University of South Florida

All award offers are based on full-time enrollment status and your grade level and classification at the time of the offer. Awards are contingent upon sufficient appropriation of funds and your fulfillment of the terms and conditions of the award(s).

CONDITIONAL AWARDS

If you are new to USF, you may receive a conditional award offer, and may still need to satisfy certain requirements before your final eligibility is established.

• Go to OASIS to view any outstanding requirements.

• Go to Financial Aid for additional information regarding the financial aid process.

• Check out Financial Aid Programs At-A-Glance to view additional information and requirements for each financial aid program.

If you are a new student and awarded aid for fall and spring semesters, but do not enroll in fall, your award offer will be revised for spring and summer after your admission status is updated.

ESTIMATED FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES (FBF)

USF estimates FBF eligibility using data provided by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions:

• Classified as Florida Resident

• Overall High School GPA

• SAT/ACT Scores

All students are sent an official Notice of Bright Future Eligibility directly from the State of Florida.

Disbursement for new and continuing students is based on your meeting all state requirements and your actual enrollment each term. The payment will not exceed actual tuition and fees allowed by the State of Florida.

All students who are eligible for Florida Bright Futures are downloaded from the State’s database, beginning in June.

Students who have an FBF estimate but whose eligibility has not been confirmed by the State of Florida will be notified prior to the beginning of classes.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

If you totally withdraw or stop attending classes before completing 60% of the term, a portion of the total aid received, excluding Federal Work Study earnings, must be repaid immediately. You will be notified within 30 days of your official withdrawal date regarding the amount owed.

LOANS

To receive your loan funds you must:

1. Accept them in OASIS -
Remember to only borrow what you need!

2. Complete an entrance interview; if required. Check OASIS to see if an entrance interview is listed under "My Requirements, Deferments and Bookstore Authorizations."

3. Select a lender if this is your first loan at USF - check OASIS to see if a Lender Preference Form is listed under "My Requirements, Deferments and Bookstore Authorizations."

4. If this is your first loan at USF, complete a Master Promissory Note.

• Federal Stafford and PLUS MPN's can be completed electronically.

• Promissory notes for Perkins and USF loans are mailed to you by the University Controllers Office (UCO), ADM 125 after you accept the loans on OASIS in "Accept My Loans".

Our Loans page has more information about loans.

Keep Track Of Your Borrowing!!
Use the National Student Loan Data System web site to:

• Track how much you have borrowed.

• Track your remaining loan eligibility.

• Estimate how much your loan repayments will be when you graduate.

USF, Federal Stafford, and Federal Perkins Loans have a grace period of six to nine months before repayment begins.

Keep your lender informed:

• If you drop below half-time.

• If you transfer to another school.

FEDERAL WORK STUDY (FWS)

To receive FWS funds you must:

1. Accept your FWS award or it will be cancelled.

2. Find a job by the fourth week of classes.

3. Start working. You receive funds as you earn them.

4. If FWS wasn't part of your award offer and funds are available, make an appointment with a financial aid counselor to request an FWS award.

FWS is a federally funded part-time employment program awarded to eligible students based on financial need. Most FWS positions are on campus and students are paid every two weeks for hours worked.

Visit the Career Center's web site (Tampa/St. Pete) for more information about open positions.

APPEALS

The Financial Aid Appeals and Grievance committee offers an avenue of appeal if you feel an administrative decision regarding your aid was made in error. The committee considers grievances regarding institutional policies and procedures only.

HAVE QUESTIONS? ASK USF!

Answers to many of your questions are available to you in Ask USF via a keyword search. You may also submit questions to your financial aid counselor through Ask USF. Questions are routed to your financial aid counselor via the last four digits of your USF ID.

REPORT RESOURCES TO AVOID LATE CHANGES TO YOUR AWARDS

Federal regulations prohibit you from:

• Receiving more financial aid than your cost of attendance

• Receiving need-based aid that exceeds your calculated financial need

To avoid late reduction and/or repayment of funds already disbursed;

• Report any resources not listed on your award summary in OASIS

• Notify us immediately using the Additional Resources form

ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS

All Financial Aid programs require that you be enrolled as a degree seeking student.

Enrollment status is the same for every semester:

Enrollment requirements for financial aid are the same for all semesters:

Most financial aid awards require at least half-time attendance and many programs require full-time attendance.

ALTERNATIVE ENROLLMENT

• Cross-Enrollment (taking courses at USF and another institution at the same time)

• Transient Study (taking all courses at one school while a USF student)

• Education Abroad (enrolled in courses at an overseas institution while enrolled at USF or an overseas institution)

To avoid delays in receiving your aid read the Alternative Enrollment Guide

PROGRESS REQUIREMENTS

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy determines if you are eligible to receive aid (including student loans) each semester.

The SAP policy sets a maximum time frame of attempted credit hours and requires a completion ratio.

Your SAP is calculated each semester after grades have been posted and moved to academic history by the registrar. If you do not meet the requirements, your financial aid award(s) may be cancelled. Read and understand the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.

STUDENT STATUS CHANGES

Changes in your student classification may affect your eligibility. To avoid repaying funds already disbursed notify the Office of Financial Aid if you:

• Change from undergraduate to graduate student.

• Change your residency status.

• If you graduate and re-enrolled the following semester.

Undergraduates only, please note:

• If you graduate and re-enroll the following term, there is often a 4 to 6 week delay before degree and changes in enrollment status are reflected on OASIS.

• If you receive undergraduate Financial Aid after you have earned a degree, you are liable for repaying the funds.

DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

How It Works

1. Financial aid disburses after the 5th day of classes each term.

2. Charges you owe the University may be posted to your student account.

3. Payments are applied to charges on your student account at the time of disbursement.

4. If all charges have been paid and a credit results, remaining funds will be e-Deposited to your personal bank account (if you subscribed via OASIS).

Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) Disbursements 

1. When the loan is scheduled to disburse, your lender will send the funds to USF electronically.

2. The funds will disburse through your USF student account.

3. After tuition and fees are paid, any remaining balance will be issued via eDeposit, or a check will be mailed to your (the student's) local mailing address (as listed in OASIS).

4. If the parent borrower is deceased prior to the loan disbursement, the funds must be returned to the lender. The student is responsible to initiate the return of the funds to the lender.

Financial aid is disbursed after the first week of classes each term.  To cancel or reduce the loan amount, parent borrowers must notify the lender prior to disbursement.

Check To See If You Owe Money

Check to see if you owe a tuition balance after your financial aid funds have disbursed to your student account. You must pay by the deferment deadline to avoid being assessed a late payment fee.