Completing the FAFSA

The FAFSA is the application for all formats of federal aid and should be completed online each year. The FAFSA is typically available beginning October 1st for the following year. It is very important that you file your federal tax return early so that you can utilize the Direct Data Exchange when you file the FAFSA. Our office receives the results of your application electronically.

For step-by-step instructions on how to create an FSA ID, the first step in completing the FAFSA, please see below.

For step-by-step instructions on how to file your 2024-2025 FAFSA, please utilize the series of videos below provided by Federal Student Aid. This FAFSA will be used for the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 semesters. For the fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026 semesters, students will need to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA, which available now at studentaid.gov. 

For general information regarding the FAFSA, please see below.

What happens after I file the FAFSA?

This information will walk you through the process of accepting your financial aid package for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

1. Review your award notification. To accept, reduce, or decline your financial aid, access your UNA Portal, click on Financial Aid Dashboard, and select the current aid year from the top of the screen. Make sure you review any questions from the Financial Aid Office on the Home tab and respond. Click on the Award Offer tab.

• FOR GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS - Scroll down to the Grants and Scholarships to Pay for College box. Here, you can view and accept scholarship offers. If your scholarship(s) have been accepted, the word “Accepted” will appear on the right side of the screen next to each accepted scholarship. Grants will be automatically accepted for you. Once you have reviewed ALL of your award offer decisions, click Submit at the bottom of the page.
• FOR LOANS - In the Loans box below, select from the drop-down menus on the right side of the screen whether you would like to Accept or Decline each of your loan offers. You may also click Modify to enter and accept a partial amount of the loan offer. Once you have reviewed ALL of your award offer decisions, click Submit at the bottom of the page.

2. You must read, understand and accept the Terms and Conditions Governing Financial Aid Awards. The Terms and Conditions will appear on the screen AFTER you have submitted your acceptance decisions for your financial aid award offers. Read through the Terms and Conditions, check the box next to the acknowledgement at the bottom, and click Accept Award to confirm your award acceptance decisions.

1. IF ACCEPTING LOANS, STEPS 3 AND 4 MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE LOANS WILL DISBURSE. 

2.  

3. If you are accepting a student loan, you must sign Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). You must sign the MPN at www.studentaid.gov.  Our office will receive notification of your Master Promissory Note within 2-3 business days.

4. If you are accepting a student loan, you must complete Loan Entrance Counseling. You must complete this step at www.studentaid.gov. Please do not confuse Loan ENTRANCE Counseling with Loan EXIT Counseling or Financial Awareness Counseling. Our office will receive notification of Loan Entrance Counseling within 2-3 business days.

5. Be sure to check any Unsatisfied Requirements or notices at the top of the Home tab and the Award Offer tab. Outstanding requirements may prevent the timely disbursement of your financial aid.

Federal Direct Student Loans

STUDENTS MUST BE ENROLLED IN AT LEAST HALF TIME TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS.

Student Loans are financial obligations that must be repaid. Pay careful attention to the terms and conditions of any loan you accept to help pay for school. Do not borrow more than you need or can repay comfortably after leaving school. In 2020-21, the percent of UNA undergraduates with debt at graduation was 51%. These students graduated with an average cumulative loan debt of $22,250. Our 2018 cohort default rate (CDR) for student loans is 8.8%, below the national average CDR rate of 7.3%.

Student loan programs provide long-term, low interest loans to students. To be considered for loans at UNA, complete the FAFSA. Students at UNA can be awarded subsidized or unsubsidized Stafford loans, depending on the student's demonstrated need and cost of attendance. View the US Department of Education's information on Direct Student Loans.

Subsidized Stafford Loans

Federal Stafford Subsidized Loans are based on financial need as well as annual and aggregate loan limits. Interest on this loan does not accrue during eligible periods of enrollment. Interest accrual will begin during the designated grace period and repayment begins six months after graduation or when a student is no longer enrolled at least half time (6 semester hours for undergraduate student; 5 semester hours for graduate students). Subsidized Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 and before July 1, 2024 will have a 5.50% interest rate.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loans are based on annual and aggregate loan limits and is not need-based. Interest on this loan begins to accrue upon the first disbursement. Repayment begins six months after graduation or when a student is no longer enrolled at least half time (6 semester hours for undergraduate student; 5 semester hours for graduate students). For Unsubsidized Stafford Loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 and before July 1, 2024, the interest rate for undergraduate students is 7.05%.

Loan Amounts

Annual Loan Limits (combined maximum for subsidized and unsubsidized) under the Stafford Loan Programs:

• Dependent Undergraduate students
  • Freshmen - $5,500
  • Sophomores - $6,500
  • Juniors and Seniors - $7,500

The aggregate limit is $31,000 (no more than $23,000 may be in subsidized loans)

• Independent Undergraduate students
  • Freshmen - $9,500
  • Sophomores - $10,500
  • Juniors and Seniors - $12,500

The aggregate limit is $57,500 (no more than $23,000 may be in subsidized loans).

• Graduate Students
  • $20,500 Unsubsidized Loans annually, limited to cost of attendance. Graduate Direct Unsubsidized Loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 and before July 1, 2024 have a 7.05% interest rate.

The aggregate limit for graduate students is $138,500 (no more than $65,000 of this amount may be in preexisting subsidized loans as Graduate students became ineligible for subsidized loans after July 2012).

University of North Alabama Scholarships

The University of North Alabama offers a comprehensive scholarship program

For more information on UNA scholarships, please choose one of the following:

• Excellence
• Transfer
• Honors
• Presidential Mentors Academy
• Endowed
• External
• Performance
• ROTC
• Service
• Out of State Students

Student Employment Fact Sheet

1. The University of North Alabama offers many varied opportunities for qualified students to work on campus during their college careers. Up to 500 jobs are available during the fall-spring semesters. Types of jobs range from lab assistant to desk assistant in residence halls, from office work to intramurals, from library assistant to maintenance work. Students are encouraged to seek jobs related to their college majors and career plans.
2. UNA offers two types of student employment:Federal Work Study and University Work Study. Other than the source of funding, the two programs are similar. All student employees are protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act and subject to federal and state tax laws. Note: To be considered for Federal Work Study jobs, students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
3. The standard work study award at UNA ranges from $2000- $2500/year. However, actual earnings are based on hours worked and rate of pay. Most employees earn minimum wage at UNA, though departments may choose to offer higher rates of pay. In order to balance class work and employment, a student employee may work on campus up to but not more than 20 hrs/wk.
4. How to apply for a work study position:
   • Create an account through the Symplicity Career Services Manager at http://una-csm.symplicity.com/. For more information, visit the Career Center.
   • Upload a resume (must be approved before applying for a position)
   • Submit resume to position of interest to you and follow up with the hiring department by email or phone.
   • If you are offered a position, you will visit the Student Employment Office located in 601 Cramer Way, Room 226 to complete payroll forms.
5. For currently listed work study job openings, visit the Career Center web page and click LionJobs.
6. For more information about student employment, visit the Student Employment web page.

The University of North Alabama participates in both the Federal Pell Grant and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs, in addition to the Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP).

Unlike loans, grants are not repaid unless you are awarded funds incorrectly or withdraw from school prior to the scheduled end of term. All federal grants are awarded to students based on financial need.

General information about these programs is included in the Student Guide, available in print upon request to UNA Student Financial Aid or online at the US Department of Education web site.

UNA does not currently participate in the TEACH grant program.

Application

To be considered for any grant program at UNA, you must file the FAFSA.

Grant Amounts

All FAFSA applicants are automatically considered for all grants.  Pell grant recipients are awarded the maximum amounts based on eligibility according to the federal payment schedule. Standard award amounts for SEOG and ASAP range from $300-$800/year. Students must be eligible for a Pell Grant in order to receive SEOG or ASAP. Both SEOG and ASAP funds are limited.

Pell Eligibility

Pell grants are awarded exclusively to undergraduate students.  Students may receive an amount up to the maximum award for which he or she is eligible.  Pell grants are awarded based on full-time enrollment but will be reduced for less than full-time enrollment.

LIFETIME ELIGIBILITY FOR PELL GRANT IS NOW LIMITED:  The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 reduced the duration of a student's eligibility to receive the Pell grant from 18 semesters (or its equivalent) to 12 semesters (or its equivalent).  This provision applies to all Federal Pell grant eligible students.  Students should be mindful of the Pell grant lifetime eligibility limits when making academic plans.  Students who provided an email address when filing the FAFSA will be notified by the U. S. Department Education when he or she is near or has exceeded the lifetime eligibility.

Alternative Loans are private loans made through lending institutions based upon the student's level of creditworthiness as determined by the lender. The student's level of creditworthiness affects the loan terms and if a co-signer is required. Private loans are more expensive than federal government loans and cannot be part of a federal consolidation loan in repayment. Generally speaking, students should consider private education loans only if Federal Stafford Loans are unavailable.
You can compare multiple loans using the FinAid Loan Comparison Calculator.

CERTIFIED Alternative Loan products require the University of North Alabama to report enrollment (full-time, half-time, less than half-time) and other financial aid information about the student, and these funds count toward satisfying the Cost of Attendance at UNA. Funds for an approved certified alternative loan are electronically sent to UNA by the private lender and then disbursed to the student's billing account on the same schedule as federal aid is disbursed.

Certified Alternative Loan funds are not reflected as Estimated Financial Aid toward the bill until UNA receives the funds the lender has actually transmitted to UNA by Electronic Funds Transfer. Your application must be made, loan approved and funds received from the lender by UNA far enough in advance of the first due date of the term to be counted as Estimated Financial Aid toward the charges. Otherwise your billing account will be due on the scheduled due date. Failure to pay your student account balance by the scheduled due date will result in cancellation of your registration schedule.

You are free to choose any lender that participates in the Private/Alternative loan program and should apply DIRECTLY WITH THE LENDER. UNA does not recommend or endorse any lender and does not benefit in any way from your lender selection.

What Type of Loan is Best? Private education loans tend to cost more than the education loans offered by the federal government, but are less expensive than credit card debt. Federal education loans offer fixed interest rates that are lower than the variable rates offered by most private loans. Federal education loans also offer better repayment and forgiveness options.

Since federal education loans are less expensive than and offer better terms than private student loans, you should exhaust your eligibility for federal student loans before resorting to private loans.

STUDENTS MUST BE ENROLLED IN AT LEAST HALF TIME TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS.

PLUS Loans are loans that parents may be eligible for and can be used to cover a student's education expenses. A parent does have to complete an application and pass a credit check to receive this loan.  Students may receive an additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan if their parent does not qualify for a PLUS loan.

To receive a PLUS Loan, your dependent student:

• Must have a completed FAFSA on file at UNA
• Must be enrolled at least half-time
• Must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Must meet all other requirements of Title IV aid, as determined by the US Department of Education.

The maximum amount that the parent may borrow under the Federal PLUS Program is the cost of attendance minus any other aid (scholarships, grants, loans, waivers, etc.) received by the student. View the US Department of Education's brochure on PLUS Loans.

To apply for Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), complete the steps outlined in the instructions at www.studentaid.gov.

Make sure that your student checks financial aid requirements in their UNA Portal by selecting, Self-Service, then Financial Aid. Click on Eligibility and then Student Requirements. Outstanding requirements may prevent the timely disbursement of your financial aid.