Financial Aid Checklist

Step One

Complete and electronically submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You and or your parents will need financial /federal tax information. Our priority deadline is April 1st.

Step Two

Read your Student Aid Report (SAR) carefully. By providing a valid e-mail address on your FAFSA, shortly after completing the application you will receive an e-mail message containing your Student Aid Report (SAR) from the U.S. Department of Education. Please read this information carefully as there may be additional steps that you need to complete in order for your FAFSA and financial aid file to be fully processed. Always check your financial aid status on your Cams Student Portal where you can track your processing status from verification to accepting your financial aid award.

Step Three

Read all application materials and financial aid notifications sent to the e-mail address provided on the FAFSA. Please respond to any request for missing information as soon as possible. For more information please contact our office at (615) 329-8735 or email at financialaid@fisk.edu.

Important Federal Updates

Federal Student Aid ID Implementation

The Department of Education will implement its new Federal Student Aid ID.  The Department of Education will create a new page on www.studentaid.gov which will provide additional information about the approaching transition from the previously used Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) PIN number to the FSA ID. During the FSA ID registration process, an individual who already has a PIN with a successful match from the Social Security Administration (SSA) will have the option to link that PIN to their new FSA ID. By linking to a “matched” PIN, the user will be able to immediately use the FSA ID with the FAFSA on the Web, NSLDS Student Access, StudentLoans.gov, StudentAid.gov, and the TEACH Grant websites. If an individual does not link to a “matched” PIN during the FSA ID registration process, they will have limited use of the FSA ID until the SSA confirms their personal identifiers (1-3 days). This is similar to the “conditional PIN” that new PIN applicants currently receive, while waiting for the SSA match to be conducted.

Parent Plus Loan Adverse Credit History Implementation

In the event that a parent or graduate/professional student goes thru a credit check and the credit check results in a denial for a PLUS loan the parent or graduate professional student may initiate one of two options 1) apply with an endorser or 2) appeal based on extenuating circumstances.  If there is a subsequent approval for the previously denied the parent or graduate/professional student must complete PLUS Loan Counseling at the website www.studentloans.gov  The  PLUS Loan Counseling session remains valid only for the duration of the associated credit check, which is 180 days.  Graduate/Professional students that are first time borrowers of the Graduate Plus loan are required to complete PLUS Loan Entrance Counseling as well as the Master Promissory Note.  Please note that all requirements pertaining to this implementation must be met in order for Fisk University to disburse the Parent Plus/ Graduate Plus loan...