Applying for Financial Aid

To be considered for financial aid, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Before you get started you'll need to refer to several items when filing electronically, including:

• your Social Security number
• your driver's license
• W-2 forms, or other records of income earned
• Embry-Riddle's federal school code: 001479
• see the whole list

Applying online is the best method because your results are processed more quickly, and there are checks to ensure your information is submitted correctly. Online processing takes 14 days at most, but typically only a week. Generally, the paper FAFSA processing time is four weeks. A paper form is available from the Financial Aid Office.

After completing the FAFSA you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). This document lists the information you and your family have provided and tells you what your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is for the year you are applying. The Embry-Riddle Financial Aid Office also receives this information in an electronic format. You do not need to mail your SAR to us unless you would like us to make corrections for you. You can also correct your information online.

Once we receive your information we will prepare an award letter that outlines the aid programs for which you are eligible. Financial aid will be paid and refunds processed after the last day to add classes each semester.

In the event there is a delay in crediting your financial aid, plan on having sufficient funds available for books, supplies and other personal expenses during the first two weeks of classes. Your student accounting information will be available on your ERNIE portal page once you're an accepted student.

Each year thereafter, students who completed the FAFSA on the web and graduate students will receive a PIN mailer. Undergraduates who completed a paper FAFSA will receive a renewal FAFSA. Whether paper or digital, the renewal has most of your information pre-filled and typically only your income needs to be updated (and your parents' if you are a dependent student).

You may be asked to complete additional forms to help verify information you provided on your FAFSA. You can review the "Documents Needed to Complete Your Application" section from your portal page in ERNIE to determine if you are required to complete any of these supplemental forms.