Financial Aid

Eligibility Requirements for Summer Term 2008
To be eligible for Office of Student Finance (OSF) Summer Term financial aid you must officially be admitted to a University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), degree or eligible certificate program effective for Summer Term 2008. New students admitted for the 2008-2009 academic year (effective fall semester 2008) are not eligible for summer 2008 financial aid. Non-admitted or visiting students are not eligible for OSF summer financial aid.

May session registration is combined with summer session registration for purposes of determining financial aid eligibility. Keep in mind that the financial aid year ends with Summer Term, meaning that financial aid options are often limited.

In order to qualify for any aid, you must have a valid 2007-2008 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with OSF. Complete and mail your 2007-2008 FAFSA so it is received by the federal processor no later than June 25, 2008. (If you wish to be considered for a Minnesota State Grant, the FAFSA must be submitted to the federal processor within 30 days of the school's term start date.) The Office of Student Finance's summer award process does not require a separate application, but you will need to register for summer classes by June 29 to be eligible. See May/Summer Dates and Deadlines on the One Stop.

Complete eligibility requirements and application instructions are available under May/Summer Financial Aid on the One Stop.

Using OSF-Administered Financial Aid for IDL Courses
Independent and Distance Learning term-based (semester length) online courses are automatically counted in your registration for financial aid if you are admitted to a UMTC degree or eligible certificate program.

IDL extended-term online and extended-term correspondence courses are not eligible for OSF-administered financial aid. The only exception is the Minnesota State Grant.

Disbursement of OSF Funds
Financial aid is credited directly into individual student accounts throughout the term. When you have met all of the necessary eligibility criteria, your aid will automatically be posted to your student account.

You will receive any credit balance that remains in your student account by check or direct deposit after on-campus charges have been paid. To receive your credit balance check promptly, your current mailing address must be accurate in the records system. You can sign up for direct deposit or update your address via the One Stop Web site:

• Sign up for direct deposit.

• Update your address

• Update online via the One Stop's "Personal Information" quick link. (You will need your University Internet ID number and password to use this option.) 

• Or download a PDF form to use for changing your address.

If you drop or cancel credits after your receive your funds, or if you receive additional funds that were not reported when you applied, you may be required to repay all or a portion of your funds.

If you have questions or concerns about OSF summer financial aid, contact a One Stop Student Services center.

Other Sources of Funding

College Grants and Scholarships
Some colleges administer special financial aid programs for their students. The College of Continuing Education (CCE), for example, has programs for adult learners with a CCE connection who are typically ineligible for regular financial aid administered through OSF (e.g., part-time students who have had to delay or interrupt their education, non-degree seeking students, and students taking noncredit courses).

See additional information on CCE financial aid  or contact the student services office in your college of registration to inquire about available programs.

Regents Scholarship
For University employees, the Regents Scholarship may be used to cover tuition, but you must pay any course fees and special fees (except the University fee). Note: For graduate-level courses, the tuition benefit amount that exceeds $5,250 in a calendar year will be added to your income as a taxable fringe benefit.

To register, bring or send a completed benefit form along with your Registration and Cancel/Add Form to a One Stop Student Services Center.  If you register online, please mail or fax the completed benefit form in separately. Don't forget to keep a copy for your records. Download the benefit form you need:

• Regents Scholarship

If you receive your benefit approval after you have already registered, submit (in person or by mail or fax) your completed benefit form to a One Stop Student Services Center for an adjustment (see previous section on Disbursement, above). Do not submit your benefit form to the Bursar's Office.

Benefit forms will not be accepted after the last day of classes of the term for which they are applicable. Late registration may result in late registration fees, for which you will be responsible. You may also be responsible for late payment fees if your benefit form is submitted after the beginning of classes.

Graduate Assistant Tuition Benefits
Graduate and professional students who hold appointments as graduate teaching assistants, research assistants, administrative fellows, and certain other professional school student positions may receive tuition benefits for credit classes, although most students are not required to register during summer.

To determine tuition benefit eligibility, those with assistantships must complete a May/Summer Request for Graduate Assistant Tuition Benefits form. Find this form on the Graduate Assistant Employment (GAE) Web site. Submit the completed form to GAE as soon as possible. Contact GAE for further information.

Other Resources
The College of Continuing Education (CCE) Financial Resources Wizard contains a wealth of information that may make your education more affordable. This interactive Web tool asks a series of questions and identifies options that match your situation. The Wizard applies to both credit and noncredit courses at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Resources may include grants; scholarships; loans; work-study; employer tuition benefits; funding from government agencies and community, religious, and professional organizations; federal education tax credits and deductions; discounts and course fee reductions; tuition installment plans; credit card payment; and the Minnesota College Savings Plan. Help may be just a few clicks away!

The CCE financial aid Web site contains the Financial Resources Wizard, the CCE grant and scholarship application, and "Paying for Your Education: Resources for Adult Learners," a comprehensive list of financial aid and other resources.

If you would like to obtain paper copies of the application and resource list, or if you have other questions, contact the CCE Information Center.

If you are admitted to a degree or eligible certificate program, additional information about scholarships is available in the Financial Aid section of the University's One Stop Web site.