FAQs

• Apply for a U.S. Department of Education FSA ID. An FSA ID gives you access to Federal Student Aid 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 May 1.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.  

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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. 

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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!

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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 complete the online FGCU Foundation Scholarship application.

Additional Resources for Undocumented Students:

Financial Aid & Undocumented Students Questions and Answers

Florida Department of Education

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There are several reasons as to why your financial aid award package might change.

• Changes in federal and/or state regulations- All federal and state-funded programs are subject to change at any time as a result of legislative action. If there are changes which impact your eligibility, your financial aid award(s) will be adjusted to reflect these changes.
• Changes in Funding- Your financial aid award is based on projected funding from federal, state, and institutional sources. If the projected funding is more than the actual funding available, your financial aid award(s) will be adjusted to reflect these changes.
• Scholarship and grant eligibility requirements- Scholarships and grants may require you to maintain a specific grade point average or other academic performance requirements. If these requirements are not met, you may not be eligible to continue receiving this funding.
• Receiving financial assistance from other sources- Outside scholarships, fee waivers, department awards, or outside agency awards may result in the reduction or cancellation of
• Initial Enrollment- The amount of your financial aid award depends on the number of credit hours you are taking. Your initial award is prepared based on full-time, full-year enrollment. If you are not enrolled in at least 15-degree applicable hours or do not plan to come back to FGCU for the spring Semester, your awards will need to be adjusted to reflect these changes.
• Non-Enrollment or reduction in credit hours- 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.
• Students must be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credits to qualify for the majority of financial aid programs. Funds may be reduced or canceled if enrolled less than full-time or you drop or withdraw from all classes.
• Verification Review- If you are selected for a review process known as verification, you are required to submit additional documentation in order for us to determine your financial aid eligibility. Once the verification process is complete, your awards may be revised to reflect your correct eligibility. Students who fail to complete the verification process will not receive financial aid funds.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress- You must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Your award is invalid if the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards have not been met.
• Repeat Coursework- You are only allowed to repeat a class with a passing grade, D- and above, one time and receive financial aid for it. Regardless of your performance in this second attempt (pass or fail), you will not be able to receive financial aid for that same course again
• Approaching federal direct loans aggregate limit and/or Pell grant maximum lifetime eligibility used- If we receive information from the federal government that you are approaching the maximum amounts of your awarded loans or Pell Grant, your awards will be adjusted accordingly.
• Class attendance- You must attend class and/or complete academic engagement in order to receive your financial aid. Federal financial aid regulations require confirmation that you have begun attendance in your courses before aid is disbursed. Students are expected to complete the academic engagement within the first week of the term. Failure to do so will result in delays to the disbursement of financial aid awarded to them.
• Over-awards- A financial aid over-award occurs when the aid a student receives from all sources is greater than the cost of attendance or the federally determined need eligibility. When over-awards occur, the Office of Financial Aid reviews financial aid eligibility and may be required to adjust, reduce or eliminate financial aid awarded to ensure that the total received is within federal guidelines. Loans will be reduced before any reduction is made to any other awards. This may result in a balance due for which the student will then be responsible.
• Change in Circumstances- Significant changes in your family's financial situation may merit recalculating your financial aid eligibility through a Change in Circumstances appeal. FGCU makes every effort to work with students and families to discuss and evaluate changes in a family’s financial circumstances.
• Mid-Year Updates- Did you receive aid from another school in the same academic year? If you attended another school and we are notified that there has been a change in your loan or Federal Pell Grant amounts, your award will be reviewed and may be revised.

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Aid eligibility is determined each year based on the results of the FAFSA, which must be filed each year, and grant award amounts may vary based on availability of funds. Also, your loan limits may change depending on your academic level and your dependency status. Students must meet renewal criteria to continue to receive Bright Futures and Admissions merit scholarships.

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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.

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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.

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The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships recognizes that an individual's or family's financial situation can experience significant changes in income or other finances reported on the FAFSA that changes their ability to meet their educational costs. FGCU makes every effort to work with students and families to discuss and evaluate changes in a family’s financial circumstances. More information and the appeal form can be found on our Change in Circumstances webpage.

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In some cases, students are eligible for financial aid during the summer term. For more information, visit our Summer Financial Aid webpage.

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Where you live while attending FGCU is one of the factors used to determine the amount of aid for which you are eligible. Visit our webpages for more information:

Cost of Attendance for Undergraduate Students

Cost of Attendance for Graduate Students

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Aid Summary is part of your online account on StudentAid.gov, which you can access by logging in using your username and password (FSA ID). Your Aid Summary allows you to view summary and detailed information about your loan and grant aid.

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

• View My Requirements to see what documents are needed to complete your financial aid package,
• View your financial aid awards,
• Accept, decline or adjust your financial aid awards,
• See if any required loan entrance counseling or exit counseling has been completed.

 

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There are three types of Federal Direct loans available at Florida Gulf Coast University: Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized and Direct PLUS loans. For more information on loans visit our Student Loan webpage for Undergraduate and Graduate students.

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Loan fees are charged to originate a student loan and are calculated as a percentage of the total loan amount. The loan fees are deducted proportionately from each loan disbursement. The loan fee is subtracted directly from the loan before it is disbursed to you. This means you will receive a smaller loan than the total amount that you actually borrowed, but you will still be responsible for repaying the entire amount that you borrowed. Learn more about loan fees

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Yes. If you would like to accept loans previously declined, submit a Loan Request form found in the online forms section of Gulfline.

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An alternative loan is a private education loan offered by a lender. You may select any lender of your choice. FGCU does not recommend any particular lender and does not maintain a preferred lender list.Back to top

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

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A mid-year graduate is a student who graduates between September 1 and January 31 of an academic year and seeks funding for the spring academic term following graduation. Students who graduate early but do not seek funding until a subsequent academic year are not considered mid-year graduates for Bright Futures. The student graduating early and seeking funding for the spring term must submit FAFSA by December 31 of the student’s high school senior year.

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If you are a Bright Futures scholarship recipient and you withdraw from one or more classes, our office is required to return the Bright Futures funding you received for that term to the Florida Department of Education. Per state statute, you must repay the Bright Futures funding you received for the withdrawn course(s) to the University.

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: 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 not be able to register for class and the award will not renew for any subsequent academic years until repayment or satisfactory arrangements to reimburse FGCU have been made.

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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.

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Students are required to successfully pass all funded classes for the enrollment type. 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 and you cannot repay failed classes. Dropping the class is usually the best course of action if at risk of failing.

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Students are allowed to use the summer term after their first year to make up GPA deficiencies. If you cannot get the necessary GPA in summer, you will lose the scholarship for the second year. After spring term of the second year you may apply for RESTORATION at the Bright Futures website if you have the required GPA. The state does not allow for GPA make up after the first year. Please see Financial Aid if you have issues that prevented you from being sucessful.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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 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.

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Bright Futures is renewed based off of your GPA and credit hours earned at the end of the spring term. Students must earn a certain number of credit hours in order to renew your Bright Futures, based on credit hours funded. Use the Bright Futures Credit Hour Renewal Requirement Interactive Tool to ensure that you are on track to meet your credit hour renewal criteria.

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A student has the right to appeal the termination of a Florida Bright Futures award, if he/she falls below the minimum grade point average and/or credit hours required for eligibility due to extenuating circumstance. The Florida Statute states if a student does not meet the scholarship renewal criteria due to a verifiable illness or emergency beyond his or her control, he or she may submit a written request for an appeal to the financial aid office at the institution he or she was attending at the time the problem occurred. The institution will review the situation and make a determination.

To appeal the termination of Bright Futures, the student must submit The Bright Futures and State Programs Academic Appeal form. It can be found in the Financial Aid online forms section in Gulfline. 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 documentation supporting your appeal.

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Any non-retirement investment or savings account may affect your eligibility for financial aid. A portion of your Prepaid and Savings Plan value will be considered when calculating the Expected Family Contribution (or EFC) on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA). When calculating the student’s EFC, up to 5.64% of parental assets are counted. This is quite favorable compared to other student assets, which are counted at 20%.

If the plan is owned by someone other than a parent or the student, withdrawals from a plan are reported as student income in the following year for EFC purposes. Generally speaking, a higher EFC will lower financial aid eligibility.

For more information, please consult studentaid.gov or an educational financial aid adviser.

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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.

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Florida Prepaid will not cover all your tuition and fees. Use the Florida Prepaid Calculator to help estimate your out-of-pocket costs.

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If you decide not to utilize your Florida Prepaid benefits for a particular term you must submit a Non-Usage of Florida Prepaid form on a per term basis to the Bursar's Office by the respective Tuition & Fee Payment Deadline as noted on the Academic Calendar.

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

Students receive federal financial aid under the assumption they will complete the entire semester. If a student withdraws from all their coursework before they complete the semester, FGCU is required by federal law to recalculate the student’s federal aid eligibility. As a result, the student may be required to repay portions of their federal financial aid that they did not earn because they did not complete the semester. More information about this recalculation can be found on our Withdrawals and Repayment webpage.

Withdrawing from classes may jeopardize future student aid eligibility, including scholarships & student loans. Be sure that you understand what will happen if you drop, withdraw, or fail to complete your classes. The Financial Aid Office can help determine your financial liability.

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Withdrawing can affect your current and future eligibility for financial aid.  Withdrawing from classes will also affect your progression towards degree completion – the cumulative number of credits you have attempted compared to the number of credits you have earned. For additional information about how withdrawing can affect your academic progression, please review the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Be sure that you understand what will happen if you drop, withdraw, or fail to complete your classes. The Financial Aid Office can help determine your financial liability.

More information can be found on our Withdrawals and Repayment webpage.

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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.

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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

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.

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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. You can request approval to take a course at another state college or university by completing and submitting an online Transient Student Admission Application though FloridaShines.org

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

For Florida Prepaid questions, you should contact your host institution’s bursar or financial services office.

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Return to Title IV policies apply for students that do not attend 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.

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• The entire financial aid process must be complete in order for your award to appear as an anticipated credit on your account. This would include:
  • Submitting your FAFSA application
  • Accepting your Terms and Conditions
  • Accepting/Declining your loan offers in Gulfline
  • First time loans borrowers completing Entrance Counseling and signing your Master Promissory Note
  • Complete Attendance Verification

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You can check your Bill & Payment Center in Gulfline. You will need to compare the amount of your awards (anticipated aid) against the charges for the semester.

If there is money left after your tuition, fees, on-campus housing and meal plan balance is paid in full, you will receive a refund. 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.  e-Refunds  significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to process and receive your funds. 

Please view Financial Aid Advance Purchase Program for detailed information

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FGCU does not send funds or make payment arrangements at the host institution on behalf of the student. You must pre-pay for the course at the host institution. Your hours taken at the host institution will be combined with your hours enrolled at FGCU to determine your financial aid eligibility.

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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. 

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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.

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