Important Financial Aid Information

1.The first and most important step in receiving financial aid is filing a FAFSA form. If that has not yet been done, filing can be done either with a paper application, or on the Internet

• The website is www.fafsa.ed.gov .

• Paper applications can be found in any University Financial Aid office, as well as any high school guidance or college  counseling office.

 2. Be sure to have your FAFSA results sent to DePaul

• There will be an area on the FAFSA that will  indicate what schools you wish to have the FAFSA results sent to, be sure to indicate DePaul. Our Federal school code is 001671.

 3. Receiving a Student Aid Report (SAR)

• Once the Department of Education has processed your FAFSA results and sent them to the schools you have requested, you will receive a Student Aid Report(color coded yellow paper). The Student Aid report will be you own printed copy of your FAFSA.

*This is obtainable in a printed copy if done on the web.

• The SAR gives you the opportunity to make any needed changes in the information you originally reported on the FAFSA.  Changes can be made on the website as well.

• Any changes made on the paper SAR can be turned in to the Financial Aid office, or sent back to the Department of Education.

4. Turn in any documents needed by the Financial Aid Office in order to process your financial aid award

• There may be documents that students may be required to turn in to the financial aid office, such as:

                 Tax Documents
                 Social Security Information
                 Citizenship Documents

• If these documents are needed, DePaul’s Financial Aid office will contact you via mail and outline what needs to be turned in.  Please call if there are any questions regarding these documents.

5. Wait to receive your Financial Aid Awards Letter

• Once we have your FAFSA results any needed documents, we will be able to process an award and send out a letter indicating what financial aid your are eligible for.

• The financial aid letter will detail what has been offered, as well as estimated costs both indirect costs, as well as direct costs costs to the University.

• Whenever there is any trouble reading the financial aid award letter, we encourage students and parents to speak with a financial aid counselor over the phone, via e-mail, or in person.

• If you understand what is being offered, indicate on the award letter what you wish to accept, as well as what you do not want to accept, if anything. Be sure then to return the letter to the financial aid office.

  6. Special Circumstance Appeal Letters

• Special circumstance appeal letters can be written if there is any kind of change or circumstance that is outside what has been reported on the FAFSA. Different reasons one may need to write a special circumstance letter might be, but are not limited to:

              Job loss, or decreased hours at current job
              Medical Emergencies
              Private School Tuition for other dependants

• If you feel that you have a special circumstance that is not indicated above, or have questions regarding the letter you plan to turn in, please feel free to contact the financial aid office for instructions.

• All special circumstance letters need to also include any supporting evidence or proof of the circumstance.

Financial Aid Contact Information:
1 E Jackson Blvd. Suite 9000
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 362-8091