• How do I apply for financial aid at Christopher Newport University?
• What will I need to complete the FAFSA?
• I'm confused by the FAFSA.  Can you help me complete the form?
• What is the deadline for submitting the FAFSA?
• I missed the March 1 deadline.  Can I still apply for aid?
• What is Christopher Newport University's Title IV school code?

• When will I receive an award letter?
• What if my situation has changed since I completed the FAFSA?
• I received a revised award letter.  Why did you change my awards?

• Do my parents and I need to complete our tax return before filing the FAFSA?
• If my parents are divorced or separated, do I include both parents on the FAFSA even if they don't live together?
• If my parents are divorced and the parent I live with is remarried, do I have to include my stepparent's income information on the FAFSA even though that person does not provide any financial support for me?
• Why can't you tell my parents about my financial aid?
• All I want is a parent PLUS loan.  Why do I have to complete the FAFSA?
• How do my parents apply for a PLUS loan?

• My Student Aid Report indicates that I was selected for Verification.  What does this mean?

• When is your office open, and where is it located?

• How can I change my status from out of state to in state?
• I am an independent student.  Why do I still have to provide my parents' information?
• Can I negotiate my financial aid package?

• Your tax return and all W-2 forms for the prior year.  For example, if you are applying for financial aid for the 2004 - 2005 academic year, you will need your 2003 tax documentation.
• Your spouse's tax return and W-2 forms for the prior year, if applicable.
• Your parents' tax return and W-2 forms for the prior year, if applicable.
• Bank statements for checking, savings, and investment accounts.
• Business and farm financial records.

I'm confused by the FAFSA.  Can you help me complete the form?

the Office of Financial Aid is more than happy to assist students in completing the FAFSA.  You are welcome to call our office at (757) 594-7170 for assistance, or you may stop by the office in the Administration Building, Room 203.  You may also email us to make an appointment or find the best time to come to the office.  We recommend that you have the forms necessary to complete the FAFSA with you or easily accessible for better assistance.

What is the deadline for submitting the FAFSA?

We recommend that you submit your FAFSA by February 1 in order to meet our priority consideration date of March 1.  Financial aid is always available after this date, but it may be limited to Federal Stafford and PLUS loans and the Federal Pell Grant.

I missed the March 1 deadline.  Can I still apply for aid?

The March 1 date is not a true deadline.  Instead, it is a recommended priority consideration date for our students.  If we have received your application for financial aid by this date, we will be able to consider you for all Virginia grants and scholarships that we offer.  However, you can and should apply for financial aid if this date has already passed.  We will consider you for Federal Stafford and PLUS loans and the Federal Pell Grant.

What is Christopher Newport University's Title IV school code?

Our Title IV school code is 003706.  You must include this code on the FAFSA in order for CNU to receive the results.

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When will I receive an award letter?

We make every effort to ensure that our students receive financial aid award letters as soon as possible.  Our goal is to provide incoming freshmen who have met the priority filing date and who have submitted all requested paperwork with the information necessary to make an informed decision about their college choice.  For returning students, award letters can not be completed until grades have been posted.  In general, if you met the priority filing date and have not received an award letter by the end of May, please contact our office.

What if my situation has changed since I completed the FAFSA?

The FAFSA, which uses prior year income information, is used to determine your eligibility for financial aid.  If the prior year no longer represents your current situation, please contact our office.  You will be required to submit certain documents in order for us to consider your request for a change.  Federal guidelines preclude us from updating some information.  Also, aid levels are limited, and we may not be able to provide additional financial aid late in the awarding year.

I received a revised award letter.  Why did you change my awards?

Federal and state financial aid law states that a student cannot receive financial aid over the cost of attendance.  Outside scholarships (scholarships not awarded by a CNU office) must be included as a resource for financial aid purposes.  When we receive notification of these awards, we must reconsider your eligibility for financial aid.  Other factors that may cause changes are reducing enrollment hours, receiving a CNU scholarship, or changing Veterans Benefits.  We make every effort to reduce Stafford loans and Federal Work Study first, before reducing grants.

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Do my parents and I need to complete our tax return before filing the FAFSA?

No.  The FAFSA allows you to use estimated figures by indicating you will file, but have not done so yet.  We recommend that students provide estimated figures in order to meet the March 1 priority consideration date.  However, students need to ensure that they correct their FAFSA once they and their parents have filed their returns.

If my parents are divorced or separated, do I include both parents on the FAFSA even if they don't live together?

The FAFSA instructs you to include information about the parent you lived with more during the past 12 months.  If you did not live with one parent more than the other, include the parent who provided more financial support during the past 12 months, or during the most recent year that you received support from a parent.

If my parents are divorced and the parent I live with is remarried, do I have to include my stepparent's income information on the FAFSA even though that person does not provide any financial support for me?

Because you are considered part of the stepparent's household, you must include that person's income on the FAFSA according to federal law.

Why can't you tell my parents about my financial aid?

Federal privacy regulations prohibit us from discussing specific financial information with anyone without permission from you, the student.  You may complete a release of information form to grant that permission to your parents.

All I want is a parent PLUS loan.  Why do I have to complete the FAFSA?

The Department of Education gives schools the ability to require the FAFSA for PLUS processing.  CNU is one of the schools which requires this form.  When the FAFSA is processed, it goes through many checks to verify some of the data on the form.  CNU cannot independently verify this data, such as citizenship.  Also, many students are eligible for more financial aid than they think, and requiring the FAFSA gives CNU the ability to help students meet their school expenses in a variety of ways.

How do my parents apply for a PLUS loan?

To apply for a PLUS loan, you and your parent need to first complete the FAFSA.  You must also complete the PLUS request form.  Once these documents have been completed, as well as any other necessary paperwork, we can process your PLUS loan.  If your parents have not already done so, they will also need to complete the PLUS Master Promissory Note.  Your parents can learn more about the PLUS process here.

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My Student Aid Report indicates that I was selected for Verification.  What does this mean?

About 30% of all applications are selected for verification by the Department of Education.  In addition, CNU has the right to select applications for verification as well.  Students selected for verification must complete the Verification Worksheet, Worksheet A, B, and C, and submit signed copies of their (and their parents') tax returns.  This documentation must be received prior to awarding financial aid.

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When is your office open, and where is it located?

We are open Monday though Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.  We are located on the second floor of the Administration Building, in Room 203.

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How can I change my status from out of state to in state?

residency changes are made by the Office of Admissions.  Please contact their office for additional information.

I am an independent student.  Why do I still have to provide my parents' information?

Many students believe that they are independent because their parents don't claim them as an exemption on their federal tax returns or because their parents don't or won't pay any school expenses.  However, federal regulations define dependency differently.  The FAFSA asks a series of questions to determine if you need to provide parental information.  If you can answer "yes" to any of the questions listed on the FAFSA, you do not need to provide parental information.  In very limited instances, we can perform dependency overrides for certain students.  Please contact our office if you need further information.

Can I negotiate my financial aid package?

CNU financial aid and scholarship offers are not negotiable.  We work hard to offer the very best package we can, based upon federal and state rules.  As a young public institution, we have very limited federal, state and institutional funds.  Be savvy when comparing financial aid offers: some schools offer large scholarships, but are trying to cover an exorbitant price.  Make sure you are comparing not only the cost of attending school, but also the value of the degree you will receive.

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