Office of Financial Aid
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Willis Parker
Acting Director
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| Welcome to the University of the District of Columbia’s Office of Financial Aid. We have committed ourselves to helping students bridge the gap between their personal resources and the cost of attending school. We strive to maintain the highest standards of customer service to our students, staff, administration and the entire community. |
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The staff of the Financial Aid Office includes:
To better serve our students, each student is assigned to a Financial Aid Counselor according to the first letter of their last name.
A, B, C, (Loan Coordinator) |
Kathy Mosley |
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D, E, F, G, H, I (Technical Assistant) |
Wayne Montgomery |
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J, K, L, M, T |
April Cole |
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N, O, P, Q, R, Sa-Si, U (College Work Study Coordinator) |
Carol Parks |
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Sj-Sz, V, W, X, Y, Z (Scholarship Coordinator) |
Alfreda Ellis |
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This office provides the following services:
GENERAL SERVICES
- What types of aid are available?
- Who is eligible to apply?
- How do I apply for federal student aid?
- What is our school code?
- Scholarship Information
- Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized
- FFEL PLUS LOANS
- Financial Aid Refund Policy
- Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Aid
- Book Vouchers
- International Student Aid
- Entrance /Exit Counseling
- Printable Forms
WHAT TYPES OF AID ARE AVAILABLE?
GRANT PROGRAMS
Federal Pell Grant Program
Federal Pell Grants do not have to be repaid. They are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a Bachelor’s degree (in the
United States
or abroad). In order to receive a Pell Grant, you must have financial need. You may receive a Pell Grant as long as you are enrolled in a degree or certificate program and are taking at least one (1) credit. Not everyone is eligible for a Pell Grant if they are below halftime enrollment (under six (6) credit hours).Check with your Financial Aid Counselor to confirm your individual eligibility.
The maximum amount of Pell Grant you can receive each year is determined by the amount of funding received from Congress. The maximum amount is $4,310, if you are eligible.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
An FSEOG is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. An FSEOG doesn't have to be repaid. Priority is given to those students who have the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The amount of FSEOG available each year to students is determined by the amount of funding that is given to the school each year. Awards at UDC generally are $500.00 per semester pending the availability of funds.
Institutional Grant Program
The Institutional Grant Funds (IG) can be awarded to both undergraduate and graduate students based on the availability of funding. An IG doesn’t have to be repaid. IG awards at UDC generally are $500.00 per semester pending the availability of funds.
District of Columbia Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program (LEAP)
The D.C. Leveraging Education Assistance Partnership Program (formerly called SSIG) is a grant offered to DC residents for education or training beyond the high school level. The D.C. Leveraging Educational Assistance Program is funded through matching funds by the District of Columbia and the Federal Government. Eligibility for this need-based award is based on a review of the financial information on the Student Aid Report.
Applicants should file the FAFSA as soon as the end of the year family income information becomes available. In order to submit the D.C. LEAP application, you must have a copy of your SAR. The deadline date to submit your LEAP application is June 1, to the Financial Aid Office.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Scholarship information can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office.
FEDERAL COLLEGE WORK STUDY PROGRAM (FCWS)
The Federal Work-Study Program provide jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to your course of study. You must complete the FAFSA to apply.
FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN
A Federal Perkins Loan is a low-interest (5 percent) loan for both undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. The loans are made by UDC with funds that are distributed by the Federal government. You must be registered for at least half time to receive this loan. You will not be charged a fee to borrow the loan and you do not pay back until nine months after you graduate or drop below half time enrollment. This loan must be repaid to UDC.
FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATIONAL LOAN (FFEL)
STAFFORD SUBSIDIZED AND STAFFORD UNSUBSIDIZED
Stafford loan is available to those students with financial need. UDC participates in the FFEL Program. Under the FFEL Program, the funds for your loan are lent to you from a private lender (a bank, credit union, or other lender that participates in the FFEL Program).
A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. You will not be charged any interest before you begin your repayment or during authorized periods of deferment. An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of need. You’ll be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. If you allow the interest to accumulate while you are in school or during periods of nonpayment, it will be capitalized. This means that the interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan and additional interest will be based on the higher amount. You must complete the FAFSA to apply.
UDC FFELP Lenders List
**students have the option to choose a lender from the lender list or a lender of their choosing**
Citibank (lender code: 826878)
Citizens Bank, 725 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 20062 (lender code 833881)
Independence Federal Saving and Loan, 7901 Eastern Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20062 (lender code 831036)
*** If you would like to use a lender of your choice, please contact that lender for a student loan application.***
UDC CRITERIA FOR INCLUCSION/EXCLUSION ON LENDER LIST 
FFEL PARENT LOAN for UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (PLUS)
PLUS loans enable parents with good credit histories to borrow funds to pay the education expenses of each child who is a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time. You must complete the FAFSA to apply.
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
To receive aid from any of the federal student aid programs, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Have financial need, except for some loan programs.
- Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate, pass a test approved by the U.S. Department of Education, meet other state standards your state establishes that are approved by the U.S. Department of Education, or complete a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under state law.
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Have a valid Social Security Number. If you don’t have a Social Security, you can find out more about applying for one through the Internet at www.ssa.gov.
- Meet satisfactory academic progress standards set by UDC.
- Certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.
- Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and that you do not owe money on a federal student grant.
- Register with Selective Service if required.
If you are a male 18 through 25 years of age and you have not registered with the Selective Service, you can give the Selective Service permission to register you by checking a box on the FAFSA. You can also register through the Internet at www.sss.gov APPLYING FOR AID
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Deadline dates at UDC for early consideration April 1, for federal student aid. June 1, is the deadline to apply for the D.C. Leveraging Education Assistance Program (LEAP). Our school code is 007015.
HOW DO I APPLY?
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by mailing a paper FAFSA to: Federal Student Aid Programs, P.O.Box 4001, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-8601
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by having the Opportunity Center submit your application electronically (located at 1233 20th Street, N.W. Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 202-822-5180). Please call for an appointment.
POLICY FOR WITHDRAWALS AND UNOFFICIAL WITHDRAWALS
If you totally withdraw from school, the law states that the amount of Federal Student Aid Assistance you have “earned” up to the point of withdrawal must be determined by a specific formula. If you received more assistance than you earned, the excess funds must be returned. unofficial withdrawal is when you stop attending classes and do not complete the Withdrawal Form in the Registrar’s Office located in Building 39, Room A-14.
The amount of assistance you have earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. That is, if you completed 30 percent of the payment period or five (5) weeks of classes, you earned 30 percent of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive. The unearned portion must be repaid by the student. If you do not repay these funds to the University, you will be barred from the next registration period.
Students, who complete at least 60 percent of the payment period or ten weeks of the semester, earned the amount of the financial aid.
For additional information on this policy, please call 202-274-5060 or come to the Financial Aid Office located Building 39, Room 101 or refer to the 2004-2005 Student Hand Book, or the Schedule of Classes page 9-10.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FINANCIAL AID
- What is Financial Aid?
Financial aid is any kind of financial help (including loans) available for meeting educational expenses. (Ex. Grants, work-study, loans, scholarships)
- How is need determined?
Your Family’s financial situation is analyzed using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you completed. From this, your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated. This EFC is subtracted from your Student Expense Budget and the amount remaining is your financial need. The EFC is calculated according to a procedure called need analysis.
- What form do I use to apply for financial aid?
You can apply for federal aid for the school year by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You may submit a FAFSA:
· By using FAFSA on the web through the internet, www.fafsa.ed.gov · By mailing a paper FAFSA to: Federal Student Aid Programs,
P.O.Box 4001
,
Mt. Vernon
,
IL
62864
-86 · By having the
Educational
Opportunity
Center
assists you in completing your application electronically. They are located
1233 20th Street, N.W., Suite 600
,
Washington
,
D.C.
Please call to make an appointment, 202-822-518
4. Can I receive a Pell Grant if I am enrolled less than half-time?
Yes. If you are otherwise eligible, you can receive a Pell Grant. However, you will not receive as much aid as you would if you were enrolled full-time. UDC will adjust your Pell Grant funds in accordance with your enrollment status.
5. Are there other programs available if I am not eligible for Federal Financial Aid?
Yes. Alternative loans, based on your credit history, are available. Please stop by the Office of Financial Aid for further information.
6. If I am a dependent student, can my parent (s) borrow to pay for my Education?
Yes.Your parents can borrow a FFEL PLUS Loan. The application can be printed from our web site or you may stop by the office and pick one up.
7. How often do I have to apply for financial aid?
Students apply for financial aid every year, once a year. You should submit your application as early as possible, but no earlier than January 1.
8. Can I receive a Book Voucher?
A valid Student Aid Report (SAR) must be on file in the Office of Financial Aid for the current year. Additionally, the amount of your expected financial aid must exceed the cost of your tuition and fees.
9. Do I have to repay financial aid?
Loan funds MUST be repaid; grants do not have to be repaid.
10. How often will I receive any refunds due to me?
Students receive refund checks once each semester (Fall, Spring).
11. How do I receive my refund check (s)?
All refund checks are mailed to students.It is very important to have a correct mailing address on file in the Office of the Registrar.
12. How does Financial Aid pay your bill?
When you register for classes your awarded financial aid holds your registration. After school begins, we check your enrollment and adjust aid amounts to reflect credit hour level. We credit financial aid to your student account and charges for tuition, fees and books (if you use a book voucher) are deducted from the financial aid. The financial aid remaining on your account after charges are paid is refunded to you in a check to meet education related expenses. BOOK VOUCHERS
A Book Voucher is not additional financial aid. Amounts charged at the bookstore against a Book Voucher are added to your UDC student account and will reduce the amount of any refund of financial aid you may receive for the semester.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AID
To be eligible for Federal Student Aid, a student must be a U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen. International students do have the opportunity to explore Alternative Loan Programs. An Alternative lender is International Education Finance Corporation. The web site is www.iefc.com |
