Advance Book Purchase

Advance Book Purchasing for Spring 2025:

December 17, 2024 through January 10, 2025

What is the Advance Bookstore Purchase program (ABPP)?

The ABPS allows you to charge books and supplies at the FGCU bookstore using your financial aid before it is paid. Your financial aid file must be complete with sufficient financial aid funds in order to use this service.

ABPP is not additional financial aid. Using a book advance does not change the total of your financial aid awards. The exact amount you charge at the bookstore will be added to your student account. By using the ABPP, you are authorizing the Office of Financial Aid to pay your bookstore charges with your financial aid.

Who is eligible for this program?

If a student total financial aid award amount for the semester exceeds all institutional charges on the student's account (including, but not limited to tuition, fees, campus housing, and meals), they may utilize this excess aid to purchase their course related books and supplies.

What types of Financial Aid can be used for this service?

Private Scholarships
Foundation Scholarships
Grants
Bright Futures
Loans
Florida Prepaid

The sum of the Financial Aid awards listed above must be greater than your total account balance to take advantage of this service.

What steps do I need to take to take advantage of this service?

Before estimated financial aid can be applied to a student’s account, all financial aid recipients are required to read and electronically accept their Terms & Conditions.

Listed below are the types of financial aid and their additional respective criteria.

Private Scholarships
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1. A credit to your account will not be applied until the scholarship check is received
Foundation Scholarships
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1. The thank you letter must be submitted.
2. Photograph must be submitted
3. If applicable, credit hour requirement must be met
Grants
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1. No additional requirements
Important: Awards may be prorated based on actual hours enrolled if enrolled less than full-time
Bright Futures
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1. Students must be enrolled half-time (6 credits or more)
Loans
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1. The loan must be accepted in Gulfline
2. Students must be enrolled half-time (6 credits undergrad, 5 credit grad)
3. First-time borrowers at FGCU must also complete:
- Entrance Counseling
- Electronically sign a Master Promissory Note
Florida Prepaid
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When does this service take place?

This service typically starts two weeks before the start of the semester and ends on the last day of drop/add.

How do I check my balance available to use in the bookstore?

Login to Gulfline
Click on Personal Information
Click on Open eAccounts
The FinAid line (left side) will display your current available balance

How much can I spend?

This depends on your account balance and the amount and type of Financial Aid you will be receiving. Please note that all University Financial obligations must have been satisfied first.

IMPORTANT: Your eligibility may change after you have been approved if additional charges are posted to your student account or your aid eligibility changes.

What can I spend this money on?

You can use these funds to obtain your text books, course related materials and required supplies.

How does this service work?

You must have an Eagle ID in order to take advantage of this service. Your ID card will reflect the amount of excess financial aid available to use. The FGCU Bookstore will swipe your Eagle ID card and any potential financial aid refunds will be reduced by the amount of aid used in the bookstore.

When you log onto Gulfline, in your Bill & Payment Center, your purchases will be included as a charge on your student account. When your Financial Aid is disbursed, it will be used to pay your bookstore charges.

IMPORTANT: If a student makes changes to enrollment that reduces the amount of aid they will receive, they will still be responsible for any charges made in the bookstore.

Can I use this service for online purchases from the University Bookstore?

Yes, students can use this service to order their materials online. When you check out, choose financial aid from the payment options and enter the 16-digit number found on your Eagle ID Card not your University ID number (UIN).

The 16-digit number can be found at the bottom left corner of the standard FGCU Eagle ID Card

Eagle ID

Can I use the service to rent textbooks from the University Bookstore?

Yes. You can use your ABPP funds to pay for the textbook rental fee at the FGCU Bookstore for any textbook rental. However, you will be required to have a valid credit card on file with the bookstore for any damaged or lost rental books.

I tried to use my financial aid in the bookstore and I was denied. Why?

The most common reasons are:

Financial Aid requirements have not been met. Check “My Requirements” under the Financial Aid tab in Gulfline for any outstanding items.
You have not accepted your Terms & Conditions
You do not have enough financial aid to create an overage
You are not registered for enough credit hours to qualify for the financial aid awarded
You have not accepted your loans

Who should I contact if I have questions or need additional information?

Bookstore: (239) 590- 1150

ID Card: (239) 590-SMILE

Financial Aid : Contact Us