Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to some frequently asked questions about:
How do I apply for financial aid?
You are encouraged to apply every year for financial assistance. NYU requires the CSS Profile application (for all freshmen applicants to be considered for institutional [non-government] financial aid and for all returning undocumented undergraduate students for scholarship renewal and/or returning undergraduate appeal consideration), the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (for all new freshmen applicants who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible non-citizens to be considered for both federal financial aid and institutional aid; and for all returning undergraduate students who are federally eligible to be considered for scholarship renewal and/or returning undergraduate appeal and federal financial aid), and, for residents of New York State, the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application.
I have deferred my enrollment at NYU. How does this affect my financial aid?
I applied for financial aid. Where is my award?
NYU students who apply for financial aid in accordance with our priority deadlines are evaluated for financial aid and notified about the specific types and amounts of aid offered.
You will be awarded your financial aid online via NYU Albert. An email with the appropriate link will be sent to you once your financial aid award package is available. Information about how to secure your aid will be provided in your financial aid award package and on your To-Do List on Self-Service. All communication regarding your financial aid will be available to you via "self-service" on NYU Albert.
Award schedule:
- New Freshmen: Early April
- Returning Undergraduates: Beginning mid June
- New Graduates: varies by school; generally April/May
- Returning Graduates: mid July
How do I get more financial aid?
Review your FAFSA
Most student aid is based upon financial need, which is determined by the results of your FAFSA. The first step you should take is to ensure that the information you submitted on your FAFSA is correct. If your initial submission contained errors, you should correct your data on the FAFSA website at studentaid.gov. If your original data was correct when first submitted but your financial circumstances have changed since you filed the FAFSA, then, depending upon your situation, you may be eligible for review through a process called Professional Judgment. This process allows a financial aid administrator, under specific circumstances, to review your FAFSA eligibility based on new documentation, which will possibly change your eligibility for federal student aid. To determine if you are eligible, you should contact the Office of Financial Aid and explain the change that occurred. The financial aid administrator will determine if your circumstances can be taken into consideration and will advise you of the next step in the process.
Change in Eligibility Increase
If you have enrolled for additional credit points and your tuition and/or fees have increased, if your housing status has changed (i.e. "off campus" vs. "on campus"), or if your grade level has changed, then your eligibility for federal loans (and possibly other types of student aid) may be reevaluated. Contact the Office of Financial Aid or send an e-mail message to explain your status change at NYU and to request that your aid be reviewed and/or your federal loan amount be increased if you are deemed eligible. If so, we will certify the additional amount(s) and send you a revised financial aid award notification. (Please note that annual and aggregate maximum borrowing limits apply to the Federal Stafford Loan.)
This change may also affect your eligibility for private student loans. Once you have maximized your federal loan eligibility then you may apply for additional private loan amounts to meet the cost of attendance. (See our information about Private Loans.) Once we have received approval from your lender, the Office of Financial Aid will certify the private loan and then notify you accordingly.
Individual Budget Appeal
If you find that your miscellaneous education-related expenses for the academic year (e.g. books and supplies, computer equipment, etc.) will exceed those projected in NYU's estimated budget for your total cost of attendance (see Tuition, Fees, and Expenses), please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
General Scholarship Increase Request
Returning undergraduate students who have completed one full semester as an undergraduate at NYU already, are enrolled full-time in an NYU undergraduate program, have experienced a change in their financial situation, and are not already the recipient of appeal funds for the semester may appeal for additional scholarship funding.
If you are a NYU graduate student, you should consult with the admissions/financial aid representative in your school or program department (see School Financial Aid Contacts).
Conclusion
Regardless of your status, we strongly encourage all students to explore the many private scholarships available.
You also may find NYU Payment Plans to be helpful. Although they are not a form of financial aid, NYU Payment Plans provide a good way to budget and plan your payments for each semester.
How do I receive a scholarship?
What types of financial aid are available to international students attending NYU?
How do I make changes or corrections to my Student Aid Report (SAR)?
View your SAR record and make changes on the FAFSA website.
My parents don't support me and won't contribute to my education, so why am I still considered a "dependent" student?
It's a federal definition.
There are basic requirements a student must meet to be considered an independent student (see The Guide to Federal Student Aid for criteria). If you do not meet these requirements but you still believe you are truly independent of your parents, you may appeal for a "dependency override" with our office. The example below describes the conditions of an acceptable override, but if your situation is different please bring it to our attention for review.
INVOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION OF FAMILY
To demonstrate the "involuntary dissolution" of your family you must present:
- A letter written by you which states that you do not and cannot have contact with your parents and also explains what precipitated the dissolution of the family.
- A letter from a third party (someone not related to you) stating that you do not and cannot have contact with your parents. The letter must be written by someone:
- who is professional (preferably your social worker or case worker, a member of the clergy, or a lawyer who has represented you in legal proceedings), and;
- who has personal, first-hand knowledge of your familial situation.
- A copy of your completed FAFSA, which must be submitted as if you were an independent student.
If you can provide the appropriate documentation, a dependency override will be considered for you and your financial aid award may be changed based upon an independent status. (Note that just because a student is considered "independent" does not necessarily mean a student's aid will increase.)
What academic standards must I maintain at NYU to be eligible for financial aid?
What about student employment? (And what is "Work-Study"?)
My financial aid award was based on anticipated credits and housing status, but my plans have changed. What do I do?
Contact the Office of Financial Aid if any of the conditions of your initial award has changed. Depending on the changes, your aid may or may not be affected, but it is always better to inform the Office of Financial Aid of your plans so adjustments can be made, if necessary, early in the semester. If you fail to inform the Office of Financial Aid, then any discrepancies that exist between your anticipated and actual registered credit points will appear during enrollment audit and adjustments will be made at that time. It is the obligation of the Office of Financial Aid to adjust aid according to University policy and federal regulations.
Why has my citizenship status been requested? What are the citizenship requirements for federal aid?
Students may be required to verify their U.S. citizenship status to confirm eligibility for some federal grant programs, and non-citizens are subject to different regulations which may require supporting documentation, depending upon the type of financial aid sought.
Is it too late to apply for aid now that NYU's priority deadline has passed? Is there any aid I can get while I'm waiting for my federal aid eligibility?
You are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid even if you missed the NYU priority deadline. You may not qualify for the same amounts or types of funds if you did not apply on time. However, there are still alternatives available. For example, you will likely be eligible for some form of federal loan, and possibly federal grants and Federal Work-Study.
I have been asked to provide verification of my financial aid eligibility. What now?
What are your office hours? Do I need to make an appointment to meet with a financial aid counselor?
To best serve as many students as possible, we do not ordinarily schedule individual appointments (although an appointment can be arranged in an emergency). To meet with a financial aid counselor, please visit us any time during office hours.
Fall and Spring Semester
Monday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Thursday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Spring Recess and Summer Hours
Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
See our contact information for additional information, extended hours and special announcements.
Does NYU have ROTC?
NYU offers ROTC to students through a partnership with Fordham University and Manhattan College. Students in Army ROTC will participate in the Fordham University program, while students in Air Force ROTC will participate in the Manhattan College program. All tuition benefits will be applied to your enrollment at NYU. Please contact the program you are interested in for more information:
Fordham University Army ROTC
441 East Fordam Road
Faculty Memorial Hall, Rm 130
Bronx, NY 10458
phone: 718-817-4876
email: rotcroo@fordham.edu
web: www.fordham.edu/info/20280/army_rotc
Air Force ROTC
Manhattan College
AFROTC Detachment 560
3825 Corelear Avenue
Riverdale, NY 10463-2348
phone: 718-862-7201
email: afrotc@manhattan.edu
web: home.manhattan.edu/~afrotc
I have financial aid now, but what about next year? Is it necessary to apply again?
Yes, most students must apply every year to renew their financial aid.
Returning Undergraduates
New York and Shanghai: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible non-citizens must file the FAFSA to determine federal financial aid eligibility each year. No application is needed for scholarship renewal. If you are a New York student who received a TAP Grant, you should also file a TAP application to determine TAP Grant eligibility. The priority filing date is May 1 each year.
Returning Graduate Students
All U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible non-citizens must file the FAFSA to determine federal financial aid eligibility. The priority filing date is May 1 each year. Graduate scholarship renewal requirements vary depending on the school. Please check with your school to determine whether the FAFSA is required or if there are any other specific requirements for scholarship renewal.
More Information for FAFSA Filers
Each year the U.S. Department of Education will send to you a renewal reminder containing important information about your Federal Student Aid ID and the FAFSA application process. If you included a valid email address on your FAFSA last year, you will receive the reminder by email. Otherwise it will be mailed to your permanent address. You will need your FSA ID to access your pre-filled FAFSA on the Web application that contains much of your application data from last year.
Visit the FSA website to verify your existing ID, to request a duplicate if you have forgotten it, or to request a new one if you (and your parents, if applicable) don't have one. You use the same ID each year, so you should have one already if you have filed a FAFSA in the past.
It is possible to submit the FAFSA online without a FSA ID, but you must provide answers to all questions on a new FAFSA and you must print, sign, and mail the signature page after you submit the application, which will slow the process.
Beginning October 1, you may access your FAFSA on the FAFSA website and revise the information to reflect your income for the required year (the FAFSA relies on tax data from two years prior to the applicable academic year), correct other information if it has changed, and then submit the application. Be sure that you specify NYU (federal school code 002785) as the recipient of your information.
You should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within a few weeks after submitting the FAFSA. Call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) if you don't receive it. You may also view your SAR on the FAFSA website and make changes if necessary.
If you apply correctly and on time you can expect your NYU financial aid award notification by mid-June (for returning undergraduates), describing your aid package for the next academic year. Returning undergraduate scholarships should renew at the same amount each year as long as you have met the renewal criteria.
Remember that the FAFSA and all necessary signatures must be received and validated by the processor and released to NYU no later than May 1 (not postmarked May 1), or the department deadline specified by your NYU school, if different. If you delay, a loss of aid could result. Remember, you must apply each year to renew your financial aid. May 1 is the priority deadline for most schools at NYU. Applying late could make you ineligible for certain types of aid, and funds become more limited. If you submitted a FAFSA last year and received an NYU scholarship, you should submit the FAFSA again each year by the NYU deadline to ensure normal processing.
I will graduate at the end of the fall semester. Can I have aid awarded for the following spring semester applied to my fall account?
No.
Most financial aid, such as Federal Direct Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, TAP, Pell Grant, Perkins Loan, and NYU scholarship, is based on full academic year attendance, so if you are enrolled for one semester only, you will be awarded the appropriate portion for which you are eligible.
My grade level will advance in the spring. Will I be eligible for more financial aid once I become a Sophomore/Junior/Senior?
You might be eligible for more Federal Subsidized or Federal Unsubsidized Loans. Once your grades have been posted on the Student Information System after the fall semester, if your grade level has increased from a Freshman level to a Sophomore level (32 points earned), or has changed from the Sophomore level to a Junior level (64 points earned) you may be eligible for more Federal Subsidized Loan or Federal Unsubsidized Loan. If you would like your eligibility for a loan increase to be reviewed, send an email to financial.aid@nyu.edu from your NYU email account with your specific request. If you are eligible, the loan amount will be increased and you will receive a notice to log on the Student Center and accept that amount. A new loan application is not required. Funds will be disbursed to your Bursar account in accordance with federal disbursement schedules. Also, please note that the increase could affect your loan eligibility for the upcoming summer if you plan to attend and receive federal loans in the summer.
I am an Undergraduate student considering an internal transfer to another NYU school in the spring. How will my financial aid be affected?
In most cases the amount of financial aid you receive will not be affected. If your total credit points, your housing status, and your financial aid application information is the same as it was for the fall semester, the amount of financial aid you receive should remain the same.
Please note:
- Departmental scholarships are not transferable to another school.
- School of Professional Studies (SPS) students enrolled full-time in the General Studies Program, Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies, the Hotel and Tourism Management Program, or the Sports Management Program may transfer to another undergraduate school at NYU without affecting their financial aid.
If you are uncertain of your status, send an email to financial.aid@nyu.edu.
How can I consolidate my student loans?
- Go to Helpful Links for information about Loan Consolidation, Loan Deferment, Loan Forgiveness, and Loan Repayment
I will attend NYU in the summer. Is there any student aid available then?
Financial aid eligibility for the summer will depend on your enrollment and whether you are an undergraduate, graduate, or visiting student. For the most up to date information, please choose your student type:
I will enroll in a January Term course. Is financial aid available?
Scholarships - Undergraduate Students: NYU undergraduate students do not need to complete an application for NYU January Term (J-Term) Scholarship. We will review students for a prorated amount of J-Term scholarship based on their Fall/spring scholarship eligibility, enrollment, and demonstrated financial need. Students will be reviewed after they have enrolled in J-Term credits, usually within 7-10 days of registration.
Students who change January term enrollment or who do not attend in January will have their January scholarship adjusted or cancelled.
Scholarships - Graduate Students: Graduate student scholarship eligibility for NYU January Term (J-term) is determined by your school and usually does not require an application. A majority of the graduate schools do not offer J-term scholarships.
If you are eligible for a scholarship and change January term enrollment or do not attend in January, your January scholarship will be adjusted or cancelled.
Federal Aid
Federal financial aid is available for J-term enrollment. Eligibility is based on the combined total of credits between the J-term and the Spring term. For Federal Direct Loans, students must be enrolled at least half time, which is at least 6 credits or have an approved equivalency, between the J-Term and Spring term. For Pell Grants, eligibility is based on a student's FAFSA EFC (Expected Family Contribution from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and enrollment as either a full-time or part-time student.
Students will be reviewed for federal financial aid as long as they have a valid FAFSA on file, are enrolled for an appropriate amount of credits, and are otherwise eligible.
Private Loans
Students needing additional financial aid for January Term will be able to seek out alternative loans. Students seeking alternative loans are encouraged to relay to their potential lender the number of credits they will be taking, as some have minimum enrollment criteria. Private loan eligibility cannot exceed the cost of attendance for January term minus any other aid students may receive for the term. NYU cannot recommend or endorse any particular private lender. Students are encouraged to research their options carefully.
Visiting Non-NYU Students
If you are a visiting non-NYU student, NYU grants/scholarships are not available to you for the January Term. However, visiting non-NYU students currently receiving federal financial aid at their home school may be able to apply a portion of it to their attendance at NYU by implementing a Consortium Agreement. Please consult with the financial aid office at your home school to determine if you can complete a Consortium Agreement for New York University.
In addition, visiting non-NYU students who are receiving institutional scholarship or grant funds from their home school while attending January Term at NYU must notify New York University.
Visiting non-NYU students may apply for a private (non-federal) alternative loan for the January Term.
Visiting non-NYU students will receive further information and instructions upon registration for January Term at NYU.
Can I get financial aid if I am enrolled less than half-time?
In order to become eligible for any federal aid, you must be enrolled at least half-time. University policy describes half-time as at least 6 units, and full time as 12 or more units per academic semester. Graduate students who do not meet the minimum credit unit requirement may have the opportunity to apply for an equivalency within their respective departments.
Graduate students should contact their academic department to determine eligibility.
What is an "Equivalency"?
An equivalency allows graduate students who are enrolled less than half-time to be considered eligible for federal aid in the form of loans and work study. Students should be aware that equivalencies do not override a department minimum credit requirement to maintain any institutional aid or scholarship, nor does it qualify students to receive additional financial aid as it is based on actual credit enrollment. Graduate students should contact their academic department to determine eligibility. If eligible, your account will be updated by your department for the Office of Financial Aid to view. Undergraduate students are NOT eligible to apply for an equivalency.
I am a newly admitted student. Can I appeal for additional scholarship?
The Office of Financial Aid considers each student’s record carefully, and with each, NYU has offered the best package that we can in the initial financial aid award based on academic strength, an emphasis on financial need, and our resources. Beyond that, there is not an additional appeal process for new students, although if the financial situation has changed dramatically since the time the financial aid application was submitted (such as a parent or independent student becoming unemployed) we can review the situation on a case by case basis to determine if any financial aid can be adjusted. If this is the case, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
I am a returning student and my financial situation has changed. Can I appeal for additional scholarship?
The Office of Financial Aid awards the best possible financial aid package on the basis of demonstrated need within the parameters of existing policies, federal regulations, and availability of funds. However, we understand that an individual’s or family’s financial situation may change unexpectedly. If you have experienced extenuating circumstances that are affecting your ability to contribute toward your educational costs, you may submit a financial aid appeal. To submit an appeal, you must be a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student in good standing who will not be in your first semester for the term in which you are asking to be reviewed. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, please review Appeal for Returning Undergraduates.
How do I submit an appeal request?
If you are eligible to be reviewed for appeal scholarship, you will be able to access the form in your Albert Student Center under the Finances tab.
I have submitted an appeal form. Now what?
Once you have submitted your appeal request, you will receive a confirmation email at your NYU email address confirming that the request has been received. The Office of Financial Aid will review appeal requests four times a year, generally in September, December, March and July. Once you have submitted the form, it will be reviewed during the next review period. The confirmation email should specify when you will be notified of the appeal decision. Anyone who has submitted an appeal request will receive an email once the review is complete to let them know if their request has been granted.
I was granted an appeal scholarship this year, can I appeal again?
If you have already received an appeal, you are not eligible for a second appeal within the same term, however, you may appeal in any subsequent term in which you are still eligible.
I have never applied for financial aid before. Will this prevent me from being considered for an appeal scholarship?
Most returning undergraduates who are full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students in good standing who will not be in their first semester for the term in which they are asking to be reviewed are eligible to submit an appeal request regardless of whether they have applied for financial aid before.
While not required, it is recommended that you submit a current academic year financial aid application to give the Office of Financial Aid a better understanding of your financial need. For U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible non-citizens (i.e. refugees), the application is the FAFSA, while for international and undocumented students it is the CSS Profile.
Are there any other options for additional financial aid beyond submitting an appeal request?
There are certain circumstances that may warrant a professional judgment review from the Office of Financial Aid including a change in household such as divorce or death of a parent, job loss, loss of untaxed income, natural disasters, and medical expenses. If you have experienced one of these circumstances or another circumstance that you would like to discuss, please reach out to the Office of Financial Aid to speak with a Financial Aid Counselor.
We also encourage you to use NYU's Every Day Financial Education Resource, iGrad. While this is not financial aid itself, the site provides many comprehensive planning tools, financial guidance and planning strategies for all students and their families. We welcome you to use NYU's iGrad platform now and as a long term resource.
Finally, you may also be eligible for a private scholarship or grant from an outside organization or agency. Some sources to explore are employers, unions, professional organizations, and community and special interest groups. The Office of Financial Aid website has a list of scholarship search services that may be helpful to you, as well as providing you with free access to the scholarship search app ‘Scholly’.
FAFSA Verification
Applicants for federal student aid may be required to provide appropriate tax records if they are selected by the U.S. Department of Education for income and asset verification. You will be notified if this is necessary. The verification process may result in an adjustment to your financial aid award; verification can occur at any time throughout the year. If you do not provide tax documents when requested, your financial aid may be revoked.
Do I really need to respond to a verification request?
The U.S. Department of Education requires that you comply with our requests for financial information. If you do not complete and return all the requested information within the designated time frame, the NYU Office of Financial Aid (OFA) is required to cancel your financial aid. Completion of verification is necessary to remain eligible for both federal aid and also for most types of NYU scholarships.
I have been selected, but I cannot access my verification portal. What should I do?
Firefox and Chrome are the recommended browsers for using the verification portal. Make sure your pop-up blocker is turned off when navigating to nyu.studentforms.com. When you are creating your account for the first time it is important that you make sure that your first and last name, date of birth, and social security number that you enter match the information that you provided on your FAFSA. You will login using your Net ID and NYU password.
What should I do if I, or my parent, is locked out of my verification portal?
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (212) 998-4444 or by email at financial.aid@nyu.edu and a Financial Aid Counselor will be happy to assist you in unlocking your portal.
What if my parent’s confirmation email link has expired?
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (212) 998-4444 or by email at financial.aid@nyu.edu and a Financial Aid Counselor will be happy to assist you in re-sending the parent email.
How do I send you the information?
All of your verification documents can be submitted securely online at nyu.studentforms.com from your phone, tablet, or computer. Be sure that all forms are complete and that you have included all requested information and documents.You will be asked to e-sign your verification form, and if you are a dependent student, your parent will also need to sign. From the verification portal, dependent students are able to send a link to their parent to request their e-signature.
If you are unable to upload your documents to the verification portal, you may bring them into one of our NYU StudentLink Centers for assistance in scanning them in:
Manhattan:
StudentLink Center
New York University
383 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003-7011
Brooklyn:
StudentLink Center
5 Metrotech Center
Dibner Hall, Rm 201
Brooklyn, NY 11201-2772
Can I provide additional information if I think that clarification is needed?
Do not send any additional information unless it is specifically requested of you. Our office will not review additional information that has not been explicitly requested.
Why do I need to give you this information? Isn't it on the FAFSA Form?
The U.S. Department of Education requires that NYU verify the FAFSA applications that are selected by the federal processor. Students and families must provide the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) with the financial information necessary to complete the verification.
The purpose of the process is to allow the OFA to collect the documents necessary to verify that the information reported on the FAFSA is correct. If any information is incorrect, the OFA must make corrections and submit the corrections to the Department of Education for reprocessing.
You and your family agreed to provide financial information when you completed the FAFSA. Everyone who signs the FAFSA agrees to "If asked, provide information that will verify the accuracy of your completed form."
Will my information be kept confidential?
Yes, all of your financial information will be kept confidential. However, parents of dependent students are able to access and view the information that you have submitted via the verification portal. Parents of independent students are not able to access the verification portal unless access is provided by the student. If after our review it is deterimined that corrections are necessary, the Office of Financial Aid will transmit them electronically to the U.S. Department of Education.
How long do I have to respond?
You must complete all forms and submit them through the verification portal by the stated deadline. All deadlines will be communicated to you via email from the NYU Office of Financial Aid.
Do you really need a tax return transcript?
Some students will be required to submit a tax return transcript. While most students who utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when submitting their FAFSA will not need to submit a tax return transcript, there may be some instances when additional information is needed and the tax return transcript will be requested. We do not need copies of state income tax returns.
I just completed the verification for last year. Why am I selected for verification again?
The main reasons for being selected for verification include:
- That you were chosen randomly
- The FAFSA you submitted may have been incomplete
- Your FAFSA contains estimated information
- The data you provided on the FAFSA was inconsistent. Verification is a federal regulation.
Students who are selected for verification are not being punished; rather, verification prevents ineligible students from receiving aid by reporting false information and ensures that eligible students receive all of the aid for which they are qualified.
What if I (or my parents) don't have a copy of the federal tax return transcript and/or W-2s?
If you are asked to provide a tax return transcript or copies of your W-2s, you must immediately request copies of your W-2s from your employers (who are required by law to provide an additional copy) and/or request your tax return transcript online. If there is any reason that you cannot obtain these items, you should reach out to the Office of Financial Aid right away so that a Financial Aid Counselor can assist you.
What if my parents don't want to give me a copy of their federal income tax return transcripts?
Your parents may submit a copy of their federal tax return transcript directly to the Office of Financial Aid by logging into the verification portal. Once you have requested their e-signature, they will receive an email letting them know how they can log in.
Once I've submitted all the requested items in my verification portal, I'm done, right?
Not necessarily. After reviewing the documents you submitted we may need to request additional information and/or documentation to resolve any discrepancies. You must respond to these requests for additional information within two weeks. If additional documentation is requested of you, you will be notified through your NYU email address that you need to log back into the verification portal to view your task list.
What if I (or my parents) have applied for an extension to file our tax return?
Because the FAFSA is based on financial information from two years prior, most students and families will have completed their tax returns. However, if you were approved for an extension that has not expired, you should reach out to the Office of Financial Aid to speak with a Financial Aid Counselor. As soon as the extension expires you (and/or your parents) must immediately request a copy of the tax return transcript and submit that to our office. Because extensions generally expire on October 15, you will be expected to respond with your tax transcript no later than October 31.
What if I didn't file a federal tax return?
If federal regulations did not require that you (or your parents) file a return, simply indicate that you did not file on the verification web form within the verification portal. If you earned income but were not required to file, you may be asked for copies of your W-2s. Please check your verification portal for all requested documentation.
If you (or your parents) were required to file a federal tax return but did not, you must file immediately before you can proceed with your verification. Failure to comply with federal tax law will force the Office of Financial Aid to cancel your financial aid.
How long will the review take?
Typically, documents are reviewed within a few business days of receipt. However, the OFA may request additional documents and/or information. You must respond to these additional requests within two weeks.
Can I make changes once I have submitted documents?
Once verification documents have been submitted through the verification portal, you will not be able to make any changes to the information that you have provided. If you believe that you need to make a change, please reach out to the Office of Financial Aid to speak with a Financial Aid Counselor who will be able to help you determine if a change is needed.
Will I be able to view the documents that you have received?
You may log into your verification portal to view all submitted documents.
Will my financial aid be affected?
It is possible that some or all of your student aid will be affected. Need-based federal aid (Pell Grant, TEACH Grant, Subsidized Loan, and Work Study) is most likely to be affected. If you under-reported your income or assets on the FAFSA, the above awards may be reduced or canceled. Other financial aid, such as NYU scholarships could also be affected.
How do I know who to include in my household on the verification web form?
Most of the time — but not always — the people listed as exemptions on your federal income tax return (or your parent's, if you are a dependent student) qualify as members of the household.
For dependent students:
The student and the parents with whom they reside always count as members of the household. Brothers and sisters of the student also count, if the parents provide more than 50% of their support (though they may not necessarily live with your parents). Other people count as part of the household if they lived with the student's parents last year, will continue to do so from July 1 this year to June 30 next year, and will receive more than 50% of their support from the student's parents.
For independent students:
The student and their spouse (as long as they are not separated or divorced) always count as members of the household. Other people count as part of the student's household if they lived with the student last year, will continue to do so from July 1 this year to June 30 next year, and will receive more than 50% of their support from the student and/or the student's spouse.
My parents are divorced. Whose information do I include?
You should include the information for the parent with whom you lived for most of the year, which should be the parent whose information was reported on your FAFSA. This is typically the custodial parent. If your custodial parent has remarried you must also include the financial information for the new spouse. If your non-custodial parent contributed money to you (for your education or otherwise), outside of court mandated child support, it must be included as your (you, the student) other untaxed income. If the non-custodial parent does not provide any financial support to you at all, then they are excluded from the FAFSA data.
I am an independent student (as defined on the FAFSA) and someone other than a spouse provides support for me. Do I include that on the FAFSA?
Include the information only if they provide money to you as support. If they are providing "support in kind" (i.e. housing or food) then it does not need to be included.
Am I required to submit my stepfather's (or stepmother's) information for the verification? What if they don't support me financially?
Yes, you must include your stepparent's information on the verification forms and submit copies of their federal income tax return transcript for the requested tax year. If your step-parent does not file taxes but did earn income then you must provide copies of their W-2s. The U.S. Department of Education requires that you submit all requested information for the parent(s) with whom you live and also anyone married to the parent with whom you live. You must comply with the Office of Financial Aid's requests whether or not the stepparent provides any financial support.
What if a prenuptial agreement states that my stepfather (or stepmother) is not required to support me financially and/or contribute to my college education?
You must still submit that stepparent's financial information. Neither pre-nuptial agreements nor any other sort of legal agreement release a stepparent from the obligation to provide financial information necessary to complete verification. Of course, simply submitting information for verification in no way obliges your stepparent to support you or to pay for your education. They are simply providing information that will be used to determine your financial need.
What if my parents don't support me?
If, according to federal guidelines, you are a dependent student, your parents must submit any and all financial information requested by the Office of Financial Aid, regardless of whether or not they support you or intend to continue supporting you.
There are basic requirements a student must meet to be considered an independent student (see The Guide to Federal Student Aid for criteria). If you do not meet these requirements but you still believe you are truly independent of your parents, you may appeal for a "dependency override" with our office. The example below describes the conditions of an acceptable override, but if your situation is different please bring it to our attention for review.
INVOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION OF FAMILY
To demonstrate the "involuntary dissolution" of your family you must present:
- A letter written by you which states that you do not and cannot have contact with your parents and also explains what precipitated the dissolution of the family.
- A letter from a third party (someone not related to you) stating that you do not and cannot have contact with your parents. The letter must be written by someone:
- who is professional (preferably your social worker or case worker, a member of the clergy, or a lawyer who has been represented you in legal proceedings), and;
- who has personal, first-hand knowledge of your familial situation.
- A copy of your completed FAFSA, which must be submitted as if you were an independent student.
If you can provide the appropriate documentation, a dependency override will be considered for you and your financial aid award may be changed based upon an independent status.
Please note: just because a student is considered "independent" does not necessarily mean a student's aid will increase.
What if I need help completing the verification forms?
You may contact us by telephone at 212-998-4444, or by e-mail at financial.aid@nyu.edu. You may visit us in person between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the StudentLink Center at 383 Lafayette Street in Manhattan or 5 Metrotech Center, Rm 201 in Dibner Hall in Brooklyn.
My parent works for the UN and isn't required to file taxes in the US or another country. Do I still have to complete Verification?
Yes. Although UN employees are not required to pay taxes on their salaries, they ARE required to report their income as income from work on the FAFSA like any other student aid applicant. The requirement to file taxes and the requirement to report income are two completely different things, and the FAFSA collects information on all types of income, both taxed and untaxed. Your parent(s) will need to provide the OFA with a letter from their employer stating their annual salary for the verification year to document the income.
Do I need to provide tax documentation for my CSS Profile application?
NYU only verifies the CSS Profile for a small percentage of new freshmen applicants. If you are selected for verification, you will be notified and you should not submit documentation unless we have specifically indicated you are selected for verification.
I was selected for CSS Profile Verification. What should I do?
If you were selected for CSS Profile Verification, the required documentation and information on how to submit it to us is available here.
How do I apply for a loan?
- Go to Securing Federal Loans
I received a Sub/Unsub loan/PLUS Loan that I do not want. Do I have to sign the Promissory Note(s) for these loans?
If you were offered ANY aid you do not wish to use, please ‘decline’ the aid on NYU Albert. This will remove the item from your ‘To Do’ List.
If you have received a loan promissory note, and you do not wish to use the loan, you DO NOT have to sign the promissory note. Please disregard the loans promissory notes.
I just accepted my Direct Loan(s), but now I want to change the amount. How can I make changes to my loan amounts?
Once you have accepted your Direct Loan amounts on NYU Albert you cannot make further changes online. Please notify us to make adjustments to your awards:
- Email to the Office of Financial Aid at financial.aid@nyu.edu
- College of Dentistry students: email to dental.financial.aid@nyu.edu
- School of Medicine students: email to laverne.walker@nyumc.org
- Graduate Stern School of Business: email to fin-aid@stern.nyu.edu
- School of Law students: email to law.finaid@nyu.edu
Upon receipt of your request a Financial Aid Counselor will update your loan.
I have just been offered an increase or an additional Federal Direct Loan on my award letter. Do I have to complete all of the steps again?
Each loan type (undergraduate/graduate Federal Direct Loan, Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan and Graduate PLUS Loan) requires its own Master Promissory Note, or MPN, and Entrance Counseling (except Parent PLUS). So, if your increase is to an existing loan type you do NOT need to complete the MPN and Entrance Counseling again. However, you will still need to accept your increase on NYU Albert. If your increase or additional loan is a loan type you were not previously awarded, you WILL need to complete the MPN and Entrance Counseling (except Parent PLUS) in addition to accepting it on NYU Albert.
How/when do my Direct Loans get posted to my tuition account?
Once you accept your loans on NYU Albert, sign your MPN, and complete Entrance Counseling, credit is then posted to your account. The credit is provisional and does not change to real credit until 10 days before the start of the loan period.
What if I want to return some loan funds after I have received a disbursement from Direct Loans?
Within 120 Days of Disbursement:
You have the right to cancel all or part of any disbursement of a Federal Direct Loan without being charged interest and other loan fees as long as the cancellation is processed within 120 days of the original disbursement date. The disbursement date is the date the funds were applied to your NYU Bursar bill during any given semester.
To request a cancellation, you must make your request through the NYU Bursar’s Office by completing a Request to Return Loan Funds Form and submitting it to the Bursar as instructed on the form.
More Than 120 Days After Disbursement:
If you wish to cancel all or part of any disbursement of your loan more than 120 days after it was disbursed, you are actually repaying part of your loan and you must pay any accrued interest and/or fees. You cannot cancel your loan, but you can make a payment directly to your federal loan servicer. Borrowers are assigned to one of the five servicers, which include ACS, Great Lakes, NelNet, PHEAA, and Sallie Mae. If you are not sure which of the five centers is your assigned servicer, visit and log into the federal government’s National Student Loan Data System to determine your servicer. You may also call 1-800-4-FED-AID to locate your servicer.
How can I reduce my federal loans?
If you have completed the acceptance process for a Federal Direct Loan and/or a Federal Direct PLUS Loan but no longer want to borrow the full amount, contact the Office of Financial Aid as soon as possible to authorize a reduction.
Once you have accepted your Direct Loan amounts on NYU Albert you cannot make further changes online. Please notify us to make adjustments to your awards:
- Email to the Office of Financial Aid at financial.aid@nyu.edu
- College of Dentistry students: email to dental.financial.aid@nyu.edu
- School of Medicine students: email to laverne.walker@nyumc.org
- Graduate Stern School of Business: email to fin-aid@stern.nyu.edu
- School of Law students: email to law.finaid@nyu.edu
Upon receipt of your request (typically within 3 weeks) a Financial Aid Counselor will update your loan.
I completed my Subsidized/Unsubsidized Master Promissory Note (MPN) on studentloans.gov. Why is it still requested on my Albert To Do list?
Usually, this occurs when the subsidized and/or unsubsidized loans have not yet originated. Origination means that your loan data is being sent to the Department of Education for processing. The checklist item for the MPN will not update to a received status until the loan(s) successfully originate.
When can I expect my Direct Loan refund?
Loan refunds are administered through the Office of the Bursar, and there are important elements to consider if you are anticipating a credit balance. For example, because your loans can not be released to NYU before your designated disbursement date, and because once they are disbursed certain basic enrollment criteria must first be verified (e.g. you normally must be enrolled for at least 6 points) before the loan amount is applied to your account balance, a refund resulting from your student loan will usually not be confirmed and processed until a few days after your disbursement date.
I received a refund from my Subsidized/Unsubsidized loan. Can I return the refund check if I do not need the funds?
Yes, please see the FAQ above regarding parent borrowers returning refunds from a Parent PLUS Loan. The same rules apply to your Subsidized/Unsubsidized loan.
My student application for a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan has been denied. What now?
- If you are not initially approved for a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan, you will receive an endorser packet directly from the U.S. Department of Education. This packet explains that a PLUS Loan may still be acquired if someone else with an acceptable credit rating -- such as your spouse, a relative, or friend -- agrees to endorse or cosign the loan. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for further instructions.
- Please note that if you receive the Federal Direct PLUS Loan based on a credit-worthy endorser, the PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) that you have completed will expire with that endorsed loan. A new PLUS MPN will be required for any subsequent PLUS Loan for which you apply. You will be required to sign a new MPN. See Denial of Federal Loans.
- Graduate students who are originally credit denied for a Direct PLUS Loan, but have obtained approval by appeal or endorser, are required to complete a PLUS Credit Counseling session. The federal Department of Education will contact the borrower in these cases and direct them to studentloans.gov to complete PLUS Credit Counseling. Your PLUS Loan cannot disburse to your Bursar bill until you have completed the PLUS Credit Counseling. PLUS Credit Counseling must be completed for each loan that was originally credit denied and have since been approved by appeal or endorser, even if the borrower has completed the counseling for a previous loan.
- The U.S. Department of Education does not inform the NYU Office of Financial Aid about the specific reason for the denial of a Federal PLUS Loan. If you feel that there are extenuating circumstances and you wish to appeal the credit denial, you must contact the Direct Loan Origination Center toll-free at 1-800-557-7394.
I am a transfer student and I completed my Subsidized/Unsubsidized MPN for my previous school. Do I have to do a new one for NYU?
No, your completed Subsidized/Unsubsidized MPN can be used for your loans at NYU, provided they are still valid and in an active status.
I am a transfer student and I completed my Undergraduate Entrance Counseling for my previous school. Do I have to do a new one for NYU?
No, your completed Undergraduate Entrance Counseling session can be used for your loans at NYU. However, you must contact NYU’s Office of Financial Aid to let us know. Otherwise, we would not know that you ever completed one in the past and your Entrance Counseling checklist item on your Albert To Do list would stay in a requested status. Once we confirm that a counseling session was completed previously we will update your NYU records.
How does my parent borrower apply for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan?
You, the student, must start the process by accepting the offered Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan on your Albert account. You can do so by logging in to Albert and then clicking on the Accept/Decline Financial Aid link and following the instructions.
Your parent borrower will be asked to complete the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Request and Master Promissory Note by visiting the Direct Loan Web site at studentaid.gov. They must sign in using the same Federal Student Aid ID that was assigned to them to access your FAFSA. If they do not remember their ID, they may request a duplicate on the FSA website.
The U.S. Department of Education will conduct a credit check that is valid for only 90 days. Your parent borrower should not apply more than 90 days before the start of fall semester to avoid credit expiration.
Shortly after the PLUS Loan originates to the Department of Education, an email from the NYU Office of Financial Aid will be sent to the parent borrower (only if the PLUS Loan was credit approved). The approved parent must complete the PLUS Loan process by logging in to the NYU Student System as instructed in this email and by providing the dollar amount of the Parent PLUS Loan that is desired and the parent must actively accept the PLUS Loan on the same page.
My parent's application for a Federal PLUS Loan has been denied. What now?
- If the parent borrower is not initially approved for a Federal PLUS Loan, they will receive an endorser packet directly from the U.S. Department of Education. This packet explains that a PLUS Loan may still be acquired if someone else with an acceptable credit rating -- such as the parent applicant's spouse, a relative, or friend -- agrees to endorse or cosign the loan. Contact Direct Loans Applicant Services at 1-800-557-7394 for additional instructions for endorsers.
- Parents also have the option to appeal the Department of Education’s PLUS denial. For instructions on how to appeal, please contact the Department of Education’s Applicant Services at 1-800-557-7394.
- Please note that if the parent borrower receives the Federal PLUS Loan based on a credit-worthy endorser, the PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) that the parent completed will expire with that endorsed loan. A new PLUS MPN will be required for any subsequent PLUS Loan for which the parent applies. You will be rqeuired to sign a new MPN. See Denial of Federal Loans.
- Parent borrowers who are originally credit denied for a Direct PLUS Loan, but have obtained approval by appeal or endorser, are required to complete a PLUS Credit Counseling session. The federal Department of Education will contact the borrower in these cases and direct them to studentloans.gov to complete PLUS Credit Counseling. Your PLUS Loan cannot disburse to your Bursar bill until you have completed the PLUS Credit Counseling. PLUS Credit Counseling must be completed for each loan that was originally credit denied and have since been approved by appeal or endorser, even if the borrower has completed the counseling for a previous loan.
- The U.S. Department of Education does not inform the NYU Office of Financial Aid about the specific reason for the denial of a Federal PLUS Loan. To appeal for reconsideration, contact the Direct Loan Origination Center toll-free at 1-800-557-7394.
- In the event a denial is final, the student may contact the Office of Financial Aid to request consideration for an additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Freshman and Sophomores may be eligible for a maximum of $4,000 in additional funds, and Juniors and Seniors may be eligible for a maximum of $5,000 in additional funds. Please note: if at a later time during the academic year a parent becomes eligible or is approved with a co-signor for a Parent PLUS loan, the additional Unsubsidized Loan will be canceled.
How long do federal Direct PLUS Loan credit decisions remain valid?
Credit approval is valid for 180 days. Your credit is evaluated by Direct Loans every time you request a new loan unless you have had a credit decision within the preceding 180 days.
Who completes the Master Promissory Note for my parent borrower's endorsed (co-signed) Parent PLUS Loan -- my parent or the endorser?
Even if your parent borrower has had to obtain an endorser for their Federal Direct PLUS Loan, they are still the borrower on the loan. Therefore, the parent borrower must complete the MPN.
My parent borrower was approved for a Parent PLUS Loan by completing the PLUS Loan Request on studentloans.gov. Why did they receive an email from the Office of Financial Aid asking them to complete a PLUS Loan confirmation process?
Federal regulations require a parent borrower to actively accept each Parent PLUS Loan and indicate the final amount they wish to accept for each loan. The email with instructions on completing the final PLUS Loan confirmation is sent to the parent borrower after the loan has been originated and we are in receipt of the approved credit decision. This is your parent borrower’s opportunity to accept the loan for the amount that was originated or reduce the amount if they do not need the entire loan.
For subsequent PLUS Loans in your undergraduate career, your parent borrower may not be required to complete a new PLUS Loan Request on studentaid.gov, but they will be required to complete the final PLUS Loan confirmation process through our site.
Does my parent borrower have to complete a new Federal Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note if . . .
. . . they already did one for a previous school?
No, if your parent borrower has already completed a PLUS Loan MPN for any school (without an endorser) they do not have to complete a new one.
. . . they already did one for my PLUS loan from last year?
No, if your parent borrower was credit approved on their own for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan in a previous semester or year they do not have to complete a new one.
. . . their previous PLUS Loan was approved with an endorser (co-signer)?
Yes, if their previous PLUS Loan required an endorser for credit approval they must complete a new Master Promissory Note for the next PLUS Loan. This is because each endorsed (co-signed) Parent PLUS Loan must have its own MPN – the MPN for an endorsed loan cannot be used for any subsequent loan.
My parent borrower received a refund from the Parent PLUS Loan. Can they return the refund check if they do not need the funds?
Yes. Parent borrowers have the right to cancel all or part of any disbursement of a federal Parent PLUS Loan without being charged interest and other loan fees as long as the cancellation is processed within 120 days of the original disbursement date. The disbursement date is the date the funds were applied to your NYU Bursar bill during any given semester.
To request a cancellation, they must make the request through the NYU Bursar’s Office by completing a Request to Return Loan Funds Form and submitting it to the Bursar as instructed on the form.
If they wish to cancel all or part of any disbursement of their loan more than 120 days after it was disbursed, they are actually repaying part of their loan and they must pay any accrued interest and/or fees. They cannot cancel their loan, but they can make a payment directly to your federal loan servicer. Borrowers are assigned to one of the five servicers, which include ACS, Great Lakes, NelNet, PHEAA, and Sallie Mae. If they are not sure which of the five centers is their assigned servicer, visit and log into the federal government’s National Student Loan Data System to determine their servicer. They may also call 1-800-4-FED-AID to locate your servicer.
What are alternative loans, and why would I apply for such a loan?
What is a guarantee agency?
A guarantee agency protects student loans against default. The lender collects a default fee (commonly 1 percent) from each loan it disburses and pays it to the designated guarantee agency to insure the loan. (Some guarantors may waive or reduce the fee, depending on their reserve fund.) If a borrower defaults, the guarantee agency reimburses the lender for the balance remaining on the loan.
What is the New York State Higher Services Corporation (HESC)?
HESC is a guarantee agency for federal student loans and New York State student aid.
Do I need to be a New York State Resident to go through HESC?
No. If you are attending a school in New York State and meet the eligibility criteria for a Federal Stafford Loan or Federal PLUS Loan, you may go through HESC by borrowing from a HESC-registered lender.
Which lenders are registered with HESC?
HESC works with most major Federal Stafford Loan and Federal PLUS Loan lenders. You can go to the "Paying For College" area at hesc.ny.gov for a directory of all HESC-registered lenders (there are more than 100).
Am I required to go through HESC for my Stafford or PLUS loan?
No. You may elect to borrow your federal loan from a lender registered with another guarantee agency. You have the right to borrow through any guarantor you choose.
If you wish to borrow from a lender registered with HESC, you should complete the NYU certified loan application (called the Master Promissory Note, or simply the MPN) online on the HESC web site at hesc.ny.gov.
If you choose to borrow through another guarantee agency, please contact the Office of Financial Aid, identify the guarantor that you prefer, and we will provide you with further instructions.
I have an enrollment mismatch hold, what is that?
The "Enrollment Mismatch" hold occurs when you are registered for a differed number of credits then your aid is based on. You must be registered for the minimum number of credits we anticipated on your financial aid award for your aid to both be credited as anticipated aid and disburse to your e-Bill. If you intend to register for fewer credits than we anticipated, please update your enrollment in your Albert Student Center so that financial aid adjustments can be made (if necessary) to your aid eligibility. Please note there are minimum enrollment requirements for items such as federal loans, Pell Grant, and NYU Scholarship if these are offered to you. Please be aware of this when making adjustments to your enrollment.
What is the cost of attendance at NYU?
- Go to Tuition and Other Costs
Who do I speak to about a question or problem with my bill?
Billing transactions and associated student account issues are administered by the NYU Office of the Bursar.
See also NYU Albert to view your billing information record, including financial aid credits.
If some financial aid items are not listed on your bill, please make sure you do not have any ‘holds’ listed on your account and you are registered for the appropriate number of credits Financial Aid has anticipated for you. Also, please be sure you have accepted the item you wanted on Albert, completed all the necessary paperwork and allow 3-5 business days for this to reflect on your Bursar account.
Keep in mind that you will not receive an updated bill until your scheduled billing date. However, current changes and adjustments are visible on NYU Albert.
It is important to note that in some cases the student aid information initially shown on Albert may not exactly match the official Financial Aid Awards you subsequently receive.
Why hasn't financial aid been credited on my Bursar bill?
If no student aid of any kind has been deducted from your bill, chances are you did not submit the required financial aid applications, or, if you did, you may have applied later than NYU's priority deadline (see sidebar above right), which may have affected your aid eligibility. If you have already applied and received your Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processors, in most cases you should have received a notice from us to view your financial aid award on NYU Albert. Verify on NYU Albert that your FAFSA data has been "received" by us (it will be listed in your "To Do" list as received if it is truly received by NYU).
If your FAFSA information was received by NYU more than 3 weeks ago and you have not received a financial aid award, you should first refer to NYU Albert to see if there are any "holds" on your account. A hold on your account may delay your financial aid awards. If there is a hold, please rectify that situation. The delay could be caused by circumstances concerning your aid eligibility. For example, you may not be meeting the satisfactory academic progress standards required to maintain student aid, or further documents may be required from you before we are able to process your award. If there are no holds, and if your award still seems delayed, then contact the Office of Financial Aid. Our counselors can discuss details with you and estimate when you can expect an award.
I haven't yet applied, but my bill is due soon. I know processing takes several weeks from start to finish. Is there any type of interim aid I can have while I wait?
There is no interim aid. Students often ask if they can take out private, non-federal loans while they wait for their financial aid application to be processed and their federal loans to be disbursed. Students are discouraged from pursuing this because it also takes a few weeks to receive alternative loans, and if you take out alternative loans in advance of your federal loans, you may inadvertently take out too much private loan, which you would then have to return. This can be costly. Or, if you didn't want to return the private loan funds your federal aid eligibility could be adversely affected. The best strategy is to apply for financial aid as soon as possible, and, in the interim, work out a payment plan with the Bursar. If you're eligible for financial aid and you've already made a payment to the Bursar, you will be refunded the amount of overpayment.
When can I expect my loan refund?
Loan refunds are administered through the NYU Office of the Bursar, and there are important elements to consider if you are anticipating a credit balance. For example, because your loans can not be released to NYU before your designated disbursement date, and because once they are disbursed certain basic enrollment criteria must first be verified (e.g. you normally must be enrolled for at least 6 points) before the loan amount is applied to your account balance, a refund resulting from your student loan will usually not be confirmed and processed until a few days after your disbursement date.
There is some financial aid credited on my bill this semester, but I was also expecting other credits. What happened to my TAP Grant?
If you are a New York State resident, submitted a FAFSA, and applied for TAP using either TAP on the Web or a printed Express TAP Application (ETA), you should have received a TAP award certificate from the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Contact HESC at 1-888-NYS-HESC (1-888-697-4372) if more than a few weeks have passed without notification after submitting the FAFSA.
HESC will also advise the NYU Office of the Bursar about your eligibility. If you have received your TAP award certificate but credit has not yet been applied to your bill, write a note on the bill and pay the appropriate remaining balance.
There is some financial aid credited on my bill this semester, but I was also expecting other credits. What happened to my Pell Grant?
To be eligible for a Pell Grant you must be an undergraduate, have not earned a prior degree, and have an Estimated Family Contribution (as calculated by the government) of $5,273 or less. If you were eligible for Pell last year, you may not be eligible this year — it can vary depending upon your family and your resources. If you think you are Pell eligible and you subsequently received a request from NYU for documents to verify your FAFSA data, your Pell Grant may not be applied to your bill until the verification review is complete. Use NYU Albert to see if you have any outstanding document requests (please check the To Do list).
Also, if you changed your Student Aid Report (SAR) to update any information the changes could have affected your Pell eligibility.
There is some financial aid credited on my bill this semester, but I was also expecting other credits. What happened to my scholarship?
If you filed a FAFSA last year and received a scholarship, but didn't submit the FAFSA again this year, your scholarship amount could be affected. Most scholarships at NYU are based on a combination of need and merit. Review the letter that you received from our office when you were initially awarded. If you have not already submitted the FAFSA and you need to, do so right away. Depending on the availability of funding, late filers may not get their full scholarship.
There is some financial aid credited on my bill this semester, but I was also expecting other credits. What happened to my Federal Stafford Loan and/or Federal PLUS Loan?
Be sure that you have completed the acceptance process for the Federal Stafford Loan and/or the Federal PLUS Loan to ensure the proper disbursement of funds. If a Stafford and/or PLUS Loan amount was suggested on your financial aid award letter, follow the instructions to secure your loan(s) and then deduct the pending loan amount from your bill (minus the origination fee) and pay the remainder.
There is some financial aid credited on my bill this semester, but I was also expecting other credits. What happened to my Private Loans?
Your private loan must be approved by the lender and certified by NYU before you will be given credit for that loan. If it has been approved since the date of your bill, simply deduct the semester portion of the approved loan from your bill.
There is some financial aid credited on my bill this semester, but I was also expecting other credits. What happened to my Federal Work-Study?
Federal Work-Study is not credited on your bill because it represents a potential amount yet to be earned in bi-weekly paychecks during the year. If suggested Work-Study is included in your financial aid package, it means you are eligible to participate in the Federal Work-Study Program. For help in finding a job to earn this money, contact The Wasserman Center for Career Development at 212-998-4730.
How/when do my Direct Loans get posted to my tuition account?
Once you accept your loans on NYU Albert, sign your MPN, and complete Entrance Counseling, credit is then posted to your account. The credit is provisional and does not change to real credit until 10 days before the start of the loan period.
When can I expect my Direct Loan refund?
Loan refunds are administered through the Office of the Bursar, and there are important elements to consider if you are anticipating a credit balance. For example, because your loans can not be released to NYU before your designated disbursement date, and because once they are disbursed certain basic enrollment criteria must first be verified (e.g. you normally must be enrolled for at least 6 points) before the loan amount is applied to your account balance, a refund resulting from your student loan will usually not be confirmed and processed until a few days after your disbursement date.
Important for Summer students: Please note that if you are eligible for loans in the summer, those loans do not disburse until July 1, and for those eligible for a refund, you should not rely on those funds until at least one week after disbursement.
My parent borrower received a refund from the Parent PLUS Loan. Can they return the refund check if they do not need the funds?
Yes, parent borrowers have the right to cancel all or part of any disbursement of a federal Parent PLUS Loan without being charged interest and other loan fees as long as the cancellation is processed within 120 days of the original disbursement date. The disbursement date is the date the funds were applied to your NYU Bursar bill during any given semester.
To request a cancellation, they must make the request through the NYU Bursar’s Office by completing a Request to Return Loan Funds Form and submitting it to the Bursar as instructed on the form.
If they wish to cancel all or part of any disbursement of their loan more than 120 days after it was disbursed, they are actually repaying part of their loan and they must pay any accrued interest and/or fees. They cannot cancel their loan, but they can make a payment directly to your federal loan servicer. Borrowers are assigned to one of the five servicers, which include ACS, Great Lakes, NelNet, PHEAA, and Sallie Mae. If they are not sure which of the five centers is their assigned servicer, visit and log into the federal government’s National Student Loan Data System to determine their servicer. They may also call 1-800-4-FED-AID to locate your servicer.
I received a refund from my Subsidized/Unsubsidized loan. Can I return the refund check if I do not need the funds?
Yes, please see the FAQ above regarding parent borrowers returning refunds from a Parent PLUS Loan. The same rules apply to your Subsidized/Unsubsidized loan.
Can I be considered for scholarship as well as tuition remission?
Beginning with the incoming class of fall 2018, undergraduate dependents of employees with tuition remission may be eligible for scholarship above and beyond their tuition remission benefit if they would have been eligible for an amount greater than the tuition remission under the traditional scholarship review process. In order to be considered for this additional amount students have to file the CSS Profile and the FAFSA on time and have financial need based on the Profile. Students will be notified of eligibility approximately at the time they are notified of admission if both of the financial aid forms are complete and filed on time.
Should I anticipate a scholarship above and beyond my tuition remission if I file on time and have financial need?
Most students who are eligible for tuition remission will not be eligible for additional scholarship because the tuition remission amount is a substantial award, and most parents will not have financial need above and beyond the standard tuition remission amount.
If I don't want to file my forms for the additional scholarship consideration this year, but want to be considered in the future, could I do that?
Students who wish to be considered for scholarship must be reviewed at the time they are an entering student, not as a returning student. To be considered for scholarship the first year and for subsequent years, students must complete the forms prior to admission.
Can I be considered for additional scholarship on top of my tuition remission if I am entering NYU as an undergraduate transfer student?
The amount of scholarship available to transfer students does not exceed the amount of tuition remission. Incoming transfers can still fill out the FAFSA if they would like to be considered for federal aid in addition to their tuition remission.
When I received my financial aid award via Albert, I saw an estimated amount of Tuition Remission as well as a scholarship amount. How do I ensure that I receive both?
You needn't do anything on your Albert record to "accept" the awards. The Office of Financial Aid presumes you are eligible for Tuition Remission because you indicated so on your admissions application. If that is incorrect please contact the Office of Financial as soon as possible, so your award can be revised without the consideration of tuition remission.
If you are eligible for Tuition Remission, you must complete the T/R form through Human Resources. Once the information is relayed via Human Resources to the Office of the Bursar, you will get credit on your bill (if you are already registered and otherwise eligible) at that time.
If eligible, the scholarship portion of your award will automatically be accepted and will be applied to your bill accordingly.
When I received my financial aid award via Albert, the amount of anticipated tuition remission indicated didn't match the amount I expect to receive. How do I adjust?
Expected tuition remission was set at a traditional amount of 90% tuition being met. There are a few families who may be eligible for more based upon their employment criteria. In those cases, once you submit your Tuition Remission form with Human Resources, the update will be relayed to the Office of Financial Aid. Please note, however, that the total amount of tuition remission plus scholarship amount will not change. If your tuition remission eligibility is greater than 90% your scholarship will be reduced accordingly so you effectively net the same amount as reflected in your tuition financial award.
How am I sure my T/R and scholarship are renewed each year?
You will need to file your financial aid forms on time each year, complete your Tuition Remission forms as instructed on the Human Resources website, and meet all general eligibility criteria to be eligible for the scholarship portion of your award.
What if my parent loses the T/R benefit -- am I still eligible for scholarship?
Yes, if you were initially eligible for T/R and the additional scholarship and later lost eligibility, you will continue to be eligible for the same amount of award (T/R plus your additional scholarship) as long as all of the other criteria for scholarship eligibility are met (i.e. meeting satisfactory academic progress, file the forms needed on time, enroll full time, have financial need).
What if I realize that I made a mistake and am not eligible for Tuition Remission, even though I indicated I was eligible on my Admission Application?
You are encouraged to read about NYU's tuition remission benefit information carefully. If, after reviewing the information you determine you will not be eligible for tuition remission as an incoming student, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions promptly at admissions.ops@nyu.edu so your record can be updated. If you are addressing this after you've received your offer of financial aid through Albert, please contact the Office of Financial Aid instead.
Do I need to complete the FAFSA even if I only want to be considered for the scholarship and not for any federal aid?
Yes, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to ensure you don't miss out on any federal grant aid that applies to your financial aid eligibility. You are not required to pursue any loans or federal work-study you may be offered in your financial aid package, but those types of aid may be offered for your consideration if it appears you may be eligible for them.
If I am selected for federal verification, but choose not to take out any federal aid, but want the additional scholarship, do I have to complete verification (an audit of your FAFSA to ensure accuracy).
Yes, if you file the FAFSA and the Department of Education selects your record to be verified by NYU, the Office of Financial Aid will request documents and you will be required to complete the process in order to receive any aid aside from your Tuition Remission.
What if I don't attend full time?
You must be enrolled full time in order to receive the scholarship portion of your award unless you are enrolled in your final semester before graduation and are not required to attend full time to meet your graduation requirements. In those cases, the scholarship is prorated accordingly.
Can I be considered for scholarship in January Term?
Yes, if your Tuition Remission doesn't cover the amount you would have received under the typical review process for January Term.
Can I be considered for scholarship in the Summer?
Yes, if your Tuition Remission doesn't cover the amount you would have received under the typical review process for Summer Term.
Can I be considered for scholarship if I study away?
Yes, if your Tuition Remission doesn't cover the amount you would have received under the typical review process for Study Away.