Aid Eligibility Requirements & Verification

Aid Eligibility Requirements

1. Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.
2. Must comply with Carlow University’s academic progress policies. View Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
3. Must not be in default on an educational loan and must not owe a repayment on an adjusted federal grant.
4. Must be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program.
5. Must be enrolled at least half-time for most financial aid (Undergraduate: full-time=12+ credits, three-quarter-time=9-11 credits, half-time=6-8 credits, less than half time= < 6 credits | Graduate: full-time=6+ credits, half-time=3-5 credits, less than half time=< 3 credits) 
6. Must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security number.

Guest students and/or less than half-time students who are credit-worthy may apply for a non-federal alternative loan regardless of enrollment status.Guest students and/or less than half-time students who are credit-worthy may apply for a non-federal alternative loan.  Go here for information about the alternative loans used most frequently by Carlow students but you are free to select any private lender.  Depending on FAFSA results, Pell may be available to a degree seeking undergraduate enrolled less than half-time. 

Visit www.studentaid.ed.gov for more information about eligibility for federal student aid.

Verification

Verification is the process the Financial Aid Office uses to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA form is accurate.  We are required to verify all FAFSAs that were flagged by the U.S. Department of Education and any other FAFSAs with conflicting information as determined by the Financial Aid Office.  For information about verification and what to expect after you file your FAFSA, go to Next Steps.

There are two types of Verification:

Standard – Verification of income, household size, number in college

If selected for Standard Verification your Self-Service record at Carlow University will indicate that a Verification Worksheet must be completed under Required Documents. Depending on whether the IRS Data Retrieval Tool was used while completing your FAFSA, copies of student, and parent if dependent, federal income tax returns may also be required to complete your financial aid file. You may upload requested documents to your Self-Service record, scan and email to finaid@carlow.edu, or mail documents to the Financial Aid Office at 3333 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. When you complete your FAFSA you are encouraged to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to electronically transfer your federal income tax information into your FAFSA form. Using the Data Retrieval Tool is the best way to ensure that your FAFSA has correct tax return information, and it will eliminate the need to provide the Financial Aid Office with copies of your tax returns if selected for Verification. Go here for more information about the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

Identity Verification and Statement of Educational Purpose – You must confirm your identify and certify that the federal student aid you receive will only be used for education purposes.

If selected for Identity Verification and Statement of Educational Purpose, your Self-Service record will indicate that the applicable verification form, with documentation, is needed. To complete this verification, you must either:

• Appear in person at the Carlow University Financial Aid Office with your original, government-issued photo identification.
• Or, appear in person to a Notary Public who will complete the Notary Certificate of Acknowledgment on your behalf, witnessing your signature on the form. You will then have to mail or upload the form with a front and back copy of the government-issued identification used at the Notary to verify your identity.

When applicable, submit all request verification documents to the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible to finalize your financial aid.