Financial Aid
We know securing financial aid is an important part of your college selection. Finding the right financial aid program can be a daunting task – that’s why the USSU financial aid team is here to help.
Contact our financial aid team for more information:
[email protected]
1-251-445-0363 (direct line) or 1-800-223-2668 (ext. 7146)
Getting Started
Apply for a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID
This is required to apply for, receive, and manage your federal student aid.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
This step is required to apply for and receive federal grants and loans.
Key Dates:
- March 1: USSU’s Priority Date for students to complete their FAFSA.
- Funds are awarded for the nine-month academic year (Fall/Spring or Spring/Summer.) Students are expected to use only what is needed from their Fall/Spring award in order to have funds available for summer enrollment.
- October 1: Students should complete their FAFSA as soon after October 1 as possible to be considered for all types of aid for the approaching Fall term.
- In order to ensure funding is available at the beginning of the Fall semester, the ideal completion period for the FAFSA is October through April of the preceding year.
Apply at studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN)
This is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan(s).
Complete Student Loan Entrance Counseling
Get Accepted and Meet Enrollment Requirements
Get accepted into a degree-seeking program.
To be eligible for most types of financial aid, you must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program. Pell Grants are available for students enrolled less than half-time. For federal student loans, you must be enrolled at least part-time.
Complete the Renewal of Award Process
Students must re-apply for financial aid each academic year.
Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Requirements
Review the Satisfactory Academic Progress Handout.
Application Process
U.S. Citizens
- Federal School Code: 021706
- Complete the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.
- First time applicant? You will need to complete the Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling.
- To maintain financial aid, you must complete a new FAFSA every year.
International Students
Apply for an International Student Loan at internationalstudentloan.com. You will need a U.S. citizen as a co-signer.
Federal Assistance Programs
Federal Pell Grant
- Money that does not have to be paid back to the federal government
- Determined by an Student Aid Index (SAI, formerly known as the Expected Family Contribution, or EFC), an analysis conducted on information provided on the FAFSA..
- Pell Grants must be awarded in two equal amounts. The amount per semester students may be eligible for is as follows (all reference to number of credits refer to total number of credits for the semester, including Semester, Block, Modular, and Fusion classes):
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Money that does not have to be paid back to the federal government.
- Awarded on a first come, first serve basis.
- Awarded to Pell Grant-eligible students.
Federal Direct Student Loan Program
A Direct Student Loan is money authorized by the Federal Government to help pay for your college costs. These funds must be paid back to your lender upon your withdrawal from school or graduation.
The interest of The Federal Direct Loan can be subsidized or unsubsidized, which is determined by an analysis conducted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Subsidized loans do not accrue interest while you are in school
- Unsubsidized loans accrue a low interest as soon as it is applied to your tuition
Loan Limits
| 2024-25 | Dependent | Independent | |
| Sophomore | $6,500 per year | $10,500 per year | No more than $4,500 may be subsidized |
| Junior/Senior | $7,500 per year | $12,500 per year | No more than $5,500 may be subsidized |
| Total lifetime limits | $31,000 maximum | $57,500 maximum | No more than $23,000 may be subsidized |
| 2024-25 | Independent |
| Graduate Professional | $20,500 per year |
| Total lifetime limits | $138,500 maximum |
Repayment of a Direct loan does not occur as long as the student is enrolled half-time or until six months after last date of attendance. However, it can be paid back at any time without penalty.
Repayment of the loan will be completed in a ten-year time frame.
Federal Parent Loan Program (PLUS)
The Federal Parent Loan Program (PLUS) are funds the government has made available to parents to help with their student’s education costs.
- Interest rates for the PLUS are still low, but they are higher than the Federal DirectLoan.
- Parents can borrow enough to supplement their student’s cost of attendance.
- Repayment on the PLUS begins three months after the funds are disbursed to the student’s account.
- Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required before completing the Parent PLUS loan.
- Applying for the PLUS requires parents to have a credit application approved with a lending institution. Applications must be completed online on studentaid.gov.
Students whose parents are denied the PLUS, for credit reasons, are eligible for the additional loan limits independent students are typically allowed.
Preferred Lenders
Please visit the following link for information about our preferred lenders.
