Applying for Financial Aid

(College of Graduate and Professional Studies)

Students who are attending a Franklin Pierce educational center (Concord; Keene; Lebanon; Manchester; Portsmouth; Goodyear, Arizona, and 100% online) are advised to complete the financial aid process with a staff member of their respective center. 100% online students can contact the Manchester Center. All students must be admitted and matriculated into a degree program at Franklin Pierce in order to receive financial assistance.

Students must complete the Franklin Pierce University Institutional Financial Aid Application with a member of the University staff. This documentation will be forwarded to the Office of Student Financial Services in Rindge for processing. In addition to completing the IA form, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The recommended steps for applying for financial aid are as follows:

1. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
   
   Filing the FAFSA is only the first step in the financial aid process. Your financial aid will not be in place until all of the steps are completed. A new FAFSA must be filed every year. File online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
   
   File as early as possible. To be considered for State aid programs your application must be received by May 1st. Processing can take several weeks if you file the paper application. Please be sure to include Franklin Pierce University's school code (002575) so that the OSFS receives the processed FAFSA results electronically.
   


2. Read your Student Aid Report (SAR). If you file the FAFSA online, your SAR will be e-mailed to you if you provide an email address. If you file a paper form you will receive a SAR by mail. Read your SAR to make sure all information is complete and accurate. About 30% of all applications are selected at random for income verification. If your application is selected for verification you will need to provide FP with a signed copy of your last income tax return. If you are a Dependent student (under age 24) you will also need to provide a signed copy of your parents' last income tax return.
   
   
3. Download and complete an Institutional Financial Aid Application (IA). See your Franklin Pierce University Center counselor for assistance with this process.
   
   
4. After all documents have been received, a Financial Aid Awards Package is mailed to you. The package includes an award letter and if you are a first time Stafford loan borrower with Franklin Pierce, it will also include instructions to go online and complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and online Entrance Counseling. These processes will need to be completed before loan funds can be disbursed.

If you are eligible for financial assistance your award package will be broken out over the anticipated number of terms and anticipated enrollment in each term that you have reported on the IA form. Financial aid funds are posted to the student's account each term, after enrollment is verified. If adjustments need to be made to the student's financial aid award based on a change from anticipated enrollment, the student will be notified by a revised financial aid award letter.

Please note that the financial aid year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. Your loan period is for one year only. At the end of the loan period you no longer have financial aid and must reapply.

For more information contact the Office of Student Financial Services at (603) 899-4180 or osfs@franklinpierce.edu.