In order for the Financial Aid Office to process aid for a student, the following steps must be completed.

1. Obtain a financial aid application packet by contacting the financial aid office.

2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1st for the upcoming school year. The application will be electronically submitted for the student by the financial aid office or can be mailed to the federal processor in the envelope provided. Students also have the option of filing the FAFSA on the web. For details, see the financial aid office or visit www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students filing the FAFSA themselves should be sure to designate St. Elizabeth's Federal School Code as one of the selected schools.

3. Submit documentation of all income reported on the FAFSA to the financial aid office. Dependent students will be required to submit both parents' and student's prior year tax returns and W2 forms. Independent students will be required to submit their own and possibly their spouses' tax returns and W2 forms if applicable.

4. After you have filed your FAFSA, you will receive either a pre-printed New York State Express Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application or a TAP Change Form. Simply follow the instructions included with the form.

Once the above steps have been taken, a financial aid award letter will be sent to each student who has applied for admission. The award letter should be read and followed carefully. Awards need to be accepted or denied by the student and returned to the financial aid office. Award letters not returned will be deemed denied by the student.

The federal government will select some applications to be verified. In those cases, the Financial Aid Office may request additional documents including a verification worksheet. These documents must be reviewed and necessary corrections made before financial aid is awarded.

For a student that has a significant decrease in their income or parent's income (if dependent student) from the prior year, a Special Condition form may be submitted to the Financial Aid Office along with supporting documentation. The Financial Aid Office may be able to use the current year's estimated income rather than the prior year's to determine eligibility for federal aid.

Student financial aid programs, both state and federal, are subject to adjustment, depending on the student's change in financial status and allocation of funds to the college. Unless otherwise indicated, students receiving financial aid can expect one-half of their awards to be credited to their account each semester. Any balance due to the student, after charges owed to the college have been satisfied, is refunded to the student as the funds arrive on campus.