Frequently Asked Questions

Financial Aid | Grants, Loans, Scholarships | FAQs | Bursar's Office | Contact FA

1. How do I apply for aid?
Completing the FAFSA is the first step in the financial aid process. Once all of the required signatures are received, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Your SAR will summarize the data you report on your application. Check this information carefully to make sure it is accurate. Keep a copy of your SAR. If your FAFSA information is complete, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be printed in the upper-right hand corner. Your EFC will be based on the financial information you provide on the FAFSA, and your school will use it to award your financial aid.


2. What forms are required to get started?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the only form that you need to get started. It begins the financial aid process for you. Once your FAFSA is processed, you will receive a Student Aid Report, a SAR.


3. How do I get a PIN?
If you do not have a PIN and you have not already submitted your FAFSA, go to www.pin.ed.gov and select Apply for a PIN. To apply for a PIN, you will need to provide your Social Security Number, full name, complete address, date of birth, e-mail address (if you have one) and a security pass phrase. Once you have completed the PIN application, select the "Submit Request" button. If the information you entered passes an identity check with the Social Security Administration, a PIN will be mailed or e-mailed to you. If you do not have a PIN and you already submitted your FAFSA, you will automatically be issued a PIN. If you provided an e-mail address on your FAFSA, a link to your PIN will be e-mailed to you. If you did not provide your e-mail address, your PIN will be mailed to you in approximately 7-10 business days after your FAFSA is processed. If you already have a PIN and you do not remember it or would like to be sent another copy, go to www.pin.ed.gov and select Request a Duplicate PIN. To complete the PIN Request, you will need to provide your Social Security Number, the first two (2) letters of your last name, and your date of birth. If you already have a PIN and you attempt to apply for a new one, you will be told that you have already been assigned a PIN. You will then have a chance to update your PIN mailing address.


4. Do I have to supply parent information on my FAFSA?
If you answer yes to any of the following questions you do not have to supply parent information on the FAFSA, however if you cannot answer yes to at least one question you must supply parent information.
1. Were you born before January 1, 1982?
2. Are you enrolled in a graduate or professional educational program (beyond a bachelor’s degree)?
3. Are you married?
4. Are you an orphan or ward of the court (or were you a ward of the court until age 18)?
5. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed forces?
6. Do you have children for whom you provide more than half their support?
7. Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) for whom you provide more than half their support, now and through June 30, 2006?


5. I'm a dependent student, but whose information do I report if my parents are divorced or separated?
You report information about the parent you lived with for the greater amount of time during the 12 months preceding the date of application. If you didn't live with either parent, or if you lived with each parent an equal number of days, use information about the parent who provided the greater amount of financial support during the 12 months preceding the date of application. If you didn't receive any parental financial support during that time, you must report information about the parent who most recently provided the greater amount of parental support. If the parent you receive financial support from was a single parent who is now married, or the parent was divorced or widowed but has remarried, your stepparent's financial information is required on the FAFSA. This does not mean your stepparent is obligated to give financial assistance to you, but his or her income and assets represent significant information about the family's resources. Including this information on the FAFSA helps us form an accurate picture of your family's total financial strength.


6. I would be considered a dependent student, but I have no contact with my parents. What do I do about reporting their income?
In unusual cases, an aid administrator can determine that a student who doesn't meet the above criteria should nevertheless be treated as an independent student. The financial aid administrator can change your dependency status from dependent to independent based on adequate documentation of any special circumstances you might have. You must provide this documentation. But, the aid administrator won't automatically change your status. That decision is based on the aid administrator's judgment and is final—you can't appeal that decision.


7. The FAFSA asks for South Hills School of Business & Technology’s Federal School Code. What is it?
South Hills School of Business & Technology’s Federal School Code is 013263.


8. Who is eligible to receive Federal Student Aid?
To be eligible to receive federal student aid, you must meet certain requirements. You must be:
• A U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Registered with Selective Service (see www.sss.gov for more information)
• Attending a participating school
• Working toward a degree or certificate
• Making satisfactory academic progress
Also
• You must not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal education loan
• You must have financial need (except for unsubsidized Stafford Loans)
• You must not have any drug convictions
Other requirements may apply. Contact your school's financial aid office for more information.


9. Is there a deadline?
Yes. If you are a new student in Pennsylvania – which means you have never applied for financial aid before - your deadline is August 1. If you have applied before, your deadline is May 1.


10. How will I know what I'm eligible for?
The information you reported on your FAFSA is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The formula used to calculate your EFC is established by law and is used to measure your family's financial strength on the basis of your family's income and assets. The EFC is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid and indicates how much money you and your family are expected to contribute toward your cost of attendance for the school year. If your EFC is below a certain number, you'll be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements. Once you have signed and returned your enrollment agreement with the $75 enrollment fee to South Hills the Financial Aid Office will process your aid. The Financial Aid

office will notify you with an award letter indicating the aid for which you are eligible. Each time your aid package changes you will receive a new award letter.

11. I plan to attend school on a part-time basis while working full-time. Am I eligible for a State Grant?
Part-time students must be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (a minimum of six semester credits or the equivalent per semester) during a specific term in order to be considered for State Grant aid. You must inform your financial aid administrator if you will be receiving tuition reimbursement from your employer. Part-time grants are calculated at one-half of the applicant's eligibility for a full-time award.