill degree requirements and will not count as earned hours. Such courses will be designated “XC” in the academic transcript.
4. All course work will remain on the transcript with the following notation: “Academic Fresh Start.”
5. All attempted hours will remain on a student’s record, and, hence, hours covered by Academic Fresh Start will be used in determining financial aid eligibility.

To be eligible for Academic Fresh Start, students must meet admissions criteria at Fayetteville State University. Students must demonstrate the potential for degree completion in one of the following ways:

1. They must have a period of non-enrollment for at least four consecutive semesters and provide evidence in their request that the conditions that led to poor academic performance have been corrected; OR
2. They must have a record of academic performance at another institution subsequent to their departure from FSU that demonstrates the potential for academic success at FSU.

A record of academic performance may be demonstrated by earning an Associate degree or academic certificate program in which 15 or more semester hours are transferrable, or earning at least 15 transferrable hours. The following provisions will apply for students readmitted under this program:

1. A student will be granted Academic Fresh Start only one time.
2. Students readmitted under the Academic Fresh Start program will be required to enroll in a Student Success Program approved by the student’s College or School Academic Advising Office to help them achieve success while re-enrolled.
3. Academic Fresh Start students will be eligible for financial aid in the first semester of re-enrollment only if their request is based on a record of academic performance at another institution subsequent to their departure from FSU. If a student does not have a record of academic performance from another institution, he/she will be responsible for all tuition and fees the first semester of reinstatement and must enroll as a full-time student. Academic Fresh Start students will be eligible for financial aid if they meet satisfactory academic progress; to do this, they must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and a progression rate of 67% in hours attempted after their reinstatement with less than 180 attempted hours.

Requests for Academic Fresh Start must be submitted using the Letter of Appeal. The request must specify (1) the period of initial enrollment at Fayetteville State University, (2) the period of non-enrollment, (3) the conditions that led to the academic difficulty during the initial period of enrollment at Fayetteville State University, (4) the actions the student has taken to improve these conditions and circumstances, and (5) any record of academic performance at another institution.

Academic Fresh Start will be applied to the student’s record at the end of the semester of his/her return after final grades have been posted.

Appeal Procedure

Students whose financial aid is cancelled as a result of not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress must appeal financial aid ineligibility as part of their suspension appeal by submitting the online Letter of Appeal form.

Letters of appeal of academic suspension must be submitted by May 15 for summer, June 20 for the fall semester, and October 30 for the spring semester, and must address each of the following:

1. The special or unusual circumstances, with documentation, that contributed to the student’s academic suspension;
2. Actions the student has taken to change the circumstances so that they will not contribute again to poor academic performance;
3. Specific steps the students will take to improve his or her academic status in the upcoming semester;
4. An address and phone number at which the student may be notified of the committee’s decision.

The Academic Appeals Committee’s response will indicate one of the following: 1) approval for student to re-enroll with reinstatement of financial aid; 2) approval for student to re-enroll without reinstatement of financial aid; 3) denial of the appeal. Appeals will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances that are appropriately documented. Student appeals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Students who meet the academic standards for re-enrollment but fail to meet the standards for continued financial aid must submit the online Letter of Appeal form that addresses the items outlined above.

Appeals will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances that are appropriately documented.

Financial Aid Withdrawal Refunds/Repayments

Refunds to Programs

When a student withdraws from the university, refunds will be returned to the programs from which the student received aid. The date of withdrawal is determined by the Registrar’s Office and is based upon the date the student began the withdrawal process. Refunds are determined by using the Withdrawal/Refund Calculation Sheet that is based upon Federal Rules and Regulations #484B, #682.606, and #682.607 in the Federal Register.

If the student does not complete the university’s official withdrawal form, the student will be responsible for 100% of the semester’s charges. If the student secures documentation from each of his professors attesting to his last date of attendance in their classes and completes a university withdrawal form, a refund may be calculated based upon the normal withdrawal/refund processing policy. (The registrar determines if the documentation is sufficient. If the registrar changes the date of withdrawal, the student should contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to determine if a recalculation is appropriate.)

Repayments to Programs When a Return of Title IV Calculation is Completed

If a return of federal funds is applicable based on the calculation of a withdrawal, the funds will be returned in the following order to the United States Department of Education:

1. Unsubsidized Direct Loan
2. Subsidized Direct Loan
3. Direct PLUS (Graduate Students)
4. Direct PLUS (Parent)
5. Pell Grant
6. FSEOG
7. Other Title IV Grant Funds
8. NC State Funds