FAQs

Applying for financial aid is as easy as one-two-three!

1. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year in which you are seeking assistance at the federal student aid website. In order to complete and sign your FAFSA electronically, you and your parent will need an FSA ID and password. Please visit studentaid.gov for more information. You may apply as early as, but not before, October 1 each year. 
2. Complete our FGCU Foundation Scholarship application. Annually we award over $5 millions dollars in scholarships through our foundation.
3. Florida resident high school seniors, should apply for Florida Bright Futures and other state aid programs by completing the Florida Financial Aid application. For a full list of state college and grant programs visit here.

  Watch:
Applying for Financial Aid
What is the FAFSA
Creating an FSA ID
FAFSA Tutorial
Un Minuto para Aprender: Solicitar Ayuda Financiera¿Qué es la FAFSA?
Cómo crear una FSA ID

You should always complete the FAFSA for each year you plan to attend college. There’s no income cut-off – regardless of your family’s finances. By submitting the FAFSA, you are applying for federal and state grants, Federal Work-Study, and student loans. Your family’s finances and other factors reported on the FAFSA determine which types of financial aid you qualify for. Those types may be different next year if changes are made at the federal level or to your family’s finances. If you discover you’re not eligible for a grant (free money), you don’t have to accept your student loan if you find it unnecessary to borrow.

NOTE: Many scholarship applications require you to complete the FAFSA. Complete the FAFSA now to save time when you’re applying for scholarships.

Apply as early as possible! You do not have to wait until you’ve been officially accepted. You can complete your FAFSA® form any time after October 1 for the next school year to ensure that you’re eligible for student financial aid.

You must however have an official FGCU ID number (UIN) to complete the online FGCU Foundation Scholarship application. UIN’s are sent to students after they apply for admissions to FGCU.

Yes. To be given the greatest consideration for financial aid programs, you should complete the FAFSA prior to January 1st, which is the FGCU priority date. Some programs are first-come, first-served, so be sure to apply early to avoid losing out on potential funding opportunities.

FGCU's Federal School Code for the FAFSA is 032553. FGCU State School Code for the Florida Financial Aid Application (Bright Futures) is 361.

Yes, complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and FGCU Foundation scholarship application for the academic year in which you are seeking assistance.

 Watch:  Do I have to reapply for Financial Aid each year?

If you listed FGCU on the FAFSA, we will receive your information electronically approximately one week from the date you completed your application. Once we have your FAFSA application, it will be listed under the Financial Aid “My Requirements” section in your Gulfline student portal as received.

The COA includes direct billed charges such as tuition, fees, and room and board if the student is in on-campus housing. COA also includes indirect-billed expenses a student may incur such as allowances for off-campus housing or living with parent/relative as well as additional allowances for books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

To get a better understanding of your estimated cost of attendance, view the Cost of Attendance webpage.

 Watch:  What is Cost of Attendance?

Students are sent electronic billing statements through their Bill & Payment Center. Students can access the Bill & Payment Center by following the steps listed below.

Log into Gulfline
Click on Bill & Payment Center

Watch: How to Log Into the Bill & Payment Center as a Student

Authorized Users have the ability to log directly into the Bill & Payment Center and view the student's account, make payments, and receive statement notifications. The student can assign Authorized Users by following the steps listed below.  

Log into Gulfline
Click on Bill & Payment Center
On the far-right hand side of the screen under My Profile Setup click on Authorized Users
Click on Add Authorized User and follow the steps

Watch: How to Set-up an Authorized User

If the amount of authorized financial aid is greater than your charges, then you will see a negative balance on your account. This means you may be eligible for a refund.

Refunds occur when the amount of the disbursements received on your behalf is greater than the amount owed. The Cashier's Office begins the refund process for each term at the end of the third week of classes.

Students can elect to receive their refund electronically or via paper check.  eRefunds significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to process and receive your funds. To choose this option, follow the simple steps listed below.

Login to Gulfline
Click on the Bill & Payment Center
Select Electronic Refunds from under My Profile Setup
Set Up Account

Watch: How to Set Up Electronic Refunds

The Advanced Bookstore Purchase program allows you to charge books and supplies at the FGCU bookstore using your financial aid.

View the Financial Aid Advance Purchase Program webpage for detailed information.

Your Cost of Attendance at FGCU for one academic year minus your expected family contribution (EFC) and other financial resources equals your demonstrated need (eligibility) for need-based financial aid. The types and amount of financial aid you are awarded depends on the information you supplied on the FAFSA, program eligibility and the availability of funds. Your awards could include grants or scholarships, work-study, or loans.

Graduate and professional students are considered independent students for FAFSA purposes, so when you fill out your FAFSA form to apply for grad school aid, you won't need to provide parent information.

For your convenience, we have created a dedicated webpage with additional guidance and funding opportunities. We encourage you to visit our Financing Graduate Studies  webpage.

You may or may not receive the same type or amount of aid that you were awarded at your previous institution. Not all financial aid transfers from one school to another.

Completing the FAFSA will allow us to determine your eligibility for federal and institutional grants, scholarships, and loans. If you have previously submitted the FAFSA with your prior institution, please ensure you update your application with FGCU’s school code (032553).

If you are a Bright Futures recipient, you must update your school of attendance on your Bright Futures application.

Steps for Updating Your Bright Futures Application School Information 

• • Log in to the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) website.

• • Click on the Update Profile
  • Scroll down until you see the Postsecondary Institution Information Click on the Add New Institutionbutton.
  • Ensure you have the correct year showing for the Academic Yeardropdown box. Under the Institution header select Florida Gulf Coast University from the dropdown box. Then, select the terms you will be enrolled in FGCU for the Academic Year you selected. If you are attending FGCU in the fall select Term 1, for spring select Term 2, for summer select Term 0.
  • Click the Submit button to update your application.

Generally, students must be enrolled in a degree granting program in order to be eligible for financial aid. However, students who are enrolled in the Teacher Immersion Program (TIP) at FGCU and have been approved by the Teacher Immersion Program coordinator may be eligible to borrow Federal Direct Stafford Loan funds.

International students studying in the United States on an F1 or F2 student visa, a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa or a G series visa are not eligible for federal student aid. Information on financial assistance available to international students can be obtained by visiting the  Global Engagement Office.

No. Undocumented students, including DACA students and Dreamers, are not eligible for federal or state financial aid. Undocumented students, including students who have received deferred action (DACA), may qualify for the Non-Resident Tuition Waiver. In addition, students may also qualify for institutional scholarships by completing the online FGCU Foundation Scholarship application.

Additional Resources for Undocumented Students:

Financial Aid & Undocumented Students Questions and Answers
Florida Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education set various limits on different types of federal student financial aid.  Please click each topic below for detailed information:

Financial Aid Limits based on quantitative measures of progress
Pell Grant Limits
Loan Limits

Bright Futures scholarship students may receive funding for up to five years from high school graduation for a maximum of 120 semester hours toward the completion of the first baccalaureate degree. Extended hours of funding are available to Florida Academic Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars students enrolled in a single program of study requiring more than 120 hours by completing the form Application for Extended Hours of Eligibility and mailing to the address listed on the form.

Undergraduate students must enroll for at least 12 credit hours each semester in order to be considered full-time. Graduate students must enroll for at least 9 credit hours each semester in order to be considered full-time.

Generally, state and federal aid is awarded based on full-time status.  At less than full-time some will pay the full amounts, some will pay at reduced amounts, others will be canceled.

Federal Loans require minimum halftime enrollment (6 credits undergraduate and 5 credits graduate). Even if you are halftime, your loan eligibility may change if the full-time amounts do not fit into your revised budget/need level.

 Watch:
What is loan proration?
Do I have to be enrolled full-time to receive financial aid?

Financial aid is always packaged based on full-time enrollment (12+ credits undergraduate and 9+ credits graduate) for the full academic year (fall/spring). Your financial aid awards will be prorated (if necessary) based on the number of credits and terms you’re enrolled; some aid will pay the full amounts, some will pay at reduced amounts, others will be canceled.

Watch:
What is loan proration?
Do I have to be enrolled full-time to receive financial aid?

Federal financial aid regulations require that students complete an academically related activity in each course in which they are enrolled prior to the disbursement of their financial aid. In order to accomplish this, students must complete an academically related activity (assignment) via Canvas. 

For more information visit Attendance Verification.

Students who withdraw from some of their classes or are enrolled less than full time, may not be eligible for all aid awarded. Each aid program has its own rules for enrollment.  Because certain circumstances do result in an adjustment, please contact our office to review your award package before making changes to your enrollment. 

Be advised, if you have utilized federal student loan funding at any point during your academic career, dropping below half-time enrollment will cause you to enter your 6-month loan repayment grace period.

 Watch: If I drop a course or withdraw, what will happen to my financial aid?

Students receiving financial aid, who receive all Fs, Us and/or Ws, in most cases, will be required to return a portion of the financial aid received. This applies to all federal and some state aid programs. The concept behind the policy is that the university and the student are allowed to retain only the amount of federal/state aid that is earned. If a student withdraws or stops attending classes, a portion of the aid received is considered to be unearned and must be returned to the aid programs from which it was received.

Once the university determines the dollar amounts and which individual aid programs must be repaid, the student will be notified of any amounts he/she owes. Any amount of unearned grant funds that a student must return is called an overpayment. Until the overpayment is repaid, the student is unable to register for future classes and ineligible to receive any financial aid.

For more information visit Withdrawals and Repayments.

 Watch: If I drop a course or withdraw, what will happen to my financial aid?

Students will need their Social Security number, driver's license number or state ID, alien registration number for non-U.S. citizens, tax information, records of untaxed income, current bank statements and investments – if any.

Parents will need their tax information, records of untaxed income, net worth and investment information, and current bank statements.

 Watch: Applying for Aid

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is an option offered on the FAFSA that allows the transfer of tax information directly from the IRS into the FAFSA. It is recommended to use this secure tool so that the information provided on your FAFSA is accurate.

  Watch:
IRS Data Retrieval Tool
FAFSA: Providing Tax Information
How do I transfer my tax information to the FAFSA?

The information you submit on your FAFSA is processed with a formula that has been developed by Congress to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is a number which is a measure of your financial strength and used to determine your federal student aid eligibility. The EFC is not the amount of money that your family must pay for school.

 Watch: What does the term EFC stand for?

There are specific questions on your FAFSA that a are used to determine dependency status.  Answer each question on the "Am I Dependent or Independent?" questionnaire to see where you stand.  

  Watch:
What is the difference between a dependent and an independent student?
FAFSA: Dependency Status Questions

The federal student aid programs are based on the concept that it’s primarily your and your family’s responsibility to pay for your education. As a dependent student, you’re assumed to have parental support, so your parents’ information has to be assessed along with yours to get a full picture of your family’s financial strength and calculate your Expected Family Contribution.

  Watch:
Am I required to complete the FAFSA and pay for my student’s education?
What is the difference between a dependent and an independent student?

No.  Not living with parents or not being claimed by them on tax forms does not make you an independent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid. The federal student aid programs are based on the concept that it’s primarily your and your family’s responsibility to pay for your education.

  Watch:
Am I required to complete the FAFSA and pay for my student’s education?
What is the difference between a dependent and an independent student?

Yes. Since your parents' citizenship doesn't affect your ability to complete the FAFSA form, they don't need SSNs. If your parents don't have SSNs, they must enter 000-00-0000 when the FAFSA form asks for their SSNs.

If your parents are divorced or separated, use information about the parent with whom you lived more during the past 12 months. If you lived the same amount of time with each parent, use information about the parent who provided more financial support during the past 12 months or during the most recent year. If this parent is remarried as of today, answer the questions on the FAFSA about that parent and include the person whom your parent married (your stepparent).

 Visit Who is my parent according to the FAFSA® form for additional guidance.    

 Watch:
Parent Information
FAFSA: Parent Demographics

Under very limited circumstances, an otherwise dependent student may be able to submit the FAFSA without parental information due to special circumstances. If you have no contact with your parents and don’t know where they live, or you’ve left home due to an abusive situation, fill out the FAFSA then contact us to request a Dependency Review.

  Watch: FAFSA: Unable to Provide Parent Information 

No. Grandparents and other relatives may not substitute their information for the parent's information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unless they have legally adopted the student.

If you have no contact with your parents and don’t know where they live, or you’ve left home due to an abusive situation, fill out the FAFSA then contact us to request a Dependency Review.

If you listed FGCU on the FAFSA, we will receive your information electronically approximately one week from the date you completed your application. Once we have your FAFSA application, it will be listed under the Financial Aid “My Requirements” section in your Gulfline student portal as received.

Additional documents may be needed to before an official aid offer can be issued. Monitor your Gulfline student portal and Eagle email account for notifications.

You can view your Student Aid Report (SAR) by:

1. selecting “Log In” on the FAFSA home page
2. entering your FSA ID; and
3. selecting “View or Print your Student Aid Report (SAR)” from the “My FAFSA” page.

  Watch:
Student Aid Report (SAR)
Student Aid Report (SAR) - Summary Comments
Student Aid Report (SAR) - Rejected FAFSA

FGCU will begin to send newly admitted students financial aid award letters in early spring. This gives you time to review your awards and make your Admissions deposit before the May 1 deadline.

Continuing students will be packaged after spring grades have been posted and reviewed. Students generally receive their award letters in late May or early June for the upcoming academic year.

  Watch: A Minute to Learn It - Financial Aid Offer

Continuing students will be packaged after spring grades have been posted and reviewed. Students generally receive their award letters in late May or early June for the upcoming academic year.

Check your My Requirements section in Gulfline for any incomplete items that may delay packaging.

There are several reasons as to why your financial aid award package might change. View Why Aid May Change for additional information.

  Watch:
What is a Financial Aid Overaward?
What is the lifetime eligibility Used (LEU) for Pell grants

FGCU assesses a student’s financial need each year that a student applies for financial aid. Generally speaking, if a student’s financial need changes from one year to the next, the corresponding financial aid award would change to reflect that. For example, if a family’s overall financial strength increases, the financial need decreases. If a family’s overall financial strength decreases, the financial need increases.

A student will be offered the same aid package whether they live on or off-campus.  If you live off-campus, your bill will be significantly less each semester since you won’t be charged room and board. If your aid exceeds your bill, the excess funds will be refunded to you to help pay for off-campus expenses.  You can use that refund to pay your landlord, to buy food, etc.  Just remember that refunds don't get issued until the third week of classes.

Your Cost of Attendance (COA) is dependent on several factors, including enrolled hours, residency, academic career, and housing election. Changes to any of these will cause your COA to change and consequentially your financial aid awards may change.

  Watch: What is Cost of Attendance?

When you complete the FAFSA, the information you provide on the application is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC helps FGCU figure out how much of and what types of financial aid you qualify for, including grants.

Many grant programs, including the Federal Pell Grant have an EFC limit. This means students who have a FAFSA-calculated EFC higher than that limit are not eligible for the grant.

If you were not offered enough financial aid to cover your costs, the following options may be available.

• Scholarship Opportunities: For links to local & national scholarship searches and other valuable FGCU scholarship information, visit our scholarship webpage.
• Student Employment: There are student employment opportunities right here on campus and in the local community. Locate and connect with companies and community partners for internships, part-time jobs, and full-time career opportunities through Eagle Career Network.
• Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans: Parents of dependent students may borrow parent PLUS Loans. To receive a parent PLUS loan, you must be the biological or adoptive parent (or in some cases, the stepparent) of a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time.
• Private Education Loans: Private Education Loans are educational loans offered by private lenders, usually banks. 

If you are thinking about borrowing to help pay for your student's higher education, first learn all you can about education loans and then borrow only what is necessary.

  Watch:
What is a Parent PLUS loan?
What is a private loan?
Differences Between Private and Federal Student Loans

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship is a merit award based on high school academic achievement.

  Watch: Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

Eligibility and application criteria are available on the Florida Bright Futures Program website.

Students are not required to submit a FAFSA in order to receive both initial and renewal Bright Futures eligibility. Students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA to learn of potential eligibility for additional state, federal aid and institutional aid.

Students may receive either the Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) Award or Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) Award. Gold Seal (Cape/or Vocational) Scholarships are not offered at FGCU as we are a postsecondary institution specialized in degree programs.

FGCU will post Bright Futures awards for First Time in College (FTIC) students after we are notified by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) that the student has met the eligibility criteria. For the majority of students this occurs in mid-July.

To prevent a delay in awarding, please ensure that you have listed FGCU as the school you will be attending. Until you have chosen FGCU as your primary school, we will be unable to receive your scholarship funds.

To check on the status of your application and to verify that FGCU is listed as your school of choice, log back into your OSFA account or contact the Florida Department of Education at 1-888-827-2004.

The Florida Academic Scholars award covers 100% of tuition and state approved fees. The Florida Medallion Scholars award covers 75% of tuition and state approved fees. There are some specific course-related fees (i.e. lab fees) that are not included in the scholarship. Florida state legislature determines which fees are covered by Bright Futures awards.

The award pays on a per credit hour basis as follows:

Florida Academic Scholars Award              $205.69
Florida Medallion Scholars Award             $154.26

No.  Students only have to be enrolled a minimum of half-time (6 credit hours) to receive the scholarship. 

Students may receive funding for up to five years from high school graduation for a maximum of 120 semester hours toward the completion of the first baccalaureate degree. Extended hours of funding are available to FAS and FMS students enrolled in a single program of study requiring more than 120 hours by completing the form Application for Extended Hours of Eligibility and mailing to the address available on the form.

A FAS or FMS scholarship recipient who graduates with a baccalaureate degree in seven or fewer semesters, or in 105 semester hours or fewer, may receive funding for one semester of graduate study, not to exceed 15 credit hours paid at the undergraduate rate. Graduate school funding must be used within five years from high school graduation.

If you drop or withdraw after the disbursement process for your scholarship has started, you are required, by the state of Florida, to repay FGCU for any credits for which Bright Futures paid.

Students must earn a certain number of credit hours in order to renew your Bright Futures, based on credit hours funded after drop/add. You cannot use the summer term to make up the credit hours needed for renewal. Dropping the class is usually the best course of action if at risk of failing.  If you are at risk of failing a class, please stop by the Financial Aid office to find the best course of action to take to maintain eligibility for Bright Futures.

Students are also required to maintain GPA requirements. For all renewal requirements, visit the Office of Student Financial Assistance website.

Renewal students must earn the GPA and the required credit hours indicated below on all college coursework attempted, including transient enrollment hours.

Students may restore their Bright Futures award for failure to meet the GPA renewal requirement at the end of the Spring term in their first year of funding only. They may use their subsequent summer as their one-time restoration opportunity or they may attempt restoration at a subsequent renewal period (end of Spring term).

Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) with 2.75-2.99 GPA at the end of the renewal period will renew as Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS). If the GPA improves above a 3.0 in a subsequent renewal period, the student will restore as a FAS, using the one-time restoration opportunity.

Learn more about restoration on the Bright Futures Website in Chapter 3: Renewal Eligibility, page 6.

A student who fails to meet the minimum earned hours requirement in any academic year renewal period will not be permitted a restoration opportunity.

If a student’s last status was ineligible for not meeting renewal requirements and the student did not receive funding during the previous academic year, the student will need to submit a Reinstatement/Restoration Application. A student must complete a Reinstatement/Restoration Application after logging into their online OSFA account. Please note that the academic year for which a student is applying is at the top of the application. New applications are available in February each year.

If determined eligible for reinstatement, the student will receive the Bright Futures award (Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Medallion Scholars) for which he/she was last eligible prior to reinstatement.

Students may use the summer term to restore their Bright Futures award for failure to meet the GPA renewal requirement in their first year of funding only. Summer cannot be used to meet credit hour renewal criteria.

Florida Statutes provide an appeal process for students who do not meet academic progress requirements for renewal of the Bright Futures Scholarships. The law allows exceptions to be made when students fall below the minimum grade point average and/or credit hours earned requirements for a state award. Appeals may be filed when a student does not meet academic progress requirements due to one of two circumstances: illness or emergency. The appeal documents must present a clear connection between the illness or emergency and the student’s poor academic performance.

To appeal the termination of Bright Futures, the student must submit The Bright Futures and State Programs Academic Appeal form. When completing the form describe in detail the reasons or circumstances that merit a review of your scholarship eligibility. Your written statement must include a description of the problem/incident indicating dates and time period involved, as well as the impact on your academic performance. Attach date-specific documentation to substantiate your written statement.

To access the form:

• Log in to your Gulfline Student Portal
• Select the Financial Aid Tab
• Select Online Forms
• Complete and submit the Bright Futures and State Programs Academic Appeal form

No. You do not need to give your card to the Bursar's Office to verify participation. FGCU matches a list of currently enrolled students to Florida Prepaid database using the students’ social security number.

Florida Prepaid rates will vary bases on the plan you have purchased. Use the Florida Prepaid Calculator to help estimate your out-of-pocket costs.

Yes. You may use both programs to help fund your educational expenses. You do not lose funding in one program because you have the other.

Florida Prepaid is handled through the Bursar’s Office and is applied directly to the student’s account. When the Bright Futures is disbursed, it will be applied to any institutional charges on the student account, and any left-over credit will be refunded to the student.

For more information, visit the Bursar’s Florida Prepaid webpage. You can also contact their office via email cashiers@fgcu.edu or phone 239-590-1213.

Gulfline is FGCU's is a central resource for student services and academic resources. Financial Aid information on Gulfline allows you to:

• View what documents are needed to complete your financial aid package
• View, accept or decline your financial aid awards
• Complete your Terms and Conditions
• Submit financial aid forms

To view your financial aid awards, follow these steps:

• Log into your Gulfline Student Portal
• Click on the Financial Aid tab.
• Click on My Award Information
• Click on Award by Aid Year
• Select the correct aid year from the drop-down menu
• Click on the Award Overview tab
• Scroll down and you can view all financial aid awarded

Gift and grant aid are automatically accepted for you. To accept or decline your student loans, follow these steps:

• Log into your Gulfline Student Portal
• Click on the Financial Aid tab.
• Click on My Award Information
• Click on Award by Aid Year
• Select the correct aid year from the drop-down menu
• Click on Terms & Conditions Tab
• Read and accept the Terms & Conditions
• Click on Accept Award Offer Tab
• At the bottom of the page, you can accept or deny your loans.

NOTE:

• We encourage you to borrow only what you need. You do not need to accept the full amount of the loan offered to you. You can accept a partial award but changing the value in the accept field.
• Loan amounts are split equally between fall and spring.

Items needed to complete your financial aid package will be listed under the My Requirements section in your Gulfline Student Portal. 

To review outstanding financial aid requirements:

• Log in to Gulfline
• Click on Student and Financial Aid
• Click on Financial Aid
• My Requirements
• Select Aid Year

All financial aid recipients are required to read and electronically accept the Terms & Conditions. Financial aid terms & conditions must be accepted in before you review your financial aid offers.

To accept Terms and Conditions:

• Log in to Gulfline
• Click Student & Financial Aid
• Click Financial Aid
• Click My Award Information
• Click Award by Aid Year
• Select the applicable aid year from the drop-down menu
• Click the Terms & Conditions tab
• Read Terms & Conditions
• Click Accept at the bottom of the page

No. The Terms & Conditions provide you with your rights and responsibilities. They detail the conditions you must meet and maintain in order to be eligible for Federal, State, and Institutional aid including student loans.  

Direct Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need.  An unsubsidized loan accrues interest, while a subsidized loan does not.

  Watch:
A Minute to Learn It - Federal Direct Student Loans for Undergrads
What is a Federal Direct Student Loan?
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre una beca y un préstamo?

Entrance Counseling is required for students who have not previously received a subsidized/unsubsidized loan or PLUS loan (graduate/professional students only).

To complete Entrance Counseling:

• Go to studentaid.gov
• Select Complete Aid Process
• Select Complete Entrance Counseling
• Select Your Student Status and Log in using your FSA ID and password

  Watch:  Loan Entrance Counseling

The Master Promissory Note is your promise to repay the loan. Every student planning to use Federal Student loans to help finance their education will need to complete a Master Promissory Note.

To sign your Master Promissory Note:

• Go to studentaid.gov
• Select Complete Aid Process
• Select Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
• Choose the Direct Loan MPN you want to complete
• Log in using your FSA ID and password

  Watch:  Master Promissory Note Tutorial

A Parent PLUS Loan allows for a parent to help pay for their child's education through a fixed rate federal loan. The loan is in the parent's name; not the student's and in order to be approved, the borrower must not have adverse credit. The US Department of Education is the lender for the loan and the parent is responsible for repaying any amounts borrowed. In order to have a PLUS Loan awarded on the student's account, the student must have a FAFSA application on file and be enrolled in at least 6 credits per semester.

To apply for a Direct Parent PLUS Loan:

• Go to studentaid.gov and log in using your (the parents) information. DO NOT log in using the student's information; the student cannot complete this for you.
• Click on the link that says I AM A PARENT
• Select Apply for a Direct Plus Loan
• Follow directions carefully and complete each section entering award year, student information, requests for deferment and authorization, school and loan information such as loan amount, loan period (see above)
• Enter Borrower Information and confirm submission of credit check
• Review all information for accuracy before submission; then click SUBMIT
• Once the application has been submitted, you will immediately receive an approval or denial.
• If approved, follow the next steps to Complete a Master Promissory Note.
• If denied, you have four options. You can try to appeal the decision with the Department of Education, add an endorser (co-signer) on the loan, or they can choose to not pursue a PLUS loan at this time, or remain undecided. Choosing the option to not pursue the loan or remaining undecided will result in the student being offered the option to receive an additional unsubsidized loan funds up to the amount of $4000 for students with earned credits between 0 and 59, and up to $5000 for students with earned credits between 60 and 180 credits.

  Watch:
What Does Adverse Credit History Mean when apply for a PLUS Loan?
Parent PLUS Loan MPN: Tips to Complete
What are my options when I am denied a PLUS loan?
Parent PLUS Loan Borrower Responsibilities

Private student loans are issued by private financial institutions. Interest rates differ from one lender to another, and you usually have a choice between a fixed or variable rate. Before approving you for a private student loan, private lenders look at your financial credentials, including your credit. If you can’t qualify on your own, you might have to apply with a cosigner.

NOTE: To receive school certification of your private student loan, you must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress.

  Watch:
What is a private loan?
¿Qué es un préstamo privado?
Differences Between Private and Federal Student Loans
Finding and Researching Private Loans

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined as the successful completion of coursework toward an eligible certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships to monitor the academic progress of students receiving financial aid.

   Watch:
What is SAP
¿Que significa SAP?

Students are measured on GPA (a qualitative measure), Completion Rate and Maximum Timeframe (quantitative measures). 

Undergraduate students must maintain an institutional GPA of 2.0 or higher, earn a minimum of 70% of the total credits attempted and complete the degree within 150% of the program length.

Graduate Students must maintain an institutional GPA of 3.0 or higher, earn a minimum of 70% of the total credits attempted and complete the degree within 150% of the program length.

For detailed information visit the Satisfactory Academic Progress webpage.

The SAP Process is run annually at the end of each spring term after grades are posted. Students on financial aid probation will be reviewed at the end of each term.

A student who does not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy is considered ineligible for financial aid. However, they may submit an appeal if they have a documented extenuating circumstance that prevented them from meeting the standards. Students seeking reinstatement of their eligibility to receive financial aid must submit a formal appeal and provide supporting documentation.

To access the form:

• Log in to your Gulfline Student Portal
• Select the Financial Aid Tab
• Select Online Forms
• Complete and submit the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form

After the appeal is approved the student will either be allotted one semester to achieve SAP or be assigned an academic plan.  The academic plan will include criteria that must be achieved over two or more semesters. Students on probation will be reviewed at the end of each semester to determine if SAP was achieved or if the academic plan was successfully completed. Students will remain on probation until they achieve their academic plan and reach SAP or until the student graduates.

NOTE: If the student fails to meet the conditions of the academic plan the financial aid status will revert to suspension and financial aid will cease. Students will remain on suspension until meeting SAP or may appeal again after completing one semester on their own, as long as they have achieved SAP standards during that semester.

For a full list of scholarship opportunities, visit our Scholarship webpage.

Through the generosity of many individuals, alumni, local philanthropists, nonprofit organizations and corporations, the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation has established academic merit and financial need-based scholarships for FGCU students.

For more information and to apply, visit our Scholarship webpage. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as these awards are highly competitive.

The FAFSA is the instrument used by the Foundation to determine financial need. Both merit and need-based scholarships are available. Merit scholarships do not require the FAFSA or financial need.

Most Foundation scholarships are awarded during the spring and summer terms before the start of the upcoming academic year. 

Students selected for a Foundation scholarship will receive an email sent to their Eagle email account. The email will include information on the scholarship for which they’ve been selected and a link to submit required post-acceptance scholarship materials needed to process the award.

FGCU does not send notifications to students not selected for scholarships. Your application will stay active for the entire year.

Yes. Students must complete a yearly scholarship application.

The First-Generation Matching Grant Program is a need-based financial aid program supported with both institutional and state funding. First Generation students can apply for various First-Generation Matching Grants by completing the Foundation Scholarship application.

  Watch: What is the Florida First Generation Matching Grant Program?

The majority of scholarships require a student to complete 30 credit hours per year and maintain a 3.0 cumulative FGCU grade point average.

Individual renewal criteria for Admissions Merit scholarships can be found on our Scholarships and Waivers webpage.

Thousands of organizations and employers offer scholarships for prospective and returning students to help fund their college education. To aid you in your search, visit our Scholarship webpage.

  Watch:
Finding Scholarships
Tips for Completing Scholarship Applications
Tips for Writing a Great Scholarship Essay  

Possibly. If a student's financial aid exceeds their financial need and/or the university's established cost of attendance, an adjustment must be made to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations and institutional guidelines. Self-help aid, such as direct loans and federal work-study awards, are adjusted before grants or scholarships are affected.

  Watch: What is a Financial Aid Overaward?

To ensure proper credit to your account, please ask the donor to include your full name and University identification number (UIN) on the scholarship check. 

Scholarship checks should be made payable to "Florida Gulf Coast University" and sent to:

Florida Gulf Coast University

Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships

10501 FGCU Blvd S

Fort Myers, FL 33965

If you are experiencing significant changes in your financial situation or household due to COVID-19 or other circumstances, you may request a reevaluation of your financial aid eligibility. In certain circumstances, the financial aid office may adjust the FAFSA information to more accurately reflect your current situation. Additional financial assistance is determined on a case-by-case basis and may be in the form of a loan, employment, or grant. Submission of this form does not guarantee an adjustment or increase to your financial assistance.

For your convenience, we have created a dedicated webpage with additional guidance and instructions. We encourage you to visit our Change in Circumstances webpage.

  Watch:
What should I do if I have a special circumstance?
What if my financial situation is different than what is on the FAFSA?

If you are experiencing significant changes in your financial situation or household you may request a reevaluation of your financial aid eligibility. In certain circumstances, the financial aid office may adjust the FAFSA information to more accurately reflect your current situation. Additional financial assistance is determined on a case-by-case basis and may be in the form of a loan, employment, or grant. Submission of this form does not guarantee an adjustment or increase to your financial assistance.

For your convenience, we have created a dedicated webpage with additional guidance and instructions. We encourage you to visit our Change in Circumstances webpage.

  Watch:
What should I do if I have a special circumstance?
What if my financial situation is different than what is on the FAFSA?

Under very limited circumstances (for example: your parents are incarcerated, you have left home due to an abusive family environment, or you do not know where your parents are and are unable to contact them), you may be able to submit your FAFSA without parental information. Once you submit your FAFSA without your parental data, you must follow up with our office in order to determine what documentation may be needed to complete your financial aid file.

  Watch: FAFSA: Unable to Provide Parent Information

Transient status allows students enrolled in a degree-seeking program at FGCU to take courses at a host institution. Students can mix and match courses from across the state as long as they fulfill state, institution, and program requirements with approval from Advising and Enrollment Services.

For more information, visit our Transient Student webpage.

Per federal regulations, financial aid can be used only for coursework that is required for your degree program. Your academic advisor must make the determination of whether your desired transient coursework is required.

For more information, visit our Transient Student webpage.

No, you cannot receive financial aid at both institutions. FGCU (home institution) will process your financial aid.

Return to Title IV policies apply for students that do not finish the course(s), do not satisfactorily complete the course(s), or are unable to produce a transcript from the host institution within 30 days after the end of the term.

Financial aid is available for some study abroad programs. Financial aid eligibility for studying abroad is determined by the type of study abroad program you attend, as well as the type of financial aid you receive. Only students earning a degree at FGCU are eligible.

For more information visit our Study Abroad Programs webpage.

In some cases, students are eligible for financial aid during the summer term. Most aid programs require that you enroll at least half-time.

For more information, visit our Summer Financial Aid webpage.

  Watch: Can I receive a Pell grant if I go to school year-round?

There is no separate summer aid application. Students who enroll for the summer and have a FAFSA on file for the aid year preceding the summer semester will be automatically considered.

If you haven’t maxed out on federal loans for the academic year and want to take out a summer loan, you will need to complete the Loan Request/Cancellation Form. To access the form:

• Log in to your Gulfline Student Portal
• Select the Financial Aid Tab
• Select Online Forms
• Complete and submit the Direct Loan Request/Cancellation form

Your summer financial aid is determined based on your enrolled credit hours, your remaining aid eligibility and availability of funds.

A FAFSA is required to be submitted each academic year; the 2021-2022 FAFSA will be used for the Summer 2022 semester. The 2022-2023 will be used for the following Fall 2022, Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 semesters.

No. Year-round Pell is available to allow eligible students to receive a Pell Grant for summer even if they received a full Pell Grant during the fall and spring terms.

  Watch: Can I receive a Pell grant if I go to school year-round?

Verification is the process used to check the accuracy of information submitted by students on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you are selected for verification, we must verify this information before you are offered financial aid.

If there are differences between your self-reported FAFSA information and the information you/your parent(s) provided as part of the verification process (including your federal tax return), we may update your FAFSA and recalculate your financial aid eligibility.

  Watch:
What is Verification?
Will I still get my financial aid if I have been selected for Verification?

The U.S. Department of Education chooses student applications for verification and requires that universities check the accuracy of the information provided on the FAFSA or the renewal application.

  Watch: What happens when a student is selected for Verification?

Yes, you did already answer these questions or provide the information on the FAFSA. Verification is a process where we make sure that you have filled out the FAFSA correctly.

Students who have been selected for verification will receive an email to their Eagle email account. The email will contain a link to your online verification portal.  Within the portal you will find instructions on how to complete your task list.

  Watch:  Completing Verification in ProVerifier

As a federal regulation, the verification process must be completed in order for a student to receive any federal or state aid and most institutional aid. If you do not wish to complete the verification process, and therefore not receive financial aid, please notify the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships via email to verification@fgcu.edu from your Eagle email account and we can update your status.

Students who have been selected for verification will receive an email to their Eagle email account. The email will contain a link to your online verification portal.  Within the portal you will find instructions on how to complete your task list.

  Watch:  Completing Verification in ProVerifier

During the verification process, information is compared to the original data on the FAFSA and corrections may be made. Once the corrections are made, the corrected data is submitted electronically to the Department of Education. These corrections may decrease or increase your EFC, or it may not change at all. Financial need is determined by the EFC, therefore a change to the EFC could impact aid eligibility. 

  Watch:  Will I still get financial aid if I have been selected for verification?

Federal work study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education.

  Watch:
What is Federal Work-Study?
¿Qué es el programa federal estudio-trabajo?

In order to qualify for work-study, you need to file the FAFSA. You will also need to complete a Federal Work Student Eligibility Request form. 

For more information and to complete the request form visit our Work Study webpage.

Eagle Career Network  is your one-stop-shop for on and off campus jobs, internships, and research/lab assistantships.

Federal work-study is earned as you work. It is paid to you in the form of a bi-weekly paycheck, not deducted from your bill.

 Watch:  Does Federal Work-Study help pay my tuition bill?