After the FAFSA, Undergraduate - Fayette

  • Student Aid Report (SAR): After completion of the FAFSA on the Web, a Student Aid Report will be sent by email. If a SAR is not received, please contact FAFSA at 1-800-4-FED-AID to verify the status of the application. The CMU Financial Assistance Office (FA Office) will also receive a copy of the SAR and will use this information to determine your financial aid eligibility.

  • Verification: Thirty percent of all FAFSA applications are randomly selected by Central Processing at FAFSA for verification of submitted data. If your application was selected for verification, the FA Office will request additional documentation. Your financial aid will remain estimated until verification is complete. The required documents for verification are:
    1. Income Tax Documents – Tax documentation is needed from both the student (if filed) and parent (if student is dependent). You have two options for providing tax documentation:
      • Correct your FAFSA on the Web using the IRS Data Retrieval Process to import your tax information (preferred option), or
      • Provide an IRS Tax Return Transcript. The IRS Tax Return Transcript can be requested by: (Please be aware that it may take 6-8 weeks to receive tax transcripts from the IRS.)
    2.  2012-2013 Verification Worksheet (select Independent or Dependent based on FAFSA results)
    3. If you marked yes to question #75 or #96, (food stamp benefits), documentation from the agency that shows you received food stamps in 2010 or 2011.
    4.  Itemization Worksheet (required for students and families earning less than $20,000 per year)

  • Scholarship Offer: Students will be mailed a scholarship offer from the Admissions office. The offer should be signed and returned to the Admissions office.
  • Financial Aid Eligibility Notice (award letter): New and transfer students will be mailed an award letter that outlines the student's financial aid eligibility: scholarships awarded, federal aid eligibility, and state aid eligibility. The student needs to accept or reject each aid offer, sign, and return the award letter to the FA Office. Students do not have to accept all aid offered. Remember loans must be repaid.
  • Transcripts: Students should make sure that their high school and/or college transcripts are submitted to CMU.
  • Aid on myCMU: Returning students can view their financial aid on myCMU once their aid eligibility has been determined. The Financial Assistance office will begin determining returning students’ financial aid in May. Returning students will not receive a Financial Aid Eligibility Notice in the mail.