FAQ

How do I apply?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate year. The FAFSA Application is available online or in paper form from the Tusculum University Office of Financial Aid, any other college financial aid office, or high school guidance offices.

When do I apply?

You can apply for the upcoming year as early as October 1st. If you are beginning enrollment or if you will continuing your enrollment at Tusculum University in the upcoming fall semester, we recommend that you apply by January 15th. This will assure that your application will be considered for aid types that typically become limited or exhausted before August. If you are beginning enrollment in a Spring semester at Tusculum University, we recommend that you complete the FAFSA application no later than October 31st.

What is Tusculum University's school code used on the FAFSA?

003527

Who do I contact with questions about completing my FAFSA?

  • Department of Education: 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
  • TU Office of Financial Aid: (423)636-7377 or 1(423)636-7300 ext. 5377

8 AM – 5 PM | Monday – Friday | financialaid@tusculum.edu

What happens after I submit my FAFSA?

In about 2-4 weeks, you will receive a response called a Student Aid Report or SAR from the Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS). CPS is the agency that receives and analyzes your FAFSA data. You may get this report in paper form, or via an email. The SAR contains all the data you listed on your FAFSA. Check it carefully for accuracy and keep your SAR in a safe place for your records. (In most cases, students do not have to submit their SAR to our office. We will receive copies from the government if you list our school code on your FAFSA.)

What if the data on my Student Aid Report (SAR) is incorrect?

You can make the corrections on your SAR online or you can provide documentation about the corrections to our office and we will make the changes for you. Call us at (423)636-7377 or 1(423)636-7300 ext. 5377 for more information.

What does "verification" mean?

Your SAR and/or school will tell you whether your application has been selected for verification. The Federal Government randomly selects applicants for a process called verification. This means that the government requires your school to compare the information from your application with the information found on your Federal tax forms, W2 forms, and/or other financial documents. This process can also occur if the FAFSA has other incorrect fields. For more information on verification please click here.

Do I have to be accepted at Tusculum University before I can complete the FAFSA?

No. You should apply for admission according to the admission’s office time table. You should apply for financial aid based on the referenced dates listed above and those under the important dates section.

As a transfer student, is there anything special I need to know about financial aid?

If your previous college has already awarded financial aid to you for the semester(s) you plan to attend at Tusculum University, please contact your college and ask the financial aid office to cancel that aid. If you filed a FAFSA for the year you are enrolling, and did not list Tusculum University, go online or call 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) to add Tusculum University to your list of schools.

When will I hear about my financial aid?

Incoming freshmen in the traditional program with completed financial aid applications will begin to receive award packages in early February (prior to the fall semester in which they anticipate enrolling). Current enrolled students in the Traditional Program begin to receive award packages in May, after spring semester grades are processed.

Incoming Adult & Online Studies students with completed financial aid applications will receive award packages within 1-2 weeks after their registration. Continuing Adult & Online Studies students will receive award packages for upcoming terms for which they are registered, no later than 30 days prior to the start of the next term.

How do I know how much financial aid I will receive?

You will receive an award package detailing the amounts and types of financial aid for which you qualify. Your Aid Award package will also be visible on WebAdvisor once the award package is available.

How does Tusculum determine how much financial aid I will receive?

Need to check EFC to Student Aid Index (SAI)

What is included in the financial aid Cost of Attendance (COA)?

Components of the COA include tuition, fees, room, board (meals), books and supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses related to your education.

In what order does Tusculum University award financial aid?

Our policy is–typically–to award grants and scholarships first, followed by student loans, possible work opportunities, need based aid, and additional loans.

How do I find out more details about federal student financial aid programs?

Visit StudentAid.gov. This site describes all federal student financial aid programs.

What academic standards do I have to meet to receive my student financial aid?

Federal regulations require that students receiving financial aid must be making satisfactory progress toward a degree and comply with all federal, state, and institutional policies and standards applying to financial aid programs.

To insure that recipients of federal, state, and/or institutional funds make qualitative and quantitative academic progress, Tusculum University has set forth a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy, which can be viewed here.

Are there other forms I have to complete for a Federal Stafford Loan?

Yes. The first time you borrow a Federal Stafford Loan, you must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) or “Loan Agreement” and the Entrance Counseling. Both the MPN and Entrance Counseling can be completed online by visiting this site.

What is a Federal Parent Plus Loan and how do I apply for one?

A Parent Plus Loan is an additional loan added to a students award package to help cover the remaining balance that was left over after all of the scholarship, grants, and need based aid was allocated. The Plus Loan is a credit based loan that parents can apply for and be accepted as well as denied.

Parents will need to login to StudentLoans as the parents with their own username and password, and request a Direct Parent Plus Loan. You will go to “Options” section and then click the link “Request a Direct Plus Loan”. Finally you will click “Parent Plus” and complete the application. If accepted you will need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the loan, and even if you are accepted you can still decline the loan. If the loan is denied you may contact the school to seek information on additional aid.

If I am employed through the work study program, how often will I get paid?

Student employees are paid bi-weekly. Students pick up paychecks at the Tusculum University Business Office.

If I receive scholarships from agencies outside of Tusculum University, what happens to my other financial aid?

If you have been awarded financial aid and then receive a scholarship, we may have to reduce some or all of your federal student financial aid, student loans, need-based aid, or the work-study award.

If I am going to start classes in the spring, when should I complete my FAFSA?

Any student wishing to enroll in Tusculum University courses and intending to use financial aid will need to complete the FAFSA for that academic year as soon as possible. Academic years include all three semesters for that academic year (fall, spring, and summer) starting with the fall semester. For students wanting to start in any semester of any given year (fall, spring, or summer), they will need to complete the indicated FAFSA for that academic year. Example: If you wish to start in spring 2021, you should fill out the 2020-2021 FAFSA.

The FAFSA for each academic year become available on October 1st of the year prior. Example: If you wish to start spring 2021, the 2020-2021 FAFSA became available on October 1, 2019.

If you wish to get the most out of your aid you will want to complete the FAFSA as early as you can.

What is your current cohort default rate?

The current Federal Loan Default Rate for Tusculum University is 12.3%. The national Federal Loan Default Rate is 10.1%.