NEWS and UPDATES -last updated January 29th, 2015
» 3 Easy steps to filing for your FAFSA for 2015/16
1) Financial aid applicants and their parents should electronically file their 2014 federal income tax returns two to three weeks before the 2015-2016 FAFSA is completed.
2) Wait two to three weeks to have access to the IRS Data Retrieval Tool for your 2015-2016 FAFSA on the Web.
3) Complete the 2015-2016 FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov using the IRS Data Retrieval tool. The FAFSA should be filed by the college's priority deadlines (3/1/15 for summer 2015 and 3/15/15 for fall 2015).
For more help see our step by step guide.
» It's almost that time!
Will you need Financial Aid to Help Pay for College in Summer 2015, Fall 2015 or Spring 2016? If so, complete the 2015-2016 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Review our step-by-step guide: 2015-2016 How To Apply For Financial Aid On The Web.•Summer 2015- the priority deadline for filing is March 1st 2015.
•Fall 2015- the priority deadline for filing is March 15th 2015.
•Spring 2016- the priority deadline for filing is October 1st 2016.
» Are you a first-time undergraduate at New Paltz for Spring 2015?
Make sure to view our Spring Checklist for new freshmen and transfers. Our checklists are the #1 resource for students to help get financial aid in order before the semester starts! It's also linked under Money - My Financial Aid when you log in to my.newpaltz.
» Questions about the verification process?
If you've been selected for verification and have not completed the process yet you can see what items are missing under my.newpaltz- My Financial Aid - Eligibility. You must satisfy the missing requirements so we can determine your eligibility and offer you an aid package. If you have questions on the process view our quick tips sheet or reference our verification page for more complete information.
» Loan Disbursements
Loans disburse mid-week on a rolling basis starting 1/28/15 for spring. Have your spring loans disbursed already? If not, make sure you've completed your loan requirements...
→If you accept a Direct Student Loan then you must login to studentloans.gov with your student federal pin and
- Complete Entrance Counseling for State University College at New Paltz
- Complete a Master Promissory Note for subsidized/unsubsidized loan
→If you accept a Direct Parent PLUS Loan your parent must complete a credit check REQUEST (our PLUS page has more details). To apply your parent must login to studentloans.gov with their parental federal pin (not the student's pin) and
- Click and complete Request a Direct Plus Loan to apply
- If approved, they will be asked to complete a Master Promissory Note for a Parent PLUS loan
» Award Offers for 14/15
The Office of Financial Aid has started sending award notifications via email starting April 2014! Packages are now being offered every Thursday evening (on a rolling basis) for 2014/2015. If your file is complete then look for an email notice to accept/decline your aid on my.newpaltz!
What's the deadline to accept/decline the award offers? There is no strict deadline as not everyone wants to borrow loans. But if you choose to borrow your loans you'll want to accept your aid before your invoice is due. Freshmen invoices get assigned after orientation and continuing students typically get their fall invoices in June. Your invoice will have a due date on it, so if you want loans make sure to accept them prior to your due date so they show as a credit. Our parent page has more information on this timeline or see our checklists to make sure you're all set for the year. Please know that if you decline your loans you can get them later in the year if you're still enrolled.
What if your aid hasn't been awarded yet? A third of the population gets selected by the Federal Processor for "Verification". If we notified you that you were selected for verification then you must finish that process before your file can be completed. Once verification is done then your aid will be offered within a two week window. More info on verification can be found here: What is Verification?
» Summer Aid Update
Do you know how summer aid works? View our summer page for all the details on how to apply. Application deadline is July 15th, 2015.
» Do you need help using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on your FAFSA?
Make sure to view our helpful tutorial that walks you through the process >> DRT Tutorial
» Have you heard of the Governor's new STEM Incentive Program?
Read up on the proposed program guidelines here >> STEM Q & A
The application is not yet available, but hesc.ny.gov will update their website with more detailed program information after the NYS budget passes.
» Did you accept a PLUS loan?
Just like student loans, fall and spring semester Plus loans disburse once a week starting in early Sept for fall and late Jan for spring. But what if yours hasn't paid out yet? If it has not disbursed then it's likely that your parent still needs to complete the credit check application. These instructions help parents navigate the application process: PLUS REQUEST
NOTE: Signing a master promissory note is only part of the process. Parent borrowers must also click 'REQUEST A DIRECT PLUS LOAN' to complete the quick application and credit check on studentloans.gov.
» PELL GRANT CHANGES
Effective July 1st 2012, eligible students will be limited to receive Pell for a maximum of 12 full-time semesters (or the equivalent). You can read more about Pell Grant eligibility here: GRANTS
