Financial Aid Requirements
Where do I Start?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to determine eligibility for federal and state financial aid programs. You are encouraged to file your FAFSA electronically.
Instructions for filing the FAFSA on the Internet
What is an FSA ID?
The FSA ID is your identifier to let you access your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems and serves as your electronic signature. You can apply for your FSA ID online.
When do I Apply for Aid?
The recommended deadline is January 1 to file your FAFSA.
Any verification documents requested by our office should be submitted by May 1. Student applicants meeting this deadline should have their financial aid package prior to the admissions deposit deadline or before summer school begins. Applications or forms filed after these deadlines will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.
Information on Federal Financial Aid Consequences for non-attendance of classes.
| To Do List | Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Obtain FSA ID | January 1 |
| File FAFSA/Express Tap Application | January 1 |
| Submit all requested documentation to the Financial Aid Office | May 1 |
| Accept/Decline all offered awards | May 15 |
Entrance Counseling, Annual Student Loan Acknowledgment and Sign Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Stafford Loans |
July 1 |
| Student apply for Alternative loan with co-signer or parent apply for Federal Direct PLUS loan and do MPN | August 1 |
New York State Application for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
If you are a New York state resident, you are eligible to file the TAP application if you are applying to a college in New York (designated on your FAFSA). The application link is available after you submit the FAFSA. If you miss the link, you can use the link below.
Excelsior Scholarship
Eligible students can apply for full tuition awards through the Excelsior Scholarship program.
Applying for the Scholarship
To complete the application and review application deadlines please visit the Higher Education Corporation website.
Note: students who have received the Excelsior Scholarship previously only need to complete the TAP application.
Transfer Information:
If you are transferring FROM SUNY Brockport to another college mid-year
If you are transferring TO SUNY Brockport from another college mid-year
High School Graduation Requirement
Proof of graduation from high school is a requirement for all students wishing to receive federal or state financial aid. A final high school transcript showing date of graduation or a copy of a Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) must be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as soon as possible to facilitate the financial aid process.
Financial Aid Adjustments/Appeals (Professional Judgment)
The Financial Aid Office at SUNY Brockport realizes that students and their families experience unforeseen circumstances and/or expenses during an academic year. Appeal forms for changes in family circumstances or reconsideration of dependency status may be found in the Financial Aid Forms Center.
Aid Adjustment Due to Changes in Credits
All original financial aid packages will be based on a student taking 12 credits for undergraduates or 6 credits for graduate students for both the fall and spring semesters. Original billings will reflect aid based on this attendance. On or about August 1 for fall and January 1 for spring, an adjusting mechanism will be initiated. Financial aid packages will be automatically adjusted based on the actual number of credits that a student is registered for on that date. Subsequently, adding or dropping of a course will cause corresponding adjustments in financial aid. Students should attempt to register for all classes when possible before those deadlines so that your financial aid will be accurately reflected. Subsequent adjustments in the number of credits registered for could result in potentially delayed refunds if aid increases or amounts owed if a student reduces the number of credits they are registered for.
Financial aid will continue to be automatically adjusted as you add or drop courses until the financial aid census date (the day after the drop period ends). A final aid adjustment will be made on that date and no further adjustments will be made for the rest of the semester unless the student totally withdraws from all courses or drops a second quarter course.
Additional Resources
The following links have detailed explanations:
- What is an “expected family contribution”?
- Federal aid credit census dates
- Federal Financial Aid consequences for non-attendance of classes
- Financial Aid Glossary
- How and when financial aid will be disbursed
- How SUNY Brockport distributes and packages aid
- How eligibility is determined at SUNY Brockport
- Student Rights and Responsibilities