FAQs

• Apply for a U.S. Department of Education FSA ID. An FSA ID gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. You are encouraged to file the FAFSA by our priority filing date of January 1.
• Complete the FGCU Foundation Scholarship application online. Priority consideration will be given to students who complete and submit the application by January 1. The application deadline is March 1.

Back to top

You don't have to wait until you're admitted to FGCU in order to apply for financial aid. Students can complete the FAFSA online starting October 1 for the upcoming academic year (Fall and Spring semesters). Indicate on your FAFSA that you want FGCU to receive a copy of your FAFSA information by including our Federal school code (032553).

If you haven't been admitted to FGCU when the Financial Aid Office receives your FAFSA information, your application will be held aside pending admission before you are awarded financial aid.

You must however have an official FGCU ID number (UIN) to complete the online FGCU Foundation Scholarship application.

Back to top

You may apply as early as, but not before, October 1 each year. You are encouraged to file the FAFSA by our priority filing date of January 1.

Back to top

No, the FAFSA is a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The official FAFSA site is https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

Beware of scams. Some sites charge to submit the application for you and others advertise services to help you apply for financial aid for a fee. If you use one of these services, you will be providing personal information to a non-government agency.

Back to top

FGCU's Federal School Code (also known as the Title IV Institution Code) is 032553.

Back to top

Federal student aid programs are based on the principle that students (and their parents or spouse, if applicable) are considered the primary source of support for postsecondary education.

When you apply for federal student aid, your answers to certain questions will determine whether you're considered dependent on your parents or independent. If you're considered dependent, your parents' income and assets as well as your own must be reported on the FAFSA. If you're independent, you'll report only your own income and assets (and those of your spouse, if you're married).

For additional Federal Student Aid (FSA) guidance on the student's dependency status, review the FSA handbook.

Back to top

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

Back to top

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

Back to top

If you don't know where your parents live, or you've left home due to an abusive situation, fill out the FAFSA and then immediately get in touch with the financial aid office. Your financial aid advisor will instruct you on what to do next. Don't put this off or you might miss important deadlines!

Back to top

If you are a dependent student, you must provide parental information on the FAFSA. The following people are not your parents unless they have adopted you: grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, older brothers or sisters, and uncles or aunts.

Back to top

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).

Back to top

FGCU's priority deadline is January 1. Students who have completed a FAFSA by the priority deadline are more likely to receive funds from all programs for which they are eligible. After the priority deadline, funding in many programs, especially campus-based programs such as Federal Work-Study may be exhausted. Applying by the priority deadline will always be to your advantage.

Back to top

After you have been admitted to FGCU, and the Financial Aid Office has received an electronic record of your FAFSA from the U. S. Dept. of Education, your record will be reviewed to determine what financial aid you are eligible for. You may be required to submit additional documentation to the Financial Aid Office to ensure that your application is complete and accurate. (See the verification page of our website for more information)

Once your application has been processed and verified, you will be awarded financial aid. The Financial Aid Office will notify you by email to check your record in Gulfline to view your financial aid awards.

Back to top

New and returning students will receive an award letter notification via email by the end of March of each year. This email provides step-by-step instructions on how to review your awards via Gulfline.

Back to top

You must complete the FAFSA each year in order to be considered for federal and institutional aid for the upcoming academic year. You must also complete the FGCU Foundation Scholarship application each year in order to be considered for a scholarship, even if you have received one in the past.

Back to top

 Back to top

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.

Back to top

The U.S. Department of Education has developed a process called Verification in order to insure the accuracy of the information that is reported by students and parents on the FAFSA. The central application processor for the U.S. Department of Education selects some applications randomly; others are selected because the reported information appears to be inconsistent or incorrect. The Financial Aid Office is also permitted to select applications for Verification. If you are selected for Verification, you must provide certain documents to the Financial Aid Office. Students are notified via email if they have been selected for verification and the documents needed. If inaccuracies are found in the review process, your FAFSA will be reprocessed with the correct information. Please see the Verification page of our website for more information.

Back to top

Yes. However, the cost of attendance will be higher than that of an in-state student. In addition, some programs are only available for Florida residents.

Back to top

Graduate students are eligible to receive Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Work-Study, the FGCU Graduate Student Grant and, in some cases, the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan. The FAFSA must be completed to apply for all of these awards. In addition, graduate students may also complete the online FGCU Foundation Scholarship application.

Back to top

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 Stafford Loan funds.

Back to top

International students are not eligible for any federal financial aid or aid from the state of Florida. The Office of International Students at FGCU provides information about financial opportunities for international students. 

Back to top

Please view Financial Aid & Undocumented Students Questions and Answers.

Back to top

Yes, it can. Your award may be increased, reduced or even canceled if:

• You provided incorrect data on your FAFSA.
• You are suspended by your college or by the University.
• You are placed on financial aid suspension.
• You do not enroll for the required number of hours to receive aid through the programs awarded to you.

Back to top

Not necessarily. Some awards may remain the same while other need-based awards may change based on the EFC on your FAFSA.

Back to top

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. Changes to a student's award offer may result in a financial obligation to the Florida Gulf Coast University.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

In some cases, changes in family circumstances can be considered when determining your eligibility for financial aid. You may speak with a Financial Aid Office representative to determine whether the change in your circumstances warrants an adjustment of your FAFSA information. .

Circumstances may include but are not limited to:

• Involuntary loss of employment (e.g. termination, lay off) of student, spouse or parent
• Reduction or loss of untaxed income or benefits (e.g. unemployment compensation, social security, AFDC, etc.) for student, spouse or parent
• Divorce or separation of student or parent
• Death of parent or spouse
• Extraordinary medical expenses paid by student, spouse or parent not covered by insurance

The Change in Circumstance form can be accessed from our online forms page.

Back to top

In some cases, students are eligible for financial aid during the summer term.

• If you received a Federal Pell Grant and did not enroll as a full-time student during both the preceding Fall and Spring semesters, you may have remaining Federal Pell Grant eligibility for the summer, or you may be eligible for year around Pell Grant if you enroll in at least 6 credit hours for summer.
• If you did not borrow the annual maximum Federal Stafford Loan during the preceding Fall and Spring semesters, you may be eligible to borrow a Federal Stafford Loan during the summer. You must contact the Financial Aid Office and request a loan for the summer term.
• If you are a dependent student and you enroll for at least 6 credit hours during the summer, your parents may be eligible to borrow a Federal PLUS loan for the summer term. Your parents must apply for a Federal PLUS loan for the summer term.

• The Bright Futures Scholarship may be available for currently enrolled Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) starting 2018 Summer. Please view FAQ’s for more information. Currently enrolled Bright Futures Florida Medallion Scholars may receive funding for Summer as well.

Back to top 

Where you live while attending FGCU is one of the factors that are used to determine the amount of aid for which you are eligible. See our web site for information about the Cost of Attendance that is used at FGCU to determine how much financial aid you will receive. Students who live with their parents while they attend FGCU have a different cost of attendance than students who live away from their parents (either on or off campus) since the cost of living at home with your parents is less than the cost of living in a residence hall or the cost of maintaining your own residence.

Back to top

Yes. NSLDS Student Access provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants so that recipients of Title IV Aid can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data.

Gulfline is FGCU's web based information system for students, faculty and staff. Financial Aid information on Gulfline allows you to:

• find out what documents the Financial Aid Office requires from you,
• view your financial aid awards,
• accept, decline or adjust your financial aid awards,
• report the amount of any scholarships or grants from outside sources that are not included in your financial aid
   record,
• see if any required loan entrance counseling or exit counseling has been completed.

 

Back to top

Direct Subsidized Loans: are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school. For a subsidized loan, the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest:

• While you're in school at least half time,
• For the first six months after your leave school (referred to as a grace period), and
• During a period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments).

Direct Unsubsidized Loans: are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but in this case, the student does not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the loan. For an unsubsidized loan, you are responsible for paying the interest during all periods. If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan).

Direct PLUS Loans: are loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. There are two kinds of PLUS loans:

• The first is a loan for the parents of undergraduate dependent students. The parent is the loan borrower and is obligated to repay the loan. The purpose of the loan is to make aid funds available up the amount of the difference between the student's cost of attendance and all other aid the student is receiving.
• The second is for graduate students. Graduate students may borrow PLUS loans if their cost of attendance exceeds the aid they receive from all other sources, including the Federal Stafford Loan. The graduate student is the loan borrower and is obligated to repay the loan.

 Back to top

Yes, there is a 1% loan fee on all Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans. The loan fee will be proportionately deducted from each loan disbursement.

Back to top

The school will first apply your loan funds to your school account to pay for tuition, fees, room and board, and other school charges. If any additional loan funds remain, they will be returned to you.

Back to top 

The U.S. Department of Education requires that a student enroll on at least a half-time basis in order to be eligible to receive a Federal Stafford Loan. Undergraduate students must enroll for at least 6 credit hours each semester in order to be considered half-time. Graduate students must enroll for at least 5 credit hours each semester in order to be considered half-time.

Back to top 

Although PLUS is an acronym for Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students, there are two kinds of PLUS loans.

• The first is a loan for the parents of undergraduate dependent students. The parent is the loan borrower and is obligated to repay the loan. The purpose of the loan is to make aid funds available up the amount of the difference between the student's cost of attendance and all other aid the student is receiving.
• The second is for graduate students. This is a new feature of the PLUS program starting with the 2006-07 academic year. Graduate students may borrow PLUS loans if their cost of attendance exceeds the aid they receive from all other sources, including the Federal Stafford Loan. The graduate student is the loan borrower and is obligated to repay the loan.

Back to top

A promissory note is a binding legal document you sign when you get a student loan. It lists the conditions under which you're borrowing and the terms under which you agree to pay back the loan. A Master Promissory Note can be viewed or completed at https://studentaid.gov. You must use your FSA ID to log in.

Back to top

Before receiving a Direct Stafford Loan, borrowers must complete an entrance counseling session. This quick and easy interactive counseling session provides useful tips and tools to help you develop a budget for managing your educational expenses and helps you to understand your loan responsibilities. An entrance counseling can be viewed or completed at https://studentaid.gov. You must use your FSA ID to log in.

Back to top 

The amount you can borrow each year from the Federal Stafford Loan program is based on the number of credits you have earned toward the degree you are pursuing as well as your dependency status. Please view  Loan Limits for detailed information.

Back to top 

Yes. If you would like to accept loans previously declined please submit a Loan Request Form to your financial aid officer.

Back to top 

A FAFSA is no longer required for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

Back to top

Please view the Florida Student Scholarship & Grant Programs website for more information about Non-Traditional Students (home-educated, GED, out-of-state, mid-year). See chapter 1 of the Bright Futures Student Handbook.

Back to top

Students are required to repay the cost of any Bright Futures funded course dropped or withdrawn after the Add/Drop week ends. Repayment to the to Florida Gulf Coast University Cashier's office is required. An exception may be granted by the Registrar if an appeal is approved.

Back to top

It is in the student's best interest to repay the cost of the dropped/withdrawn hours as soon as possible as a HOLD will be placed on the student account until repayment is received. The student will be ineligible to access their student account and the award will not renew for any subsequent academic years until repayment or satisfactory arrangements to reimburse FGCU have been made.

Back to top

When a student repays FGCU the cost of dropped/withdrawn hours, those hours are returned to that student's Bright Futures hours remaining for funding purposes. The student must successfully pass all funded classes; drops are not part of the completion calculation as they are repaid.

Back to top

Students are required to successfully pass all funded classes. 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 so as to maintain eligibility for Bright Futures. You cannot make up failed classes in summer term. Dropping the class is usually the best course of action if at risk of failing.

Back to top

No. A student may enroll part-time and receive Bright Futures funding. Six credits is the minimum required to receive funding. Students are required to successfully complete all funded credits.

Back to top

Please view the Florida Student Scholarship & Grant Programs website for more information about the length of the scholarship award (please see chapter 2 of the Bright Futures Student Handbook).

Back to top

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.Back to top 

 A student may enroll and receive funding for less than six hours if the student:

• has fewer than six total hours remaining on the scholarship. OR
• needs fewer than six hours to complete the first baccalaureate degree.

Back to top 

You are not required to be full time to renew, only pass all funded classes fall and spring terms.

Back to top

Yes, there is a separate appeal just for Bright Futures. The appeal is available to print on the Online Forms page of the Financial Aid & Scholarships website.

You will need to full explain your situation and provide documentation regarding your situation if possible. Transfer GPAs can be used to calculate your continued eligibility if necessary.

Back to top

The value of your Florida Prepaid Account must be reported as an asset on the FAFSA. In the past, the benefits you received from the Florida Prepaid Program were counted as a direct reduction of your aid eligibility. In most cases, this new treatment is beneficial to students. If you are a dependent student, the value of the account should be reported by your parents as one of their assets on the FAFSA. If you are an independent student, you should report the value of the account as one of your assets on the FAFSA. If you don't know the value of the account, contact the Florida Prepaid program at (800) 552-GRAD (4723).

Back to top

Students do not need to bring their Florida Prepaid card in order to activate their account. The Office of the Bursar uses students' social security numbers to link to and bill their Florida Prepaid account.

Back to top

Please view Florida Prepaid College Plan for rates, tuition and local fee plan coverage.

Back to top

If you do not wish to utilize your Florida Prepaid Plan then you must visit the Cashier's Office in McTarnaghan Hall. If you neglect to do this by the last day to pay fees, Florida Prepaid will be billed.

Back to top

The Florida Prepaid Benefit Calculator will help you estimate your out-of-pocket Tuition & Fee cost for a set number of credit hours.

If you are receiving financial aid and you withdraw from all your classes, the university is required by U.S. Department of Education regulation to evaluate your record and determine how much financial aid you are eligible for, based on how long you were enrolled. Students who withdraw from all their classes may have to repay some or all of the aid they were awarded. Total withdrawal can also affect your eligibility for financial aid in subsequent semesters. You should see a financial aid representative to discuss your withdrawal plans.

Back to top

The timing of your withdrawal and the number of classes you withdraw from can have a significant effect on your financial aid eligibility. If you are a loan borrower, it can affect your eligibility for loan payments that have not yet been disbursed and may affect your repayment date. You should see a financial aid representative to discuss your withdrawal plans.

Back to top

The U.S. Department of Education requires that all colleges have a standard in place to insure that students who are receiving federal financial aid are making satisfactory academic progress towards earning their degree. The Financial Aid Office measures your progress at the end of each spring semester. If you are not, you can lose eligibility for financial aid in the subsequent year. Please view Satisfactory Academic Progress for detailed information.

Back to top

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

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

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship recipients may visit the Florida Student Scholarship & Grant Programs website for more information about the length of the scholarship award (please see chapter 2 of the Bright Futures Student Handbook).

Back to top

Students are sometimes permitted to take classes at another college other than FGCU while they are enrolled at FGCU. To submit an application for cross-enrollment (transient), please visit Florida Virtual Campus.

Back to top 

No, if you are receiving financial aid from FGCU, you cannot receive aid from the Host institution while cross-enrolled.

Back to top 

If you do not complete the classes at the Host Institution or make Satisfactory Academic Progress, you may be required to repay the aid disbursed based on this agreement.

Back to top

You should check your record in Gulfline to determine whether you have enough financial aid to pay your bill and whether or not your aid has been applied toward the payment of your bill.

Back to top

Please view Financial Aid Advance Purchase Program for detailed information

Back to top

As part of the cross-enrollment (transient) process through Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC), you are responsible for paying balances owed for transient courses as Financial Aid at FGCU will not disburse for transient courses until all paperwork in completed and processed.

Back to top

Some, but not all financial aid can be transferred from one college to another. You should contact the Financial Aid Office at the college you are leaving as well as the Financial Aid Office of the college you will attend. You can find out from them what aid transfers and what aid does not transfer. You should inform them of your transfer plans and find out if there are any requirements you must fulfill as you transfer. 

Back to top

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.

 

Please view Study Abroad Programs for detailed information.

Back to top

Applicants must meet general requirements for federal financial aid outlined by the CARES Act. While filing a FAFSA is not required, it will help expedite your eligibility for emergency financial aid grants. If you have not yet completed a 2019-2020 FAFSA, you may do so at Complete my FAFSA.

Eligibility requirements to receive financial aid grants under the CARES Act include but are not limited to the following: 

• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree, certificate or other recognized educational credential (including a program of study abroad approved for credit by the eligible institution at which such student is enrolled)--that is, a regular student under 34 CFR 600.2);
• Not be enrolled in elementary or secondary school and have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent;
• Be maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP) if the student is a currently enrolled student;
• Not owe an overpayment (refund) on Title IV grants;
• Not be in default on a Title IV loan;
• Be a U.S citizen or national, a permanent resident, or an eligible noncitizen;
• Have returned any fraudulently obtained Title IV funds, if the student is convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges;
• Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits;
• Have repaid any Title IV loan overpayment amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits, if obtained inadvertently;
• Have his Selective Service registration verified (the Title IV aid ineligibility for failure to register is actually in the Selective Service Act §3811(f));
• Have a valid SSN, except for residents of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau; and
• Not have a federal or state conviction for drug possession or sale, with certain time limitations.

CARES Act funding will cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).

Students can apply by completing the FGCU CARES Act application.

Signing up for direct deposit through Gulfline is the quickest and safest way to get funds from your FGCU account.
Steps to sign up for Direct Deposit.

If you choose not to receive the funds via direct deposit, then a paper check will be processed. Mailed checks will be sent to the most current address on file with the Registrar' Office. Please make sure that your address is current before a paper check is processed. You may update your address by submitting this form – Change of Address form.

Amounts vary and are dependent upon the request. Each student’s critical need, emergency, and circumstances are unique and will be evaluated accordingly. The maximum award amount will be $1,000.

These funds will not impact your financial aid.

You do not have to apply for financial aid to be eligible for these funds.

Emergency funds through the CARES Act do not have to be repaid.

Students who were enrolled exclusively in an online program on March 13, 2020, the date of the President’s Proclamation, “Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak, are not eligible for emergency financial aid grants.