1. Financial Aid Information 2014-2015 Award Year Admitted Student Day 1

2. How to apply – File the FAFSA  The FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the first step in the financial aid process. Use it to apply for federal student aid, such as grants, loans, and work-study.  In addition, most states and schools use information from the FAFSA to award students non-federal aid.  The FAFSA is used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). An EFC is used to determine need based aid such as grants and subsidized loans. 2

3. New applicants complete 2014-15 3

4. Financial Aid Application Process www.pin.ed.gov  Step 1: Students and Parents apply for PIN at www.pin.ed.gov The PIN Application Process consists of 3 steps: 1: Enter Personal Information Name, SSN, address, email, etc. 2: Submit Your PIN Application 1 to 3 days processing time 3: Receive Your PIN It will be sent to your provided e-mail Never share your PIN with anyone! 4

5. Financial Aid Application Process Things you will need: Student & Parent 2013 Taxes &W2’s Assets and bank information About 30 minutes Estimated data can be used Step 2: Complete 2014-2015 FAFSA online at:www.fafsa.gov Select 2014-2015 FAFSA Begin entering the student’s information… 5

6. IRS Information Retrieval  You can download your filed 2013 Tax information directly from the IRS.  Enter your PIN and Link To IRS. 6

7. IRS Information Retrieval  Once transferred, questions with tax information will be marked with “Transferred from the IRS”.  Do not adjust the transferred data. 7

8. What to expect next…  Verification - Should the student be selected for verification additional documents will be requested by the Office of Financial Aid.  Typically this could include: –IRS Tax Return Transcripts - www.irs.gov/transcript –W-2’s for the student and parent if applicable –A signed verification worksheet –Other documents may be requested by the Office of Financial Aid on an individual basis  Students will receive a letter letting them know what they will need to submit.  Submit the documents as soon as you can! 8

9. Federal Loans  Subsidized Stafford Loan –Maximum award amount $3,500 –Award based on NEED –Fixed interest rate of 3.86%* –6 month grace period before repayment –No interest accumulates during enrollment * 10-year Treasury note yield + 2.05% (Capped at 8.5%) 9

10. Federal Loans (cont.)  Unsubsidized Stafford Loan –Maximum for dependent students $5,500 –Fixed interest rate at 3.86%* –6 month grace period before repayment –Interest will accumulate * 10-year Treasury note yield + 2.05% (Capped at 8.5%) 10

11. How to Apply - Student  Step 1: Federal Loan Entrance Counseling. –Read the content and answer the questions –Read the Borrower's Rights and Responsibilities  Step 2: Federal Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). –You will be required to enter: Your personal information Two references for the loan Federal PIN to sign the MPN –Keep going until you receive a confirmation The Office of Financial Aid will access your completed MPN and counseling and set up dates for the transmission of loan funds. 11

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13. Federal Loans (cont.)  Parent PLUS Loan –Amount ranges $1000 up to COA –Fixed interest rate of 6.41%* –Parents can request to have to loan deferred until the student has graduated –Credit checks information – not score –Processing fee * 10-year Treasury note yield + 4.6% (Capped at 7.9%) 13

14. How to Apply - Parent  Step 1: Request a PLUS Loan. –Credit Check application –Requested Loan amount  Step 2: Federal Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). –You will be required to enter: Your personal information Your students information Federal PIN to sign the MPN –Keep going until you receive a confirmation The Office of Financial Aid will access your completed MPN and counseling and set up dates for the transmission of loan funds. 14

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16. Federal Work Study  Federal Work Study. –Need based financial aid –Not applied directly to tuition –Earned financial aid  Students can work in a variety of jobs to earn FWS funds. 16

17. Award Notification: The Award Letter  If the student is accepting all awards as offered, keep award letter for your records.  If the student is declining or adjusting awards, sign and return award letter reflecting adjustments.  Students must indicate any outside awards and scholarships on the award letter. 17

18. Things to Remember!  Applying for Financial Aid is a separate process from Admissions and Housing.  Students must complete the FAFSA application every year to be eligible to receive Federal Student Aid.  Do not assume you are too poor to go to college or too rich to receive aid. Always apply to get your answer.  Apply as early as possible! Some aid programs run out of funding. 18

19. Financial Aid Resources from the Government The US Department of Education www.studentaid.gov youtube.com/FederalStudentAid Help line: 1-800-433-3243 Illinois Student Assistance Commission www.isac.org Federal Trade Commission www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams 19

20. Surf the Net! – Scholarships Schools will allow you to add outside scholarships to your existing financial aid package. The only stipulation is that you do not exceed the cost of attendance. Take some time and surf the Internet...it just might pay off! The College Board www.collegeboard.com College.Net Mach25 www.collegenet.com/mach25 College Quest www.collegequest.com College Connection www.collegescholarships.com Fast Web www.fastweb.com FinAid.Org www.finaid.org Free Scholarship Search www.freschinfo.com College Answer www.collegeanswer.com Scholarships.com www.scholarships.com Cappex College Search www.cappex.com/scholarships 20

21. Contact Us Office of Financial Aid Lownik Hall, Main Floor 5700 College Road Lisle, IL 60532 (630) 829-6100 FinancialAid@ben.edu www.ben.edu/fa Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 5:00pm 21