How to Apply for Financial Aid
Students interested in federal grants and loans should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. The University of South Carolina Central Financial Aid Office strongly encourages students to complete and submit your FAFSA on the web.
FAFSA on the Web
FAFSA on the Web is a free US Department of Education website where you can complete a FAFSA online and submit it via the Internet and use a federal PIN to sign the application electronically. If you are a dependent student, your parent must also sign the application. Students and parents can apply for a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. After obtaining your PIN(s), complete your application online by using FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Use the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet as a tool to assist you in completing FAFSA on the Web, the worksheet is available in English and Spanish. The worksheet is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov for you to print. Complete the worksheet prior to entering your information online. Do not mail the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet to the Office of Financial Aid or to the federal processor.
Before transmitting your application, review your answers and make any necessary corrections. Be sure to provide the appropriate signature(s) on your FAFSA. If you do not wish to sign the application electronically with your PIN, you can print a paper signature page from FAFSA on the Web, sign it and mail it to the address provided.
For assistance with FAFSA on the Web, you may contact Customer Service at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
Students eligible for state and institutional resources will be automatically awarded based on FAFSA data and transcripts that the University has for the student.
Applicants who apply by April 15th for the upcoming school year shall receive first consideration for campus-based federal student aid funds. Please see Summer Aid for the deadlines when applying for financial aid for the summer term.
The Student Guide provides information pertaining to the financial aid application process. For additional information, please see the Student Guide. Links to the Student Guide for the current academic year and the following academic year can be found on our related links page.
Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL)
The Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) provides low-cost educational loans authorized by the Higher Education Act to assist students and their parents obtain help in paying for the cost of higher education. There are several types of loans currently offered under the FFELP: Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans and Federal PLUS Loans.
Click here for additional information on FFEL.