FAFSA

All students should complete the FAFSA application at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The earliest possible submission date is October 1. The CMU Priority deadline for the FAFSA is February 1 and the Access Missouri Grant Deadline is February 1.

CMU School Code: #002453

Students must have an FSA ID to sign and submit the FAFSA. If students are dependents, parents need their own FSA ID. Create an FSA ID on the Federal Student Aid website. Instructions for creating the FSA ID.

International students do not need to fill out the FAFSA.

After your FAFSA is Filed

Undergraduate - Fayette Students

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: 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. The most common required documents for verification are:

  1. Income Tax Documents - Tax return transcripts are needed from both the student and parent (if student is dependent), if the student and/or parent filed taxes. 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.):
    1. Online - www.irs.gov
    2. Telephone - 800-908-9946
    3. IRS Form 4506T-EZ
  2. Verification Worksheet: Found on your myCMU document tracking
  3. Itemization Worksheet: Found on your myCMU document tracking, if needed (required when the family's adjusted gross income falls below the United States Poverty Guideline)

Other documents may also be requested as needed. Students may view their documents needed on their myCMU, under the Financial Aid tab, then View Financial Aid Document Tracking tab.

All verifications materials must be submitted to the financial aid office. Aid will not be added to a student's account until an updated FAFSA has been received with the corrected information. Students should turn all documents in a timely manner to allow adequate time to review and update the necessary information, receive the updated FAFSA, and subsequently add aid the student's account. Financial aid will be added to a student's account until the last day of class, as long as the updated correct FAFSA is available. Note that if changes are necessary to the FAFSA, it can take up to 5 business days to receive an updated FAFSA.

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): Students can view their financial aid on myCMU once their aid eligibility has been determined. After a student's aid is finalized, the student will receive an email letting them know they need to accept or reject their aid. The award letter can be found on the student's myCMU account, under the Student Tab, then click on Financial Aid, then Financial Aid Awards. Choose the Award Year, then click on "Accept/Decline Aid." Follow the instructions and then hit submit to complete the process. Students do not have to accept all aid offered. Remember: Loans must be repaid. Available on the on the Financial Aid Awards is a link to the student's rights and responsibilities. Please note: Financial aid will not be disbursed until the student completes this step.

Transcripts: Students should make sure that their high school and/or college transcripts are submitted to CMU.

Undergraduate - CGES & Graduate Students

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: 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 most common required documents for verification are:

  1. Income Tax Documents - Tax return transcripts are needed from both the student and parent (if student is dependent), even if the student and/or parent filed taxes. 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.):
    1. Online: www.irs.gov
    2. Telephone: 800-908-9946
    3. IRS Form 4506T-EZ
  2. Verification Worksheet: Found on your myCMU Financial Aid Document Tracking
  3. Itemization Worksheet: Found on your myCMU Financial Aid Document Tracking, if needed (required when the family's adjusted gross income falls below the United States Poverty Guideline for the income year provided on the FAFSA and the number in the household).

Other documents may also be requested as needed. Students may view their documents needed on their myCMU, under the Financial Aid tab, then View Financial Aid Document Tracking tab.

All verifications materials must be submitted to the financial aid office. Aid will not be added to a student's account until an updated FAFSA has been received with the corrected information. Students should turn all documents in a timely manner to allow adequate time to review and update the necessary information, receive the updated FAFSA, and subsequently add aid the student's account. Financial aid will be added to a student's account until the last day of class, as long as the updated correct FAFSA is available. Note that if changes are necessary to the FAFSA, it can take up to 5 business days to receive an updated FAFSA.

Documentation: Financial assistance cannot be awarded until the following documentation has been completed.

  1. All previous college transcripts are submitted to the CMU admissions representative;
  2. An official Letter of Acceptance from CMU is made;
  3. If student loans are desired, all required steps to request a loan are complete; and
  4. Financial Aid Eligibility Notice must be signed and submitted through the student's myCMU.

Upon students' acceptance to CMU, site representatives send all necessary documents to the Financial Assistance office. Once financial aid eligibility has been determined, students can view their financial aid on myCMU. After a student's aid is finalized, the student will receive an email letting them know they need to accept or reject their aid. The award letter can be found on the student's myCMU account, under the Student Tab, then click on Financial Aid, then Financial Aid Awards. Choose the Award Year, then click on "Accept/Decline Aid." Follow the instructions and then hit submit to complete the process. Students do not have to accept all aid offered. Remember: Loans must be repaid. Available on the on the Financial Aid Awards is a link to the student's rights and responsibilities. Please note: Financial aid will not be disbursed until the student completes this step.

Students expecting a refund should check myCMU to determine when a credit has been issued. Refund checks are written once a week, beginning around the third week of the semester, and mailed to the student's home address.