How to Apply for Financial Aid

• Your Social Security card and driver’s license
• Your income tax return
• Your W-2 forms
• Untaxed Income Records (i.e.: Social Security Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, veteran’s benefits)
• Current bank statements, records of stocks, bonds, and other investments
• Business or farm records (if applicable)
• Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen) You will need income records for the year prior to when you start school.
• FAFSA Information 2019-20 (Academic Year August 2019 – July 2020) Provide tax data from the 2017 tax year.
• FAFSA Information 2020-21 (Academic Year August 2020 – July 2021) Provide tax data from the 2018 tax year.

• Save your FAFSA: Save your application frequently using the “Save” button at the bottom of the screen. That way, if you lose your Internet connection, you’ll have a copy of the FAFSA data you’ve already entered.
• Get Help: To get an index of help topics, click on the Help button. For more information visit the Help Center.
• Don’t Erase Your Form: Use the “Exit” button with caution. Selecting this button and answering “OK” to the prompt that appears will erase every answer on your FAFSA.
• Print Help Topics: To print the text for a help topic or a Frequently Asked Question, open the help window then:
  • For Windows users, press the Ctrl and P keys at the same time.
  • For Mac users, press the command and P keys at the same time.
• Sign your Application: If you print the signature page, you need to sign it and mail it. If you have stated that you want to electronically sign your application you need to obtain a PIN.
• Submit Your Application: Be sure to click the “Submit” button. You will be taken to a new web page that confirms your submission and gives you a confirmation number.

Q: Does it matter if I type my answers in upper- or lowercase letters?
A: No. All letters will be converted to uppercase when you submit your FAFSA.

Q: Should I leave financial questions blank, enter 0 (zero) or N/A?
A: If a financial question doesn’t apply to you, you can either leave it blank or enter 0 (zero). Do not type N/A into the answer field.

Q: If my answer to a financial question includes cents, do I round off to the nearest dollar, or do I include cents in my answer? What about commas?
A: No. Do not enter a decimal point or cents. Instead, round off your answer to the nearest dollar and type in this amount. Do not enter commas.

1. Student Code of Conduct: Recipients of Regent University scholarships or grants (all forms of aid) are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the expectations outlined in the Student Handbook. Regent reserves the right to adjust or rescind offers of scholarship, at the sole discretion of the university.
2. Unique Award Terms & Conditions: When a student is offered assistance from a financial aid award program the detailed Terms & Conditions associated with the award are made available to the student in Genisys to review. It is extremely important that students review this information to understand eligibility requirements, the types of expenses the award is allowed to pay, how it is renewed, and other details.
3. False Statements: Any person who knowingly makes a false statement or a misrepresentation in his or her request for financial aid shall be subject to the provisions of Regent student discipline policies, the United States Code and/or the Code of the Commonwealth of Virginia, whichever is applicable. Additionally, Regent University is required to report suspected federal aid fraud to the Department of Education’s Office of the Inspector General. When such a referral is required, Regent University is prohibited by law from providing further access to federal student aid programs to the student.
4. Cost of Attendance: Almost all forms of aid are subject to a cost of attendance allowance, among other limits. The cost of attendance represents the total estimated cost for a student within their academic program, inclusive of both direct (billed) and indirect (living) expenses.
5. External Funding: If you receive student financial assistance from any source (even if sent directly to you rather than to Regent University) it is the student’s obligation to notify the Student Financial Aid Office promptly of the amount and source of the assistance. This is to ensure that all sources of assistance are considered when calculating eligibility for federal financial aid. Notifications should be provided in writing to finaid@regent.edu, and include the students full name and ID number.
6. Enrollment Change Counseling: Any student utilizing financial assistance, from any source, is highly encouraged to seek counseling prior to changing their enrollment. Unique award criteria may exist that causes a loss of current or future aid eligibility if enrollment criteria are not met. More information is available here.
7. Government Funded Awards: Awards funded by any branch of the United States Government are subject to eligibility criteria written into law. Regent University does not have authority to override any legal requirement in place for such award programs.
8. Federal Aid:
   1. General: Federal student aid (Title IV aid) requires the submission of a valid FAFSA each academic year. Students must be enrolled in an eligible degree program at an eligible institution, be a U.S. Citizen or eligible noncitizen, and have maintained good standing with prior Title IV aid received (not be in default, owe no overpayment).
   2. Academic Participation: Students are expected to initiate academic participation within the first week (seven days) of courses, and maintain consistent academic participation through the duration of the course. Failure to establish participation will result in delayed disbursement of federal student aid funds, return of previously disbursed funds, and may result in removal from courses.
   3. Return of Funds: Withdrawing from courses or otherwise failing to participate through the end of the term may result in a required return of Title IV funds.
   4. Federal Loans: Federal student loans require that the student enroll in courses in at least a halftime basis, in courses necessary to complete their degree program. Enrollment requirements are outlined online here. First time borrowers must complete Loan Entrance Counseling, and all borrowers must complete Loan Exit Counseling each time they fall below halftime enrollment, withdraw, or graduate. Each borrower is required to complete a Master Promissory Note, which outlines the terms of the loan, borrowing limits, and repayment options. Federal loan program information is available on our Federal Direct Loans page here. Loan origination fee and interest rate information is updated annually and varies by loan type. A current aid year listing of rates and fees is posted online here.
      1. Federal PLUS Loans: The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan and the Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan programs require a credit check in addition to other eligibility requirements. The credit check is completed by the Department of Education and the loan applicant is notified of the results.
      2. Federal Loan Disbursement Schedule: Accepted federal student loans are divided equally into the students expected enrollment period over the academic year. Single term loans may be disbursed in one disbursement. Example: A loan for fall/spring will come one half in fall and the other half in spring. A fall only loan will have the entire amount arrive at once.
   5. Federal Pell Grant: The Federal Pell Grant is available to undergraduate, degree-seeking students who have not yet earned their first bachelor’s degree. Eligibility is based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA. Pell Grant amounts, lifetime limits, and other eligibility criteria are available for review on the Pell Grant website page here.

9. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): All recipients of federal student aid are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as part of the eligibility requirements in place for funding. Additionally, SAP is a common requirement included in many nonfederal financial aid program requirements. Students should review SAP requirements as outlined here.
10. Notice of NSLDS Reporting: Student loan data will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system.
11. Financial Aid Refunds: Financial aid refunds resulting from federal aid account credits are issued no earlier than the third week of courses. Visit the Loan Refunds page for additional information, and the Financial Aid Calendar for current semester refund dates.
12. Student Loans Disbursed by Paper Check: If your loans are disbursed by paper check, rather than EFT, the check will require your endorsement, as it will be made co-payable to Regent University and the student. The loan check will be available for your endorsement in the Business Office. You will not be eligible for any funds in excess of your tuition charges until you endorse the check and the Business Office produces a refund check for the correct amount.
13. Private Loans: Private loans are not guaranteed; rather, they are based on student borrower credit history. Students must apply directly with their lender of choice, and are strongly encouraged to review the differences between federal and private loan options to determine the best funding mechanism for them. Regent University does not maintain a “preferred lender list”, however a list of lenders Regent University students have personally utilized is available online here.
14. Conservative Borrowing: Students are encouraged to exhaust all other resources before applying for student loans. If a loan must be utilized, borrowing the minimal amount required is recommended.

The Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is an allowance created for all students based on the estimated direct cost of their academic program, and reasonable allowances for indirect costs (such as food and housing). While the Estimated Cost of Attendance does not represent a bill, it can be a helpful tool for students to understand their unique estimated expenses. General cost of attendance information is available on our website page here. A customized cost of attendance is created for each student once needed information has been provided (program of enrollment and student enrollment plans). This is available within Genisys and also emailed to financial aid recipients as part of their award notification.

The College Financing Plan, created by the U.S. Department of Education, provides prospective students with information regarding the estimated cost of attending college and the aid available to our students. Students who have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or are using Veteran Affairs (VA) education benefits may use the College Financing Plan as a resource to compare costs from colleges around the nation and get a personalized estimate of their financial aid package.

Once you have submitted a FAFSA or have connected with the Military Benefits Team about using your VA education benefits, your personalized College Financing Plan will be made available to you in Genisys through the MyRegent Portal. 

If you plan to use VA education benefits you may also use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool for information on estimated costs and coverage.

The Net Price Calculator is available for traditional on-campus full-time undergraduate students to estimate their cost and financial aid eligibility. The estimate takes less than 10 minutes to generate and prospective students are encouraged to utilize this resource while planning for college.

Click here to access the Enrollment Plans Information Request Form for the aid year running from August 2023 to July 2024.

For the aid year running from August 2024 to July 2025, use the link in the section below.

Click here to access the Enrollment Plans Information Request Form for the aid year running from August 2024 to July 2025.