Q: How do I apply for financial aid?
A: Complete the FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is available at all high schools and colleges as well as Barry University's Financial Aid Office. You can also complete the FAFSA on the government's secure Internet site at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Q: When should I apply for financial aid?
A: For the Fall semester, as soon after January 1st as possible.

Q: What is the FAFSA?
A: The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the universal form that students complete to be considered for financial aid at every college and university in the United States. As the name implies, it is free!

Q: What does the FAFSA do?
A: The FAFSA collects financial and other information about you (and your parents if you are a dependent student) and determines your degree of financial need, as well as verifies other information.

Q: What type of financial aid is available?
A: There are four typical categories of financial aid: scholarships, grants, loans, and employment. Scholarships are awarded to students based on academic promise, and grants are usually awarded on the basis of financial need. Work-study awards allow students to work on campus to help defray the cost of education, while at the same time gaining valuable work experience. Loans, unlike scholarships and grants, must be repaid. Repayment of student loans usually begins after the student leaves school. These sources of financial aid may come from the federal and state government and/or Barry University. Financial aid may also come from private organizations and religious or civic groups.

Q: Do I have to be full-time to receive most financial aid?
A: Most federal, state, and institutional financial aid and scholarships are designed for full-time students. However, Federal Pell Grants may be available to part-time students, based on financial need. Additionally, federal Stafford loans are available to students enrolled at least half-time.

Q: What is Barry University's Title IV Federal School Code?
A: Barry University's Title IV Federal School Code is 001466. It is very important that you enter this number on the FAFSA.

Q: What is the Federal Pell Grant?
A: The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based grant, which serves as the foundation to which other sources of aid are added. Awards range from $400 to $4050. It is available to full-time and part-time undergraduate students who qualify based on financial need. The FAFSA determines the degree of financial need.

Q: What is the Florida Resident Access Grant?
A: The Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) is a grant that provides tuition assistance to full-time undergraduate students who are Florida residents. Awards are approximately $2300 per year, subject to state appropriations. Either the FAFSA or a separate FRAG application is required and must be submitted no later than the first day of the semester for which the grant is requested.

Q: What is the Florida Student Assistant Grant?
A: The Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG) is estimated at $1000 per year, and is awarded to Florida residents who demonstrate financial need and who are enrolled full time in the undergraduate program. The FAFSA is the application required for this award.

Q: Can I transfer my financial aid from another college?
A: Most financial aid awards cannot be transferred from one institution to another. If you are planning to transfer to Barry University from another educational institution, you must make sure that the results of your FAFSA are sent by the federal processor to Barry. You can accomplish this by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800-433-3243 and requesting that they forward your FAFSA results to Barry University. (Remember, our Title IV Federal School Code is 001466). If you have a copy of your current Student Aid Report, you can fax this to the Office of Financial Aid at 305-899-3104, or mail a full copy to us.

Q: Who is eligibly to receive financial aid?
A: To be eligible for financial aid students must be United States citizens or eligible non-citizens, enrolled in a degree-seeking program at an accredited college or university.

Q: What are Federal Stafford Loans?
A: This program consists of low-interest loans for students and parents. There are two types of Stafford loans; subsidized and unsubsidized loans. The Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan is based on financial need. The government pays the interest while the student is enrolled at least half time. Repayment begins six months after graduation or when the student drops to less than half-time enrollment. The Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan is not based on need. However, the student is responsible for all interest which accrues during in-school, grace, and deferment periods. The interest rate is variable, capped at 8.25%. For dependent students, the annual loan limits for combined Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are $2625 for freshmen, $3500 for sophomores, and $5500 for juniors and seniors. For independent undergraduates, those amounts may be exceeded by an additional $4000 for freshmen and sophomores, and $5000 for juniors and seniors.

Q: What are PLUS or Parent Loans?
A: The Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is for parents of dependent students. PLUS is a non need-based federal loan available through private lenders. Awards are up to the cost of attendance per academic year, minus other aid. This loan is based on credit, and repayment begins after the last disbursement.

Q: How do I apply for a Federal Stafford Loan?
A: New borrowers at Barry University should complete the Federal Stafford Master Promissory Note. Students who attended Barry University last year and borrowed a Federal Stafford loan will usually not need to complete an additional promissory note. Contact us if you are not certain. Master Promissory Notes are available at Barry University's Office of Financial Aid.

Q: I didn't list Barry University as one of the schools designated to receive my information on the FAFSA, what do I do now?
A: You may give us a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR) which is sent to you from the federal processor, or you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800-433-3243 and request they add Barry University to the schools listed on your Student Aid report (SAR). Our Title IV Federal School Code is 001466.

Q: When and how will I know what financial aid I will receive?
A: After we receive the results of the FAFSA, we will mail you an estimated financial aid award letter that will list all of the Federal, State, and Institutional financial aid programs for which you qualified.

Q: When do I start repaying my student loan?
A: Generally, students begin repayment of their Federal Stafford loans six months after they cease to be enrolled at least half time in a degree-seeking program. With Federal Subsidized Stafford loans the student is not responsible for interest payments during the in-school period, or during the six month grace period. However, the student is responsible for the interest on a Federal Unsubsidized Stafford loan. Contact your lender directly, or see your Financial Aid Counselor for complete information.

Q: Do I have to apply for financial aid every year?
A: Yes! You should apply once every academic year. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible after January 1st of each year. Make sure you enter Barry University's Title IV Federal School Code of 001466 on the FAFSA.

Q: How do I apply for an Academic Scholarship to Barry University?
A: Every student is considered for academic scholarships at the time they apply for admission at Barry University. Barry University has a fantastic scholarship program, with awards up to $13,500. These awards are based upon your cumulative GPA and standard test scores.

Q: How can I be considered an Independent Student?
A: When you apply for federal student financial aid, your answers to certain questions will determine whether you are considered dependent on your parents or independent. If you are considered dependent on your parents, you must report their income and assets as well as your own. If you are independent, you must report only your own income and assets (and those of your spouse, if you are married).

Students are classified as dependent or independent because federal student aid programs are based on the idea that students (and their parents or spouse, if applicable) have the primary responsibility for paying for their postsecondary education.

For the 2008-2009 academic year you are an independent student if at least one of the following applies to you:

• You were born before January 1, 1985
• You will be working on a master's or doctorate program during the 2008-2009 school year.
• You have children who receive more than half of their support from you.
• You are married, you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2009.
• You are a orphan or ward of the court or were a ward of the court until the age of 18.
• You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who engaged in active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard, or a member of the National Guard or Reserves who was called to active duty for purposes other than training, or were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies and were released under a condition other than dishonorable.

Unless you can answer "yes" to at least one of the questions above, then you are considered to be a dependent student by the Department of Education, and your parent(s) must complete the FAFSA with you. If you claim to be an independent student, your school may ask you to submit proof before you can receive any student financial aid.

If you think you have unusual circumstances that would make you independent even though none of the above criteria apply to you, make an appointment with someone at the financial aid office. On rare occasions, we can change your status based on very unusual circumstances that must be thoroughly documented. This is determined by a process term "Professional Judgment". The decision of the Financial Aid Office regarding professional judgment cases at Barry University are final and cannot be appeal to the U.S. Department of Education or to anyone else.

Important Addresses and Phone Numbers

Barry University Financial Aid Office:
11300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695
Local: (305) 899-3673
Toll Free: (800) 695-2279
Fax: (305) 899-3104
E-Mail: finaid@mail.barry.edu

Federal Student Aid Information Center:

For general information, call 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

To request a duplicate Student Aid Report, or questions related to your FAFSA, call 1-800-319-5665.

Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance:
255 Colins
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(904) 487-0049

United Student Aid Funds:
(Student Loan Guarantee Agency)
P.O. Box 6156
Indianapolis, IN 46206
(800) 824-7044