Understanding the financial aid process can be challenging. Below is a comprehensive list of forms and resources from cost calculators to finding scholarship opportunities and much more.
Remember, the Office of Financial Aid is with you every step of the way and you can contact us at any time for assistance and guidance.
Forms
Asset Information Worksheet
Provides additional asset information for the student (spouse, and/or parent; if applicable)
Citizenship Affidavit
Complete this form along with copies of your U.S. citizenship/nationality. This form must be completed in the presence of a notary and returned to our office via U.S. Postal Service.
Cost of Attendance Worksheet
The Office of Financial Aid establishes standard student budgets each year on the basis of offering financial aid funds. The budgets reflect typical “modest but adequate” expense patterns for students of the University of Michigan-Flint based on research conducted by our office. While actual expenses may differ based on lifestyle and level of enrollment. This worksheet should assist students in planning their own budget.
Dependency Override
The Dependency Override is used to re-evaluate a student’s dependency status due to special circumstances so they may be considered an independent student for financial aid purposes.
Dependent Care Budget Form
This form is used to increase a student’s financial aid budget due to childcare expenses. This form must be completed with the student’s dependent care provider.
Dependent Support Form
Provides additional information on the support of a child/legal dependent to count towards your independent student status
Electronic Enrollment Change Form
Use this form to update your expected financial aid enrollment
Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver Application
For students who wish to apply for the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver
No Parental Support
Students must complete this form if they did not ore report their parental information on the FAFSA and have indicated that they have a special circumstance.
Orphan / Ward of the Court / Foster Care
Students who have indicated that they are or have been since age 13 either an orphan, ward of the court or in the foster care system
Parent Killed in the Line of Duty
For students whose parent(s) or guardian(s) were killed in the line of duty while serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001; or while serving as and performing duties as a public safety officer. This form is to modify a student’s Pell Grant eligibility.
Re-Evaluation of Financial Circumstances
A review of a student’s financial aid due to a change in their circumstances.
Release of Financial Aid Information
This form grants your permission for the Office of Financial Aid to share certain financial aid information with a third party. The information that is shared will either be needed to be picked up by the student, or it will be sent via the U.S. Postal Service.
Revision Request Form
To change their financial aid offer, students must submit a completed form. Changes may include enrollment, housing, the addition of outside sources of aid, or changes to a Federal Direct student loan.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal
An appeal for students who are ineligible for financial aid because they are not currently meeting SAP standards.
Verification Forms
Students selected for financial aid verification will need to complete select forms. The requirements for financial aid verification will vary from student to student. Please check your SIS account to make sure the correct forms are being completed.
Alternate Dependent Non-Filing Form
Dependent students and/or parent(s) will use this form if an IRS Letter of Non-Filing has been requested but has not yet been received.
Alternate Independent Non-Filing Form
Independent students (and/or spouse, if applicable) will use this form if an IRS Letter of Non-Filing has been requested but not yet received.
Dependent Verification Worksheet
Required for students who have entered their parent(s) information on the FAFSA and have been selected for verification.
Independent Verification Worksheet
Required for students (and their spouse, if applicable) who have been selected for verification.
IRS 4506-T
This form is to be completed and returned to the IRS if you are seeking a Letter of Non-Filing from the IRS.
Living Expense Worksheet
Form may be required if the student has been selected for verification.
Statement of Educational Purpose
Required if the student has been selected to complete a Statement of Educational Purpose. This form must be completed in the presence of a notary and returned via U.S. Postal Service. Students may also complete this, in-person, in our office.
Resources
Cost Calculators
It’s always a good idea to plan your finances. The calculators found below will help you estimate the cost of your education, calculate Expected Family Contribution, and more.
- Net Price Calculator
- FAFSA4caster (Expected Family Contribution Calculator)
- Direct Loan Repayment Plan
- Finaid – Savings Plan Designer
- Borrowing Smart Worksheet
Essay Writing
External Support
Here are a few additional resources you might find helpful. Links to websites outside the University of Michigan-Flint do not constitute an endorsement by the University of Michigan-Flint or the Office of Financial Aid of the sites’ sponsors or of the products presented on the sites.
Federal Financial Aid & Related Information
- U.S. Department of Education: News and educational resources, including the full text of many Department of Education publications. The source of federal student financial aid sites.
- Federal Student Aid Debt Resolution Center: Information concerning what you should do if your student loan defaults.
- FSA ID: Gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature.
- Federal Financial Aid Resources: Resource on grants, loans, and work-study. It reviews the programs and how to apply for them.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Under this program, borrowers may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance due on their eligible federal student loans after they have made 120 payments on those loans under certain repayment plans while employed full-time by certain public service employers.
- Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project: This site is a resource for borrowers, their families, and advocates representing student loan borrowers. It is for people who already have student loans and want to know more about their options and rights.
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Forbearance
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services: Information on the general naturalization process.
- US Selective Service System: Students who are required to register with the Selective Services may register online at this site.
Policies
Required Reading
Below you will find the Required Reading document. This document explains how to apply for aid, what types of aid are offered, the terms and conditions of your aid, and more. You must read this document before you receive financial aid.
Michigan Financial Aid Information
- Michigan Education Trust: Detailed information concerning eligibility and application procedures for this prepaid tuition alternative.
- State of Michigan Student Financial Aid: Comprehensive information about state financial aid programs, including the “MI-Search” Scholarship Search Program and Michigan Competitive Scholarship.
Comprehensive Financial Aid Information
- Federal Student Aid: Site provides free information from the US Department of Education on preparing for and funding education beyond high school.
- Access Group: Information on federal and private loans for graduate and professional education. Download the Access Advisor, a free interactive graduate/professional student financial planner.
- Educational Testing Services: Links to financial aid resources on-line for undergraduate, graduate, and minority students, and financial aid publications. Advice on recognizing scholarship scams and reporting them.
- The Princeton Review: Information about financial aid for law school, business school, medical school, graduate school and undergraduate education.
- Paying for College in Michigan: Information from the State of Michigan on various types of aid and aid programs.
Financial Literacy
- MappingYourFuture.org: 12-Step Guide to Financial Success
Scholarship Guides, Sources & Search Services
- AmeriCorps: National service program that provides the opportunity to earn money to help pay for post-secondary education in exchange for a year of community service.
- The Art Deadlines List: Updated monthly with information about juried exhibitions and competitions, call or entries/proposals/papers, poetry and other writing contests, jobs, internships scholarships, residencies, fellowships, casting calls, tryouts, grants, festivals, funding, financial aid, and other opportunities for artists, art educators, and non-art students.
- Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf: Awards scholarships to pre-lingual deaf or hard-of-hearing students who use speech and speech-reading to communicate, and who are attending or have been admitted to a college or university program that primarily enrolls students with normal hearing.
- CareerOneStop: Search more than 7,000 scholarships, fellowships, loans, and other financial aid opportunities.
- FASTWEB: This lets you create a custom profile to match up scholarship opportunities.
- Scholarships, Fellowships, and Post-doctoral Offers for Minorities: Sources of financial aid for African American, Hispanics, Native Alaskans (Eskimos or Aleuts), Native Americans, and Native Pacific Islanders (Polynesians or Micronesians).
- Scholarships, Fellowships, and Postdoctoral Offers: Sources of financial aid for undergraduate and graduate levels.
Student Budgeting Basics
- All About Personal Budgets: Make the most of getting motivated, starting, and sticking with a budget.
- CollegeBoard: Understand all of your options when it comes to paying for college. Get the latest information about college costs, scholarships, financial aid applications, education loans, and college financing.
- Sallie Mae: On-line debt management tools (calculators, worksheets, and budgets), pre-college planning information, and a glossary of financial aid and loan terms.
Student Information System Information
The SIS at UM-Flint is your one-stop for managing your various accounts. SIS is where you can take care of many requirements of your financial aid package, and also track your information. Here is a short list of the items you can check on through SIS:
- Accepting Financial Aid in SIS
- Checking Financial Aid Requirements in SIS
- Tracking Financial Aid Status in SIS
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The University of Michigan-Flint with the FERPA, the Federal law that governs the release of access to student education records.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Additional Information on Student Rights and Responsibilities
Terms & Conditions
Receipt of Additional Assistance
- You cannot receive aid in excess of your assigned budget per institutional policies and federal regulations.
- You MUST notify the Office of Financial Aid in writing of any additional assistance (such as book vouchers, MRS, stipends, outside scholarships, etc.) you receive.
- Financial Aid offers will be reviewed in cases of additional assistance to evaluate if adjustments to aid must be made. Should any change be necessary from the offers you accepted, you will be notified at the earliest possible date.
- Students enrolled at more than one institution CANNOT receive Pell Grant from both institutions.
Use of Funds
- Aid cannot be disbursed any earlier than ten days before the start of a semester.
- You must use funds listed on your Financial Aid Offer Notification only for educationally related expenses incurred at UM-Flint for the academic year for which the funds are offered.
- Financial aid funds are directly applied to tuition, fees, housing, and other charges that may appear on a student’s account. Any additional funds (indicated by a negative balance on SIS) will be released as a refund to students to be used for non-billable educational costs.
- Students are responsible for checking their account balance regularly. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure their prior balance due is paid.
Students Selected for Verification
- Federal regulations governing financial aid programs require some students’ FAFSA information to be verified each year. Additional forms may be requested to complete the verification process and must be submitted immediately.
- Worksheets for Dependent and Independent students are available through the student requirements section on SIS.
- NO federal, state, and some institutional AID is disbursed until all requested documents are received, reviewed, and processed.
- Your Financial Aid Offer letter will state that it is Estimated if selected for verification.
- Once verification is complete, aid will be disbursed; if the EFC changes as a result of verification, there may be a delay in certain types of aid from disbursing. Students will be notified of any changes to their offer amounts.
Previously Received Title IV Federal Aid
Aid recipients must not be in default of any federal educational loans or owe any repayment of federal grants received at post-secondary institutions.
Enrollment Requirements
- Attendance: The Department of Education allows funds to be disbursed to students in good faith that students will begin attending all classes. Students earn their financial aid by beginning attendance, continuing, and successfully completing all coursework. Students failing to begin attendance in all courses will have their aid adjusted.
- Parts of Term: While there may be flexible enrollment deadlines offered by some programs, students should still be fully registered for the entire semester prior to the add/drop deadline. Failure to register by this date can impact financial aid eligibility.
- Repeating Coursework: There are restrictions on the number of times a student may receive financial aid for repeating coursework regardless of financial aid paid for the course. Courses passed once, with a D- or higher, are eligible for financial aid for one retake of the course in which another grade is earned (whether pass or fail). Some courses are excluded from this regulation.
- Enrollment Level: The financial aid budget is based on the enrollment level listed on the Financial Aid Offer letter or in SIS. If enrollment plans change, students should submit a revision form to the Office of Financial Aid Revision Request. This includes enrollment for the Summer semester.
Most types of aid require at least half-time enrollment: Graduate students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 4 credits that count towards their degree to be eligible for graduate-level loans, including Graduate PLUS.
Enrollment Status Table – Fall, Winter, Summer
| Enrollment Status | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| Full Time | 12+ Credits | 8+ Credits |
| ¾ Time | 9-11 Credits | N/A |
| ½ Time | 6-8 Credits | 4-7 Credits |
| <½ Time | 1-5 Credits | 1-3 Credits |
- Pell Grant: Students offered 150% Pell Grant must maintain at least half-time enrollment. If a student withdraws from a semester in which the student receives 150% Pell Grant, the Pell Grant will be recalculated and there is a possibility it will be rescinded even after it has been paid to the student’s account.
- Scholarships: Scholarships have varying enrollment requirements. Students should refer to their congratulatory scholarship letter for specific enrollment requirements.
- Wait-list and Auditing: Courses for which a student is wait-listed or courses elected to audit do not count when determining your level of enrollment. Please note that less than full-time enrollment will result in reduced aid eligibility and may affect your future aid eligibility, as well as your Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Personal Identifiable Information : For your safety and security, PII should never be sent via email nor will UM-Flint request it be sent by email. The most secure methods are hand delivery, regular U.S. Postal Service, or fax directly to the Office of Financial Aid. If you have questions or concerns, please contact our office immediately.
- Withdrawal from the University: If you officially or unofficially withdraw from a semester or stop attending your classes, your aid will require a recalculation. Depending upon when you withdraw, you may be required to repay all or part of the aid you received – including any refunds. You will be sent information on completing loan repayment “exit” counseling.
- Satisfactory Academic Progress: To remain eligible for most financial aid, students must make satisfactory progress toward completing degree requirements.
- Undergraduates with a prior Bachelor’s degree(s): Undergraduates who are returning for a 2nd Bachelor’s degree or Teacher Certification will only be offered loans while pursuing additional majors or Bachelor’s degree(s). This includes students with a double major or dual degree program who have already met the requirements for one of their majors or degrees and are continuing their education toward the additional major or degree.
- Repayment: You agree to repay UM-Flint any financial aid funds disbursed to you in error. If a mistake was made, whether by yourself or a University office or another agency, federal regulations require that the mistake be corrected and funds are billed back as necessary.
- Electronic Communication: UM-Flint Office of Financial Aid uses the UM-Flint email address provided to each student as the primary means of communication. All notifications and disclosures are sent via email. Students who do not wish to use electronic communication must notify the Office of Financial Aid in writing.
- Financial Aid Eligible Courses: All courses must be required for your degree program in order to be eligible for financial aid.
- Combined Bachelor/Master Degree Programs: Students who are enrolled in a combined Bachelor/Master degree program designed to offer both a BA/BS and MA/MS within a specific period of time should consult with the Office of Financial Aid regarding their aid eligibility. Eligibility for undergraduate aid will vary based on enrollment in graduate-level courses. Students should follow the catalog carefully and only register for graduate-level courses that count towards their undergraduate degree while they are still undergraduate student. Graduate-level aid is not available to students until they are considered a graduate student by the Office of the Registrar.
- Consent to Release Information:
- Students authorize UM-Flint to do the following without prior consent:
- Provide my financial aid or academic information in connection with application processing and/or determining offer eligibility to third parties who need this information.
- Provide my Federal Work-Study eligibility and offer amount to off-campus employers for the purpose of determining initial or continued employment.
- Provide my name, major, address, and class year to the UM-Flint Office of Development donors for university advancement and/or stewardship purposes.
- Students authorize UM-Flint to do the following without prior consent: