Award Information
You must read the following information pertaining to your Award before you can view your Award in OASIS. Once you have done so, return to OASIS and enter a Y in the box indicating that you have read the Award Information. For additional instructions on accepting or declining the unaccepted aid on your Award, view the Award Tutorial.
Award Information
What is "unaccepted aid"?
Unaccepted aid is indicated on your Award with a blank line in the AMT YOU ACCEPT column. You must tell us if you want to accept or decline the unaccepted aid. If you do not accept all or some portion of the unaccepted aid by the return date reflected on your Award, the unaccepted aid will be cancelled.
Note that Federal Direct Loans which are cancelled now CAN be reinstated later. Other aid requiring your acceptance CANNOT be reinstated later due to limited funds.
Unaccepted aid DOES NOT INCLUDE scholarships (including the HOPE scholarship) or grants because scholarships and grants are considered gift aid and we pre-accepted them for you when they were awarded. The system logic will not let you accidentally cancel any scholarships and grants!!
How do I accept or decline the unaccepted aid on my Award?
To accept or decline the unaccepted aid on your Award (i.e. all aid that has a blank line in the AMT YOU ACCEPT column) you should follow the prompts on your Award in OASIS.
If you want to accept all of the unaccepted aid offered, enter the Total amount offered in the AMT YOU ACCEPT column. If you do not want the unaccepted aid that was offered, enter zero in the AMT YOU ACCEPT column. You may also enter any amount between zero and the Total amount offered.
Follow these steps to accept or decline the unaccepted aid on your Award:
- View your Award in OASIS
- Enter the Amount You Accept in the AMT YOU ACCEPT column
- REPEAT step #2 for any other funds requiring your action
- Submit your request
How do I change my housing status on my Award?
If your Housing status is incorrect on your Award, email us at osfa@uga.edu to correct it. Correcting your housing status may or may not affect your Award. Be sure to include your name, the last four digits of your Social Security Number, your correct address and your date of birth. Your financial aid housing status will then be corrected on your Award. You may also need to change your UGA mailing address in OASIS.
When are Financial Aid Awards mailed?
We do not mail paper Awards. All Awards are on OASIS and we will notify students by email when their Award is made or revised.
What is included in my Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA)?
Your COA includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, meals and living expenses; also computer, child care and study abroad expenses when applicable.
What is my Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?
Your EFC is NOT the amount of money your family is to pay to the University. The EFC is the number that is used to determine your eligibility for federal, state and University need-based aid. Your EFC was reported to you on your Student Aid Report (SAR) which the U.S. Department of Education provided you.
What is my Established Financial Need (EFN)?
Your EFN is the difference between the Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
General Information
Where can I obtain more information regarding financial aid?
Please refer to the OSFA Web site at http://osfa.uga.edu.
If I decline all or part of the Federal Direct Loans or Federal Work-Study (FWS) which may appear on my Award, can I request that money at a later date?
Federal Direct Loans which are declined CAN be reinstated later. Other aid requiring acceptance (such as FWS or Federal Perkins Loan) CANNOT be reinstated due to limited funds. However, any Federal Direct Loans must be completely processed before the end of your last semester of enrollment (at least half-time) for the applicable Award Year.
What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and how does it possibly affect my federal and state financial aid?
All students who have been awarded any federal or state financial aid (including the HOPE Scholarship) must maintain SAP. Please refer to the SAP criteria on our Web site or the SAP link on the same screen we provided this Award Information.
If the financial aid I am awarded for a term is more than enough to pay for my classes (including the dorm and meal plan if contracted), how and when do I receive the balance of the funds?
The Student Accounts office handles the collection of these University charges and the disbursement of financial aid. The following information is from the Bursar Web site:
"In general, financial aid, whether it is loans, grants, the HOPE Scholarship or other scholarships, is first applied to your unpaid student account balance. Any balances can be direct deposited into your bank account. Please go to MY STUDENT ACCOUNT to sign up for this service. Otherwise, a check for any remaining financial aid is mailed to the "Financial Mail" address as specified by the student in the OASIS Registration System. Checks are mailed ten days prior to the first day of classes if the student is pre-registered for the required number of hours, is not on academic probation, and has no flags with the Bursar's Office. Direct Deposits or checks are not requested until the student is registered for classes. See Financial Aid Disbursement and Calendar and Payment Deadlines selection on the Bursar's home page for further details".
HOPE Scholarship
Where can I obtain information regarding the HOPE Scholarship?
Please visit our HOPE Scholarship Web page.
Federal Direct Loans
I was awarded a Federal Direct Student Loan for the first time at UGA. Do I need to do anything else to receive the loan?
Federal Direct Loans (FDL’s) require your acceptance. Please review our Awards on the Web page for instructions on how to electronically accept or decline your initial loan offer.
If you accept the loan(s) and you have not previously borrowed a Federal Direct Loan as a UGA student, you will receive a letter from the Student Accounts department regarding completion of the electronic Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) and the federally required on-line Loan Entrance Counseling.
Once you complete the MPN and entrance counseling (if required), are registered at least half time for the term, then Student Accounts will apply your net loan proceeds for the semester toward any balance due for your University tuition/fees, housing, and meal plan. Student Accounts will then disburse via EFT (if you set this up with them) or will mail any remaining funds for the semester to your financial mailing address no earlier than 10 days prior to the first day of classes. See General Information above.
What is the difference between the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan and the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan?
The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on the Subsidized Loan while you remain in school at least half-time. The Unsubsidized Loan has a fixed interest rate of 6.8%, which accrues from the date of disbursement. The interest will accrue while you are enrolled but you are not required to pay it while in school unless you choose to do so. For both Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, repayment begins six months after you graduate, withdraw or drop below half-time enrollment. For more information see Federal Direct Loans Web page.
How many credit hours must I enroll in each awarded term to be eligible for my Federal Direct Loan?
You must maintain at least half time enrollment to be eligible for your Federal Direct Loan.
How do I request a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan?
If you are a dependent undergraduate student you can request a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan by completing a Change in Aid Request Form, or your parent can submit a written request to us to add the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan to your Award. Once the loan is added to your Award, Student Accounts will mail a credit check authorization form to your permanent address which the borrowing parent then completes and returns to Student Accounts. For additional information regarding the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan process, please review our Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Web page.
Hours enrolled versus dropping or withdrawing from courses.
Will dropping a class during Drop/Add affect my financial aid? What if I withdraw from a class?
It depends. See Dropping Courses vs. Withdrawing for more information.
Applying for federal student aid.
How do I apply for federal student aid including the Federal Pell Grant?
Please see the Application Process.
Do I need to inform OSFA about other types of financial aid I am receiving that are not listed on my Award?
Yes. All outside scholarships and sources of assistance should be reported annually on the Private Outside Scholarship Reporting Form.
When is the deadline to apply for federal student aid?
You can apply for the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans by completing the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) any time during the academic year you wish to receive the aid. Each UGA academic year begins the Fall semester and runs through the end of the following Summer semester. Be sure you complete the FAFSA for the correct academic year. Please see the Application Process.