We understand the aid process can be overwhelming to most students. We are here to assist you with questions and concerns you may have. The Financial Aid office will do our best to assist you with questions and/or concerns you may have as you navigate through the application process.

 

• Steps to Apply
• Eligibility Requirements
• Comienza fuerte con ayuda financiera

---

Steps to Apply

 

Step 1: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

 

The FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible after October 1 each year. Only an official FAFSA can be used to calculate eligibility for aid. An official FAFSA must include:

 

• All signature requirements satisfied (including parents if required).
• An official Student Aid Index (SAI).
• All required questions completed (no blanks or incompletes).

 

Once your FAFSA has been received by the Financial Aid Office, a determination will be made regarding the need for additional information. Students selected for verification by the central processing system will need to submit documentation needed to substantiate their applications.

 

• Tips for completing your FAFSA form
  • Our federal school code is 009647.
  • You must be admitted to OSU-Oklahoma City to have your application reviewed.
  • Enroll early! The early bird gets the worm
  • You must have a FSAID: you and your parent (if you are a dependent student) will need a U.S Department of Education FSAID to sign your FAFSA electronically.
• Monitor your FAFSA status

  Once you have submitted your FAFSA, you will receive an email from The U.S. Department of Education confirming that your FAFSA was received and will be forwarded your schools of choice. The most effective way to determine if the OSU-Oklahoma City has received your FAFSA is to frequently check your OKSTATE email address for notifications from the Financial Aid Office or check the student portal at MY.OKSTATE.EDU using your O-KEY credentials to monitor your application.

   

  Important information you should know concerning the receipt of your FAFSA at OSU-Oklahoma city:

  1. You must be admitted to OSU-Oklahoma City for your FAFSA to be received by the Financial Aid Office.
  2. Your admissions application must contain your Social Security Number. If you applied for admissions and did not provide your SSN, please visit the Admission Office with a signed copy of your social security card so that your record can be updated. Failure to provide this information will delay the receipt of your FAFSA.
  3. Your name, date of birth, and social security number supplied on your FAFSA should directly match your admissions record. OSU-Oklahoma City encourages aid applicants to ensure that the name, date of birth, and social security number on their admissions record directly match their federal aid application. Please refrain from using nicknames or shortened versions of your legal name when applying for aid and/or admissions.

 

Step 2: Be admitted to OSU-OKC and enroll in classes.

Students must complete the admissions process and enroll
in classes in order to be awarded Federal Aid.

 

Step 3: Activate your O-Key email address.

The OSU-OKC Financial Aid and Scholarship Office will use email
for official notification. Activate your O-Key account early and check
your email frequently! 

 

Step 4: Complete your Financial Aid File

Once OSU-OKC receives and reviews your FAFSA, additional documents may be needed. It is important to monitor your OSU-OKC or FAFSA email frequently for
requests for additional information or documents. Your financial aid file must be complete before the review process begins; a file is considered complete when you
are enrolled and all official transcripts and requested documents are on file with OSU-OKC Admissions/Registrar Services and/or Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.

 

Normal processing times (subject to volume during peak enrollment periods):

• Students not selected for verification—allow 10 business days from file completion date
• Students selected for verification—allow 15 business days from file completion date

 

Step 5: Explore the types of aid available to you

The types of assistance a student could receive while attending OSU-Oklahoma City varies depending on the aid sources. The majority of aid administered at OSU-Oklahoma City is federal aid programs. Various types of federal aid are available to assist with education costs to those who qualify. Federal aid may be in the form of grants, work-study and loans. Grants are a type of aid that does not require payback; grants include Pell, SEOG and OTAG.

 

The Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) provides part-time employment while you are enrolled in school. Loans are a type of aid that does require payback. It is important to understand your options and your obligations regarding federal aid.

 

OSU-OKC Scholarships and Aid Opportunities

 

Step 6: Receive your aid.

General processing timelines for award notifications after the student has enrolled, submitted the FAFSA, and submitted all requested information and/or transcripts from previously attended colleges or universities range from two to four weeks depending on the time of the year. Generally peak processing times are three weeks prior to each term through the census date of the term. In addition, once awarded, students may need to complete aid program-specific requirements to receive their financial aid.

 

Award notifications are sent to your OSU-OKC email; make sure you monitor your email frequently. Details of your award can be accessed at my.okstate.edu.

 

• Federal loans and work study

  Federal loans and work study require your formal acceptance or decline. First time loan borrowers must complete the Master Promissory Note and Loan Entrance Counseling requirements prior to loan receipt. If you accept federal work study, you must apply for work study positions at jobs.okstate.edu after August 1. All grant awards are accepted on your behalf and require no further action once awarded.

• Terms and Conditions of Aid

  The receipt and continuance of aid is contingent upon the student reading, understanding, and meeting the terms and conditions of their aid.

   

  Student Aid Terms and Conditions

  Student Rights and Responsibilities

• Disbursements and Refunds

  OSU-Oklahoma City Financial Aid Office will begin crediting eligible students university accounts with direct loan funds beginning on the first day of the term. Business Services will begin refunding students who have financial aid credits that exceed their account balance the first week of classes for each term. All other aid programs will begin crediting student accounts no earlier than the week following the census date of each term or upon the receipt of funds from state aid programs, external scholarship donors, or institutional foundation funds.

   

  • Funds in excess of outstanding balances will be refunded to you.
  • Student loans are credited starting on the first day of classes and those disbursements begin once classes have started.
  • FWSP funds are earned by working on campus and students will be paid as an OSU-OKC employee.
  • The Business Services Office begins issuing refunds once your account has been credited with funds.
  • Refunds issued by check are mailed to the current address listed on your student account; checks are mailed in 7-10 business days.
  • Refunds issued by Direct Deposit are processed within 2-4 business days.
  • Grant and scholarship awards are credited and disbursed the week after the add/drop period.

   

  Refunds are made available to students by Business Services via direct deposit or paper check. Paper check refunds are processed and mailed each Friday. Students who have not signed up for direct deposit are encouraged to continually monitor and/or update their mailing address to ensure they receive their paper check refund. 

 

Important Note: To avoid over-award situations, please notify the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships of all external scholarship offers you receive as soon as you become aware of them.

 

Step 7: Begin charging books

Students may charge required textbooks at the OSU-OKC Bookstore to their Business Services account if they have financial aid that exceeds their tuition and fee charges.

 

For more information about charging books please visit the OSU-OKC Bookstore on  the second floor of the Student Center.

 

• Tips on using aid
  • Students must keep track of their charges and BusinessServices account balance.
  • Students using their financial aid must have provided Title IV authorization online prior to charging their books. If authorization is not provided, financial aid will not pay their bookstore charges and the student will be responsible for the balance.
  • Bookstore charges posted after financial aid refunds have been processed on a student’s Business Services account are the responsibility of the student.
  • Students whose aid does not cover all of their bookstore charges are responsible for their Business Services balance.

 

Step 8: Complete Loan Exit Counseling.

Student loan borrowers who are graduating or transferring to another college must cancel their aid for the next semester and complete Loan Exit Counseling.

---

 

Eligibility Requirements

For the most part, a student’s eligibility for federal aid is determined by the information on the FAFSA. The Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Student Aid Index (SAI) along with other factors will determine the types and amount of federal, state, institutional and private aid programs that can or will be offered to students. It is the policy of OSU-Oklahoma City to award students an aid package up to the Cost of Attendance with eligible aid programs. Most aid will be based on federal and state sources and may include some institutional or external aid sources. This award package will include programs that are need based and non-need based.

 

To receive aid from any of the federal or state student aid programs, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:

 

• Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.

• Demonstrate financial need, except for some loan programs.

• Have a high school diploma, GED certificate, or demonstrate Ability to Benefit (ATB)

• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working on a degree or certificate program at OSU-OKC.

• Must not be in default or owe a repayment to any federal program.

• Meet OSU-OKC Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy requirements.

• Sign the statement of educational purpose and certification statement on overpayment and default included in the FAFSA

• Respond promptly to information requests from the OSU-Oklahoma City Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

• Student Rights & Responsibilities

• Student Aid Term & Conditions

 

Eligibility Examples

If you are Pell Grant eligible and enrolled in 12 credit hours, but only nine are required for your program, you will receive federal aid for only those nine eligible hours. If you enroll in six credit hours, but only three are required for your program, you will not be eligible for the student loan. You must enroll in a minimum of six eligible hours for Federal Direct loans.

 

Prepare and register early to ensure your courses will be eligible for federal aid.

 

• Dependency Status

  The federal government has established criteria for classifying financial aid recipients as dependent or independent. If you are dependent (supporting according to federal criteria), your parents' assets and income as well as your own are considered when determining your financial need. If you are independent, your need is evaluated solely on your own and your spouse's income and assets.

   

  Need help in determining your dependency status?

   

  If you think you have extenuating circumstances that would exempt you from including parental information, contact a Financial Aid Counselor for discussion.

• Financial Need Determination

  A student’s financial need is determined by one simple formula: COA minus SAI = NEED:

   

  Cost of Attendance - OSU-Oklahoma City will assign federal aid applicants a standard cost of attendance (COA) based upon the costs associated with going to school for all students in your category.

   

  Student Aid Index - The Student Aid Index (SAI) is the amount the federal government says you and your family should pay toward your education and living expenses, based on your FAFSA information. If you are a dependent student, the SAI is based on your parents' income as well as your own. If you are independent, the SAI is based only on your household income. The federal government calculates your SAI and it is not something OSU-Oklahoma City can change directly.

   

  Financial Need - is the difference between your COA and your SAI. (COA - SAI = Financial Need)

 

Coursework Required for Your Major

Only courses that count toward your program at OSU-OKC are eligible for student aid.

 

If we determine one or more of your courses is not aid eligible, you will receive an email to your student email account. The notification will clearly identify that there is an issue with aid eligibility for a specific semester. You should then visit with your advisor to determine which course(s) are not applicable to your major then make necessary changes.

 

Your enrollment status for financial aid purposes will be based only on the coursework that counts towards your degree (grants, loans, and Federal Work-Study). 

 

To determine if your classes are eligible, check the degree sheet for your major. Your academic advisor can also meet with you to map out your program plan. 

 

• Will financial aid pay for courses that do not count?

  Awarded financial aid, based on required courses for your major, will apply to your account balance owed when the funds disburses. Your balance could include tuition for a course that is not eligible.

   

  For example: If you have 9 hours and only 6 are eligible; it’s possible for your award to cover the tuition for the eligible hours and have enough excess to pay for the 3 hour course that is not eligible. Always review your awards on your Banner Portal (my.okstate.edu) to see the whole picture.

• How can I inform the Financial Aid Office about course substitutions that are not counting as courses required for my major?

  Contact your Advisor. They may need to submit a substitution or advise you to replace the course with another course.

• I need courses for admissions to a program, how does that work?

  We would encourage you to contact financial aid staff for assistance. We may review your situation for consideration as “preparatory coursework”. Through preparatory coursework, students may be eligible for federal loans only while taking required courses within the approved timeframe.

   

  Please note: You are ineligible for this provision if you are only taking courses for the sole purpose of raising your GPA in order for admissions eligibility to a program.

• What if I change my schedule and add a required course?

  Once you make an enrollment change, allow two business days for processing then, contact your Financial Aid Counselor for a reevaluation of your eligibility. Contacting us will provide you peace of mind and ensure accuracy within your updated audit and financial aid award.

• How will changes to my schedule affect any refund already received?

  Depending on when the schedule change occurred, our office may need to re-evaluate your financial aid eligibility. We would encourage you to contact the financial aid office prior to making any schedule changes after a semester begins. Schedule changes could affect the amount awarded or disbursed, causing you to owe a balance.

• Am I required to enroll as full-time to receive Federal financial aid?

  In most cases, no you do not. An enrollment as half time is required for student loans. It I possible to qualify for financial aid when enrolled as half time, or even less-than-half-time. Below are the minimum enrollment hours for each enrollment status.

   

  Full-time = 12 or more hours
  Three-quarter-time = 9 or more hours 
  Half-time = 6 or more hours,
  Less-than-half-time = < 6 hours

 

Delay or loss of aid

There are a number a ways a student can delay and/or lose financial aid eligibility: 

 

• Not completing application and/or aid program requirements 

  Incomplete applications or requirements could cause a delay or ineligibility of aid.

   

  An offer and acceptance of aid does not mean that all is complete. When you choose to borrow for your education, there are one time requirements that must be completed such as Entrance Loan Counseling and Master Promissory Note requirements. Borrowers who delay completing these requirements will delay and/or possibly lose their eligibility of receiving these programs.

   

  Students considering borrowing to finance their education should get a head start and complete the Entrance Counseling and Promissory Note requirements. Students who are offered and accept Federal Work Study must still apply for and obtain a job. Employment opportunities are available on and off campus.

• Failing to make Satisfactory Academic Progress

  Academic progress is monitored on a semester basis. It will comprise your academic history from all schools in which OSU-Oklahoma City accepts and articulate academic history for.

   

  Your progression toward graduation is monitored for each term of aid receipt. The OSU-Oklahoma City Academic Progress Policy details the requirements to meet and maintain its policy requirements. Your failure to meet or exceed the policy requirements will result in students not being eligible for federal aid and most state aid programs such as Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG) and Oklahoma’s Promise (OHLAP).

   

  Students who are deemed ineligible following a Warning period have the right to appeal their ineligibility if they have mitigating circumstances. Request for Appeal are decided by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. If approved for a second chance by the Appeals Committee, the student may be placed on an Academic Plan to ensure their continued progression toward graduation.

• Dropping Classes

  Dropping classes could result in loss of eligibility for some aid programs awarded.

   

  Before making changes to your enrollment, you should always consider if you are on a financial aid warning or appeal approval, what your enrollment level would be after you drop your course, the enrollment level required to maintain eligibility for federal, state, institutional and private aid. We encourage you to check with the financial aid office and your scholarship donor concerning how a drop in enrollment will impact your aid now and in the future. In addition, enrollment changes made prior to the census date of the semester directly affects your aid eligibility for that term.

• Making a complete withdrawal

  Federal aid applicants who make a complete withdrawal from classes prior to completing sixty percent of the term will owe some portion of their federal aid received. Upon notification of a student’s withdrawal, the Financial Aid Office is required to calculate a Return to Title IV. This calculation determines the amount of unearned federal aid that must be returned to the federal aid programs. Federal aid programs that are subject to the Return of Title IV are Federal Pell, SEOG, and Direct Loans. OSU-Oklahoma City will return the funds to the federal aid programs on the behalf of the student who will in turn need to repay OSU-Oklahoma City. Please read the Return to Title IV Policy for detailed information on how withdrawing from classes will impact students.

   

  Should the need to withdraw arise, please make a point to visit with a Financial Aid Counselor beforehand to determine the impact and your best course of action.

 

 

Comienza fuerte con ayuda financiera

 

¡Cinco maneras de asistir a OSU-OKC gratis!

• Bright Futures: Suplementa al programa Promesa de Oklahoma (Oklahoma’s Promise) y cubre los gastos de cuotas y libros.
• OGE Energy scholarship: Para estudiantes de High School con un promedio mínimo de 2.5 y un intéres en un programa relacionado a la profesion de energía en OSU-OKC.
• President’s leadership council: Reconoce a estudiantes que hayan sobresalido en las áreas de liderazgo, ciudadanía, servicio comunitario y comunicación.
• Technical associate Program(tap) scholarship: Cubre los costos asociados con entrar a algunas de estas carreras de dos años. Tecnología de Construcción-Técnicas de Construcción, Tecnología de Construcción-Administración de Construcción y agrimensura tecnologíca.