Financial Aid Updates for the 2020-21 School Year
It’s that time again! Have you started to prepare your financial aid application for the new year? A Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) is available at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid.
Go there if you need to change your FSA ID or need to apply for one. With your FSA ID, you can fill out a FAFSA online.
The FAFSA form is available on Oct. 1 for the next school year. We encourage you to fill it out as soon as possible on or after Oct. 1 to meet FAFSA deadlines.
FAFSA® Filing Options
You may choose any of these methods to file a FAFSA form:
- Log in at fafsa.gov to apply online or
- Fill out the form in the myStudentAid mobile app, available on the App Store (iOS) or Google Play(Android) or
- Complete a 2020–21 FAFSA PDF or a 2019–20 FAFSA PDF (note: you must print out and mail the FAFSA PDF for processing) or
- Request a print-out of the FAFSA PDF by calling us at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 334-523-2691 (TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing 1-800-730-8913); then fill out the form and mail it for processing
National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant or National Smart Grant
A National SMART Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S. citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student’s Pell Grant award. To be eligible to receive a National SMART Grant, you must be able to answer YES to all of the following questions:
- Are you a US citizen?
- Are you eligible to receive a Pell Grant?
- Are you enrolled as a full-time third or fourth-year student in a baccalaureate degree program?
- Do you have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average?
- Are you currently enrolled in an eligible major in one of the following categories: Computer Science, Engineering, Critical Foreign Languages, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Technology, or Multidisciplinary Studies? (Please click below to view a complete list of eligible majors).
Do you qualify?
If you could not answer YES to all of the above questions, you do not qualify to receive a National SMART Grant. However, you may still qualify to receive other types of federal student financial aid. If you have not completed a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), please go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and apply today. If you answered YES to all of the above questions and you have already submitted a FAFSA form, please contact the Financial Aid Office at your school to identify yourself as a potentially eligible student. Click Here For a Complete List Of Eligible Majors