General Information
Eligibility for most Student Financial Aid Programs (other than unsubsidized loans) is based on financial need rather than academic accomplishment. Financial need is the difference between the estimated cost of attendance and the ability of the family to contribute to those educational costs.

General Eligibility Requirements
In general, to be eligible for financial aid, a student must:

• Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States;
• Have a high school diploma or the equivalent;
• Be matriculated at East Stroudsburg University and be enrolled in a degree, certificate, or other program (non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid);
• Not be in default on a Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan;
• Register with Selective Service (if required); and,
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress.

• All students who plan to take advantage of the federal and state financial aid programs (including the Federal Stafford Loan) must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many scholarship programs also require you to complete the FAFSA.
• Before you begin completing your on-line FAFSA application, apply for your Personal Identification Number (PIN) by going to www.pin.ed.gov. If you are a dependent student, a parent must also apply for a PIN. You will need a PIN to electronically sign your FAFSA.
• Complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. To assist in the completion of your online FAFSA, a FAFSA on the Web worksheet is available for you to download from this site. FAFSA on the Web is a United States Department of Education web site where you can complete a FAFSA online and submit it electronically via the Internet. Your data is submitted directly to the U.S. Department of Education's Central Processing System (CPS). If you are unable to file your FAFSA on line, paper FAFSAs are still available from high school guidance counselors and college financial aid offices.
• There are several ways in which you can find out the results of the processing of your FAFSA. If you filed a paper FAFSA and did not provide your e-mail address, you will be sent a paper Student Aid Report (SAR). If you filed using FAFSA on the Web and did not provide your e-mail address, you will be sent a paper SAR Information Acknowledgement. If you provided your e-mail address, the CPS will send you an e-mail notification whether you filed a paper FAFSA or via FAFSA on the Web. The e-mail notification will contain a link for you to access and view your on-line SAR without the use of a PIN.
• Regardless of which filing method you are using, all sections of the form should be completed. Be sure to list East Stroudsburg University, FAFSA code #003320, as a recipient institution. Students interested in student loans and those interested in student employment should answer, "yes" to the appropriate questions on the FAFSA.
• Freshmen students should complete the FAFSA form as soon after January 1st as possible but prior to March 1st, which is the university deadline for freshmen to be considered for campus-based financial aids.
• Transfer students have until May 1st to complete the application as they are considered in with upperclassmen.
• Information from the FAFSA will be electronically transmitted to ESU if you listed us as one of the colleges you planned to attend. ESU will determine your eligibility for financial aid and mail you an award letter. This process generally begins in early April for freshman and in early June for transfer students.
• By filing the FAFSA, Pennsylvania residents will automatically be considered for the Pennsylvania State Grant. In some cases Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) may request additional information. Respond promptly to any such requests. PHEAA generally sends official PA State Grants award notices around mid-May.

• FAFSA on the Web automatically edits applicant data before transmission. This results in better information and fewer applications being rejected by the Central Processor.
• FAFSA on the Web uses "skip logic," so that students are only asked the questions they need to answer.
• Students can apply from anywhere using any computer that supports an approved browser. (The FAFSA on the Web site lists the approved browsers).
• Access your Student Financial Assistance (SFA) records online. For example, you can check your student loan information through the Department of Education's National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
• Access your renewal FAFSA for completion in subsequent years.
• "Sign" (electronically) your FAFSA on the Web in subsequent years.