Financial Aid FAQs
Financial Aid Answers
Find detailed explanations to some of Shawnee State University’s financial aid FAQs.
Applying and receiving financial aid for your education at Shawnee State University is simple. However, we understand that you may still have some questions regarding the process. Here are the answers to common questions.
- Yes, you can use your financial aid to purchase textbooks if you have a credit balance on your account.
- After you have received your financial aid award notice, you can log in to your MySSU account to accept your awards. If you have been awarded any student loans, you may need to complete entrance counseling and sign a master promissory note.
- To apply for financial aid, you will need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. Remember to use Shawnee State University’s school code, 009942, when completing the application. We will then ask for verification documents, if necessary, and send you a notification of any financial aid awards.
- The amounts for federal student loans are determined based on your academic grade level and dependency status. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website.
- If you have exhausted all options for federal student aid and need additional financial assistance, you may apply for private loans or outside scholarships and grants.
- The master promissory note (MPN) is a contract between you, the borrower, and the U.S. Department of Education stating that you will repay your student loans. The MPN details the terms and conditions of your student loans. Before any loan funds can be disbursed to Shawnee State University, you must sign the MPN. It is good for 10 years, and additional student loans may be disbursed using the original MPN.
- Your parents may claim you as a dependent on their taxes until you are 24. Exceptions are if you are married, have dependents for which you provide majority support, are a U.S. military veteran, are emancipated, were a dependent or ward of the court prior to age 13, are homeless, or are pursuing a graduate degree. Even though you may no longer reside with your parents, or your parents do not claim you on their taxes, you may not be considered independent for financial aid purposes.
- If you have been selected by the U.S. Department of Education for verification, you will need to provide supporting documentation so that the information reported on your FAFSA can be verified. As we no longer accept copies of federal tax returns, you will have to submit a copy of your tax transcript. You can easily complete this step by using the IRS Data Retrieval process through the FAFSA website. Before any financial aid can be awarded, you must complete the verification step.