The Financial Aid Office (FAO) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) assists students by awarding financial aid to help pay for post-secondary education. Financial aid is awarded as grants, scholarships, loans and student employment from various federal, state, institutional and private sources. Financial aid is available to students with financial need and those without need. A financial aid application should be submitted to determine eligibility for the various financial aid programs.

Need-based financial aid eligibility is determined from submitted application information, using a standard need analysis formula. An expected family contribution is calculated based on income, net worth, veteran’s resources, family size, the number of family members attending post-secondary education and other factors. A student's financial need is determined by the student's educational expenses minus the expected family contribution. Financial aid is "packaged" as a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment to meet the financial need.

SIUC offers some loans and student employment that are not based on financial need. Students should first file a financial aid application to be evaluated for the need-based programs.

To apply for financial aid at SIUC, students should file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible after January 1st with Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Federal School Code 001758) listed as a school choice. SIUC does not have an institutional financial aid application, so students only need to complete the FAFSA. Students who have applied for aid during the previous year should complete a Renewal FAFSA.

The Financial Aid Office strongly encourages students to file the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA electronically. The electronic FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA are available at the U.S. Department of Education’s web site: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Filing electronically provides the benefit of built-in edits to improve accurate completion of the application and the processing time is generally one to two weeks faster than filing the paper FAFSA. Students and parents of dependent students should request a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at the U.S. Department of Education’s web site: www.pin.ed.gov. The PIN serves as an electronic signature, which significantly improves the processing time. A paper signature page must be downloaded, signed and mailed for students or parents who don't have a PIN.

Only one application should be completed each year (don't file both a paper and an electronic application). A federal customer service telephone helpline is available at 800/433-3243 or 319/337-5665.

A Student Aid Report (SAR) is provided to the student, electronically or on paper, when the financial aid application is processed. The SAR should be reviewed for accuracy and completeness. If the SAR has errors, corrections should be completed, signed, and the SAR submitted to the address indicated for reprocessing or electronic corrections can be made at the U.S. Department of Education’s FAFSA web site by using the PIN. When a correct SAR is received, it should be retained by the student. SIUC receives SAR information electronically, so it is not necessary for a paper SAR to be submitted to SIUC. If a financial aid application has been filed, but SIUC was not listed as a school choice, a school change should be initiated. This may be done by using the SAR (obtain a duplicate SAR by calling 800/433-3243) or through the U.S. Department of Education's FAFSA web site by using the PIN. Students admitted to SIUC may also request that the Financial Aid Office initiate a school change. Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Federal School Code 001758) should be entered as a school choice.

Some applicants are selected to verify information provided on the financial aid application. SIUC participates in the U.S. Department of Education's Quality Assurance Program designed to improve customer service, efficiency and accountability through selected verifications. If selected for verification, a Verification Worksheet will be sent to the student and must be returned to the Financial Aid Office along with non-returnable, signed copies of the applicable federal tax returns and W-2 forms for the student and, if appropriate, his/her spouse or parents. Other documentation may also be required. Some applicants may be required to provide proof of Social Security number, citizenship or immigration status, Selective Service registration, veteran status, satisfactory repayment status for student loans, or other information. Students selected for verification must provide all requested documentation to be eligible to receive and maintain financial aid awards and payments.

Students are informed of financial aid awards via an SIUC electronic Award Letter posted on SalukiNet. The Financial Aid Office begins posting financial aid award letters in early Spring, after the FAFSA is filed and all required information is submitted.

When a student enrolls at SIUC, an account is created in the University Billing/Receivable system. A monthly Statement of Account is issued to the student listing University charges, credits and balance due. Charges may include tuition, fees, on campus room and board and other charges. Credits to the account consist of financial aid (tuition waivers, grants, scholarships, loans) as well as cash payments. The remaining balance due may be paid in monthly installments. A variety of payment options may be used, including credit card payments by Fax, phone or online. If financial aid results in a credit balance on the student's account, check(s) for the amount of the credit balance are mailed by the Accounts Payable Office to the student's local address beginning no earlier than 10 days before the first day of classes for the semester.

Students should come to SIUC with sufficient funds to buy books, supplies and any other items necessary to begin the semester, even if the student is expecting financial aid or plans to work on campus. Check(s) for credit balances on the students' University accounts are not always available as soon as students arrive on campus. SIUC does not issue book vouchers.

Grants – The major federal grant programs include the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. The major state grant programs (for qualifying Illinois residents only) include the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant, the State of Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Grant and the Student-to-Student Grant. An SIUC Need- Based Grant is also available. These grants to undergraduate students are based on financial need.

Scholarships – Academic and collegiate scholarships available through SIUC are posted on the Financial Aid Office web site: www.siu.edu/~fao/scholarships. The SIUC Academic Scholarship Program provides freshmen and transfer awards to new undergraduate students who have achieved high academic standards. These scholarships are based upon academic merit and potential for superior achievement in college, not on financial need. No separate application is required. Your eligibility for these awards will be automatically assessed when you are admitted to SIUC.

Some academic scholarships are awarded annually by the academic units of the University. Also, a limited number of private scholarships are available from each unit. Information is available from the applicable academic unit scholarship coordinator. Federal and state scholarships are available through Army and Air Force ROTC detachments.

Students interested in seeking a private grant or scholarship should check as many sources as possible, including high school guidance offices, local clubs and civic organizations, businesses, employers, church groups, public libraries, alumni organizations and financial institutions. There are several web sites that provide scholarship search services free of charge. In addition, public libraries are an excellent source of information on private scholarships.

Loans – Loans are available from the Federal Perkins Loan program and the Federal Direct Loan program. These loans include subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans and Federal Direct Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) Loans available to parents of dependent students. These federal loans are processed by the SIUC Financial Aid Office for the U.S. Department of Education, who contracts with a servicer to do loan approval and collections. The Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford/Ford Loan and the Federal Perkins Loan are based on financial need. The other loan programs are limited by the students’ educational expenses minus other financial aid, and by annual and aggregate loan limits. Loan fees, interest rates and repayment provisions vary. SIUC also processes Alternative Loans for students and/or parents for whom traditional loan programs do not meet the full need. Information on alternative loans and the SIUC preferred lenders can be accessed at www.siu.edu/~fao/loans/altloans.htm.

Employment – To apply for on-campus student employment positions, a financial aid application is necessary to determine whether wages are paid from the need-based Federal Work-Study program or institutional funds. Students are usually paid the SIUC minimum wage and work up to 20 hours a week. Many on-campus jobs are available, but students must apply, interview and be selected by a hiring unit. To seek employment, students should come to the Financial Aid Office to obtain a Student Employment Referral and review the Job Listings posted on the Financial Aid Office web site: www.siu.edu/~fao/jobs. Graduate Assistantships are available for graduate students and a limited number of Undergraduate Assistantships are available as well.

On-campus student employment paychecks are issued bi-weekly and are electronically deposited into the student’s personal account at a designated banking institution. Students who are unable to participate in electronic direct deposit may pick up their paychecks at the Student Center.

Students who do not attend classes are not entitled to any financial aid, loans or refunds of a credit balance. Students who cease attendance during the semester are only entitled to financial aid applicable until the documented last date of attendance. Students who reduce enrollment to less than half-time will have all or part of their financial aid removed. For more specific information about refunds and return of funds, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Students enrolled in Individualized Learning Program (ILP) courses may have restricted awards and special disbursement requirements. Contact the Financial Aid Office for information.

Additional financial aid information is available from the Financial Aid Office web site: www.siu.edu/~fao. This web site provides valuable links to information regarding financial aid estimators, electronic financial aid applications, free scholarship search services, student loans and other financial aid concerns. A student can obtain specific information about his/her own financial aid on Saluki-Net at http://salukinet.siu.edu. If students have questions and want to discuss their financial aid further, the Financial Aid Office can be contacted via e-mail (fao@siu.edu) or by using the address and phone information below.

NOTE: All financial aid programs are subject to change.