Our staff prepares financial aid packages for any student who has been accepted to Immaculata’s College of Undergraduate Studies and who has completed the application process. By utilizing this step-by-step guide, you will be able to complete the entire process smoothly and ensure that all your financial aid will disburse promptly and accurately at the beginning of the academic year. Incoming freshmen and transfer students can expect to have their financial aid package mailed around March 1st. Continuing student packages are mailed around June 1st.

Step 1 – Apply

Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The financial aid process begins by completing the FAFSA. This application will be used to determine your family’s financial profile and your eligibility for all need-based aid. This form is available starting October 1st and may be completed online. Immaculata’s FAFSA code is 003276.

FSA ID
The FSA ID, a username and password, has replaced the Federal Student Aid PIN and must be used to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents. If you do not already have an FSA ID, you can create one when logging in.

IRS Data Retrieval
Students and Parents who have filed their IRS tax return will be able to select the IRS Data Retrieval option on the FAFSA to transfer tax information to the FAFSA. We strongly encourage you to select this option during the initial filing or when subsequent corrections are made to your FAFSA. This option will streamline and expedite the processing of your Financial Aid application. According to the IRS, this tool cannot be used until 1-2 weeks after electronically filing a return and 6-8 weeks after filing a paper tax return.

Your Student Aid Report (SAR)
Upon successful completion of the FAFSA, you will receive a SAR (Student Aid Report) from the Department of Education. Your SAR will have your calculated EFC (Expected Family Contribution). This number is used to calculate your financial need and is the basis in determining most federal, state, and institutional aid. Check the data on the SAR for accuracy! If necessary, make corrections to your FAFSA.

Step 2 – Plan

Your Financial Aid Package

Once Immaculata University receives your completed FAFSA and accepts you to the College of Undergraduate Studies, the Office of Financial Aid will send you a financial aid package. In this package will be a letter with details about funding offered and requests for any required additional documentation. If you choose to reject any of the aid offered to you, send notification to the Office of Financial Aid in writing or via e-mail. Students can also send the reply page included with the award letter to accept or reject their award.

The Verification Process

Students who complete a FAFSA can be randomly selected by the Department of Education to complete a process called verification, which is used to validate the information completed on your FAFSA. You will receive notification via your Student Aid Report (SAR) as well as on your financial aid package if you have been selected for this process. Students who were not selected for this process do not need to submit the information below.

If you are selected for verification, you must submit all required documentation as indicated in your Financial Aid Package. If you did not complete the IRS data retrieval on the FAFSA, and are required to submit your federal tax information, students and parents should request their tax return transcripts directly from the IRS on www.irs.gov, or call the IRS at 800.908.9946. The Office of Financial Aid cannot accept copies of parent or student tax returns.

Since this process could impact the amounts of aid awarded, the Office of Financial Aid suggests submitting this information as soon as you decide to attend Immaculata University.

Additional Aid

In addition to aid offered by Immaculata University and the state and federal governments, many organizations offer excellent scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance. Students interested in researching free outside scholarship opportunities can do so at www.fastweb.com or www.educationplanner.org.

If at any time you receive additional aid, federal regulations require you to notify the Office of Financial Aid. If an “over-award” (funds received in excess of your calculated financial need) results due to the additional funding, the Office of Financial Aid must make appropriate changes to your financial aid package. A revised award letter will be sent to you with the details of your new financial aid package.

Step 3 – Complete

Paying Your Remaining Balance

On your award letter, the Office of Financial Aid will calculate the estimated amount needed to pay your bill. There are three options available:

• IU Installment Payment Plan
• Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program
• Private Educational Loans Options

Please review each program to determine which option is best for you. For additional information regarding all educational loan options, please visit our student loans section.

Entrance Counseling

Federal regulations require that, before any Federal Direct Loans are disbursed to a student’s account, the student must complete an entrance counseling session. This takes about 20 minutes and must be done online at https://studentaid.gov. The entrance counseling session provides information about how to manage student loans, both during and after college.

Master Promissory Notes

All loans require you to sign a promissory note, which is your promise to repay your loan. Federal Direct and Federal Direct PLUS Loan promissory notes may be completed online at https://studentaid.gov.

Title IV Authorization Form

For students who have been awarded federal funding (i.e. Pell grant, Direct Sub/Unsub Loan, etc.) you must complete a Title IV Authorization Form before funds can be disbursed. This form allows you to choose whether you want any excess balance on your student account to carry forward till the end of the year (July 1st) or have it refunded to you each semester. This form can be found on the Forms page within Financial Aid.

If you have any questions while completing the process, please feel free to contact us at finaid@immaculata.edu or 610-647-4400 ext. 3028.