Re-applying

Financial aid can do a lot toward helping you pursue your online educational program, but the process doesn't stop once you've secured funding.

Keep in touch with your financial aid office and be sure you know the details of deadlines and other financial aid requirements. Reapplying for financial aid is critical to maintaining your loan, scholarship, and grant eligibility, and you should feel comfortable asking your financial aid office any questions.

How to Renew Your Financial Aid
You must generally reapply for financial aid each year. Your asset and income may change from year to year, and it's important to provide current information. Your financial aid package may depend on a number of factors:  

• Your Cost of Education as determined by your school's financial aid office
• Your Expected Family Contribution as determined by information from the FAFSA
• Available funds from your educational institution or the Federal government

Your family situation can affect your aid. If you're a dependent student, the amount of aid you receive can change dramatically if additional family members begin to attend school or members who were in an educational program leave school for any reason.

Educational Requirements
Your financial aid package may come with a few educational requirements. To keep your financial aid awards, you must be making satisfactory progress in your educational program. Depending on your school and your aid package, you may be required to complete a stated number of credit hours per term or maintain a minimum GPA in order to continue receiving certain forms of aid. Dropping below half-time enrollment status could negate your eligibility for financial aid, and you might even need to repay aid you've already received.

Completing a Renewal FAFSA
It's important to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year to be considered for Federal aid along with other sources of funding. After your first year of school, you must fill out a FAFSA renewal form. The FAFSA renewal form takes less time to complete than the regular application and requires that you update existing information. You should receive a reminder via email or postal mail to file the renewal FAFSA. You can complete the paperwork as early as January for the coming academic year.

Financial Aid Office
Even when your financial aid information is secured, you should keep in touch with your school's financial aid office throughout the educational year. Your enrollment status, financial circumstances, and related data may change, and you may be eligible for a different aid package. Contact your financial aid office with questions--they can provide you with information about important application deadlines, and help you maximize your financial aid opportunities.

Maintain contact with your school's financial aid office, and you'll find it easier to stay on top of your educational aid.