Top Navigation:

Primary Navigation:

Breadcrumb Navigation:

Home>Current Students>Financial Aid>Apply for Financial Aid

Main Content:

Apply for Financial Aid

We suggest completing your federal income tax return before filing your financial aid forms to avoid processing delays.

The following deadlines are suggested for optimal consideration for the types of financial aid that have limited funds available. If you want to apply for financial aid and do not meet the suggested deadlines, you may still submit your financial aid application materials after these dates.

March 1: Deadline to submit FAFSA to the federal processor.

March 1: Deadline to submit Heinz College Financial Aid Application.

May 1: Deadline to submit Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note to your lender. (May be completed prior to receiving your award letter.)

May 1: Deadline to submit required federal entrance counseling for Stafford and Graduate Student PLUS loans. (May be completed prior to receiving your award letter.)

May 1: Deadline to submit Graduate Student PLUS loan MPN to your lender. (Completed after receiving your award letter.)

Heinz College Financial Aid Application                                        

FAFSA

SAR

Verification

Financial Aid Award Letter

Stafford Loan Application

Graduate Student PLUS Loan Application

Federal Student Loan Entrance Counseling

Federal Stafford and Graduate Student PLUS Loan Lenders

Loan Approval

Right to Cancel

Heinz College Financial Aid Application

To be considered for federal financial aid, please submit The Heinz College Financial Aid Application. Some types of financial aid are limited, so it's best to submit this form to the Financial Aid Office by the above suggested deadline.

Which Financial Aid Application to submit:

*Students seeking SUMMER federal work study positons, including federal community service work study positions, must complete the current and upcoming academic year financial aid application materials.

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be submitted to the federal processor as early as possible after Jan 1, but not before you file your federal income tax return. The FAFSA will be used to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid, including work study, Perkins loans and/or Stafford loans.

You may file this application electronically. The electronic process has prompts that are easy to follow and the system will edit your application for errors. If you're unable to file your FAFSA electronically, request the paper application by contacting the Heinz College Financial Aid Office. If you file your FAFSA electronically, use your U.S. Department of Education PIN to sign your FAFSA.

Please note: You must list Carnegie Mellon University - Heinz College code (E00073) on the FAFSA.

Which FAFSA to submit:

  • New Students BEGINNING Spring 2009: Complete 2008-2009 FAFSA.
  • New Students BEGINNING Summer* 2009, Fall 2009, or Spring 2010: Complete 2009-2010 FAFSA.
  • Students GRADUATING Summer* 2009: Complete 2008-2009 FAFSA.
  • Students CONTINUING BUT NOT GRADUATING Summer* 2009: Complete 2009-2010 FAFSA.
  • Students GRADUATING Summer* 2010: Complete 2009-2010 FAFSA.

*Students seeking SUMMER federal work study positons, including federal community service work study positions, must complete the current and upcoming academic year financial aid application materials.

SAR

Within a few weeks of submitting your FAFSA to the federal processor, review and print your Student Aid Report (SAR).

  • 3-5 days after submission - if you used a PIN to sign your application or
  • 7-10 days after submission - if you printed, signed and mailed a signature page.

Make any changes online using your U.S. Department of Education PIN. The Financial Aid Office will receive your FAFSA data electronically.

Verification

If you're selected for a process called "verification," it'll be noted on your SAR. In this case, you'll be required to submit to Heinz College a signed copy of your federal income tax return (and a signed copy of your spouse's federal income tax return if you are married), copies of all W-2 Wage and Tax statements used to complete your tax return and a completed Verification Worksheet for the year that corresponds with the FAFSA prior to disbursement of federal aid.

The College has the right to request any documentation it determines necessary to verify information provided on the FAFSA and/or other application materials. Failure to submit requested documents within the award year will result in a decision to deny federal aid. If your award changes as a result of the verification process, the school will notify you in writing within 30 days of the award change.

Financial Aid Award Letter

Once your financial aid package has been determined, an Financial Aid Award Letter is mailed to you.   The award letter lists all financial aid for which you are eligible. It is not necessary to return this letter unless you want to reduce or deny any of the financial aid offered. In this case, you're asked to indicate on the award letter the financial aid you wish to accept and to sign, date and return the award letter to us. If you do not return the award letter, Heinz College certifies your federal loan(s) for the maximum loan amount(s) listed on the letter.

Stafford Loan Application*

Stafford loan borrowers are required to submit a Stafford Master Promissory Note (MPN). The Stafford MPN is a multi-year loan application. If you have submitted a Stafford MPN in a prior semester, even if you have attended a different school, it is not necessary to complete another one unless that MPN has expired or you have chosen a new lender. You may submit an online Stafford MPN by clicking on one of the lender links below OR on the AES website using your US Department of Education PIN . If choosing a lender not listed here or on the AES site, please submit your completed paper MPN to the Heinz College Financial Aid Office.

Graduate Student PLUS Loan Application*

If a Graduate Student PLUS Loan is offered in your award letter, you may apply for the loan online by clicking on one of the lender links below OR on the AES website using your US Department of Education PIN. The Grad PLUS Loan application in NOT a multi-year note. Students must submit a new promissory note every time they apply for a Grad PLUS loan. If choosing a lender not listed here or on the AES website, please submit your completed paper Grad PLUS Promissory Note to the Heinz College Financial Aid Office.

*ENTRANCE COUNSELING:   Students who are borrowing Stafford and/or Plus loans must complete federal loan entrance counseling the first time they borrow while attending Heinz College. Entrance counseling must be completed prior to the school certifying the loan. If the lender you select is not listed below, please complete your federal entrance counseling requirement through American Education Services (AES). If you do not have access to a computer, please contact the financial aid office to make other arrangements.

Federal Stafford & Graduate Student PLUS Lenders

Although student borrowers may choose any participating lender for their education loans, the Heinz College has developed the following rotating alphabetical listing of lenders for students who want assistance in selecting a lender. The Federal Stafford Loan and Federal Grad PLUS Loan lenders were selected through a “Request for Information” (RFI) process asking lenders to provide details about their affiliates, their customer service standards and history, and their financial benefits to students. A separate RFI process was used to collect information about (non-federal) education loans.

LENDER LENDER CODE WHERE TO APPLY WHERE TO COMPLETE REQUIRED FEDERAL ENTRANCE COUNSELING
SALLIE MAE 802218 VIEW BORROWER BENEFITS AND APPLY AES
CHASE 811571KB VIEW BORROWER BENEFITS AND APPLY Included in the application process
CITIBANK 808942 VIEW BORROWER BENEFITS AND APPLY AES
CITIZENS 833880KB VIEW BORROWER BENEFITS AND APPLY Included in the application process
PNC 809921KB VIEW BORROWER BENEFITS AND APPLY Included in the application process

Loan Approval

After you have submitted your completed forms and the school has determined your loan eligibility, the school certifies your federal Stafford and/or PLUS loan(s) and sends you a loan certification confirmation letter. Part-time students must be enrolled for at least 18 units before loan certification. Shortly after loan certification you should receive a loan approval and disclosure statement(s) from your lender, one for each type of loan borrowed. Please feel free to contact the Heinz College Financial Aid Office if you have any questions.

Right to Cancel

Please note that you have the right to cancel all or part of your federal Stafford and/or PLUS loan(s) within 30 days of the start of the enrollment period for which the loan is intended or 30 days from the date the school notifies you of receipt of the loan funds. To cancel, call or write the Heinz College Financial Aid Office.