Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the University of New Haven's Federal School Code?
001397 - The is the first step in applying for aid.
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How do I apply for financial aid?
To apply for financial aid, students must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Once the FAFSA is submitted with our federal school code indicated on the application, the results of your FAFSA will be sent to the University of New Haven from the federal processor. Note: We may request additional documents or information in order to successfully review your file. More detailed instructions and links are found on Applying for Financial Aid.
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How do I apply for merit scholarships at the University of New Haven?
Merit-based scholarships such as the Distinguished Scholar Award and the Presidential Scholarship are awarded by the University of New Haven Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the time of acceptance and recognize a student's scholastic achievement. Visit the Merit Scholarship page for more more detailed information.
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What are the most common errors when applying for financial aid?
- Filing your application late
- Incorrect Social Security Numbers
- Omitting the school code 001397 on the FAFSA
- Not using your legal name from your social security card
- Submitting illegible, incomplete, or unsigned documentation
- Failing to include all required contributors and their information
- Under reporting or failure to report the assets of each contributor
Please be sure to check your FAFSA carefully before submitting it.
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What is meant by "financial need"?
Each student's individual financial need is calculated based on the following formula: Cost of Attendance (COA) ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ“ Student Aid Index (SAI) (formerly EFC) = NEED. The Student Aid Index (SAI) is determined by the U.S. Department of Education using the information reported on your FAFSA. The SAI formula considers income, assets, and family size.
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What if my family has extenuating or unusual circumstances?
Families who experience a significant change in income, marital status, loss of job, or encounter special circumstances that are affecting their current financial situation must submit a Special Circumstances Appeal Form and provide a detailed explanation of the situation along with supporting documentation to the Financial Aid Office. In some cases a financial aid counselor will request further information in order to perform an accurate evaluation. For more information, visit our Special and Unusual Circumstances webpage.
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Will the University of New Haven meet 100% of my need?
The Financial Aid Office has a limited amount of resources to distribute as equitably as possible to all of our financial aid applicants. We meet a percentage of a student's need with grants and scholarships, loans and student employment. Most families supplement their SAI (formerly EFC) and unmet need through a variety of resources such as the federal parent PLUS loan, a private student loan or through the monthly payment plan. Visit Loan Options/Paying Your Bill to find more information about these alternative options.
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How much aid will I receive?
Prospective students may use the University of New Haven Net Price Calculator for a preliminary estimate of your Student Aid Index (SAI) (formerly EFC) and your University of New Haven financial aid offer.
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What type of financial aid is available at the University of New Haven?
Financial aid takes many different forms and comes from a variety of sources including federal, state, institutional, and private sponsors. The following is some of the financial aid offered at the University of New Haven: Merit-based scholarships, Athletic grants, Need-based grants, Student Employment, Loans – Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and private student loans. The University of New Haven also participates in the federal Direct parent PLUS loan for eligible parents. These resources are all outlined in our Financial Aid Programs.
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When will I know how much aid I have been offered?
Students must submit their FAFSA to the University of New Haven and be formally accepted by Admissions to receive a financial aid offer notification. The offer will provide all the details of your financial aid. The Financial Aid Office will notify students by email if additional documents must be submitted to complete their financial aid file. Your financial aid offer may be subject to change if the documentation you provide indicates a significant change from the information originally reported on your FAFSA.
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If I receive an outside scholarship must I notify the Financial Aid Office?
Yes. Anytime a student receives funds from an outside company, employer, agency, or civic group they must report it to the University of New Haven Financial Aid Office. Any outside scholarship will first be used to satisfy unmet need and then to replace self-help (federal loans or work-study).
For outside scholarships that specify they can be applied only to tuition costs, university merit scholarships will be adjusted dollar for dollar once the cost of tuition is met.
Outside scholarships do not include any tuition remission benefits, Vocational rehabilitation benefits, etc. These types of awards will be substituted dollar for dollar from any university grants, including merit awards. We can be notified by email at financialaid@newhaven.edu.
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Will the University of New Haven match a financial aid offer from another institution?
Each institution has its own unique set of criteria for determining financial aid at their school, especially when it comes to offering institutional funds. Most institutions do not get into the practice of matching another school's financial aid offer.
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Do I have to re-apply for financial aid every year?
Yes. Financial aid is not automatic and must be reapplied for each year. For more information, visit Apply for Financial Aid.
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Am I guaranteed my financial aid each year?
A student's need is determined for one year at a time and is therefore subject to change from one year to the next. The Financial Aid Office strives to maintain the same offer from year to year. However, there are certain factors that can cause a significant change to a financial aid offer. These include: changes in a family's Student Aid Index (SAI) (formerly EFC), reduction in the number of family members in the household, change in marital status, moving off campus, going on a study abroad program, and making satisfactory academic progress.
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I will be attending a study abroad program through another university. Am I still eligible for financial aid?
Students studying abroad through another educational institution will be eligible for their federal financial aid through a consortium agreement but not institutional financial aid programs such as the University of New Haven Grant-in-Aid or merit based programs. In order to process your federal student aid, i.e. Pell grant, Federal Student/Parent Loans, students must have their study abroad courses approved by their academic advisor for transfer into their University of New Haven degree program, and complete a financial aid consortium agreement with the study abroad institution in order for our office to offer and process financial aid.
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Who do I contact with additional questions or for more information on financial aid?
The Financial Aid Office is located in Bergami Hall and is open from 8:30 a.m – 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. We can also be reached at (203) 932-7315, or by email at financialaid@newhaven.edu.