Apply for Financial Aid

The application process is different for current and returning students. 

Please select that which applies:

For Returning Students Only:

2012/2013 REGULATORY CHANGES TO IMPACT FINANCIAL AID APPLICANTS

Please carefully review the following information as recent regulation will significantly change the financial aid application process for the upcoming 2012/13 academic year. 

Complete the 2012/13 FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA allows you to view and transfer your tax return information into your FAFSA.   This new functionality will ensure that your FAFSA application is completed accurately and also eliminate the potential for you to request tax data from the IRS at a later date.  What this means for you: 

Note – Some families cannot utilize the IRS Data Retrieval option: 

  • Parents are married, but have a filing status of 'Married, Filing Separately'

  • Parents are married, but have a filing status of 'Head of Household' 

  • Parents who have had a change in marital status after the end of the tax year on December 31, 2011

  • Parents or students who have filed an amended tax return

  • Parents or students who file a Puerto Rican tax return or a foreign tax return. 

  • For student and/or parent 2011 federal income tax return filers

Complete and submit your tax return to the IRS before completing the FAFSA, if at all possible.  Filing your tax returns electronically would allow the data to be available for import to the FAFSA within 10 days.  For those who are filing the paper forms, you can expect that your information would not be available for the FAFSA data retrieval for approximately 8 weeks.   

  • Tax Extension Filers

Complete the FAFSA using estimated information.  Once your tax returns have been completed, you can log back into the FAFSA on-line data and update your FAFSA using the IRS data retrieval process.   Please keep in mind that you must allow sufficient time for the data to be available for import.   

What this means for Union’s Verification Process

  •  Copies of federal income tax returns will no longer be an acceptable form of income verification. 

Applications that are selected for verification will be required to submit a copy of their Federal Tax Return Transcript --IRS Listing 1722.   Instructions for requesting transcripts can be printed by clicking on the link below.  Using the IRS data retrieval tool will reduce your chances of being selected for verification and prevent any delays in processing your application.    Additionally, all families who do not utilize the IRS Data Retrieval tool will automatically be required to submit their 2011 IRS Tax Return Transcripts.

  • New Filing Deadlines

All application materials must be received by April 15, 2012 with the exception of the IRS Tax Return Transcript which is due by May 4, 2012.  Please review our comprehensive list of all documents and corresponding deadlines for new students or returning students, as appropriate.

  • Check application status on WebAdvising

A complete listing of missing documents is also readily available to all students on WebAdvising.  We strongly recommend that students regularly monitor the status of their application to keep parents informed.    

We will process financial aid applications as they become complete and awards will be available on WebAdvising beginning in early June.  All applications that are complete by the due date will receive scholarship consideration and will have their awards available in advance of the ebill scheduled for early July.  Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions related to financial aid or the changes described above.   We look forward to making this process as seamless and simple as possible and appreciate your support during this transition year.  

IRS TAX RETURN TRANSCRIPT REQUEST PROCESS