University of Idaho Financial Aid Checklist
STUDENT FINANCIAL AID 875 Perimeter Drive MS 4291 Moscow, ID 83844-4291
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
PA ID
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
*808999*
Your To-Do List: Submit your application for admission, including supporting documentation, and file your FAFSA to receive automatic consideration for all merit-based scholarships and financial aid. When completing the FAFSA, you will be given the option to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. You must use this tool to import income and tax information from 2017. Set up your VandalWeb and VandalMail accounts at uidaho.edu/getsetup with information included in your admission letter. Check your accounts often. Respond to any request for additional information from Student Financial Aid Services. If there are special circumstances affecting your family income in the past year, contact Student Financial Aid Services to determine if we may be able to recalculate your federal financial aid eligibility. Examples include loss of employment, large out-of-pocket medical expenses, etc. Make plans to attend UIdaho Bound: March 23, March 30, May 20, May 21, May 22, May 23, June 14, June 21 or July 12. Sign your master promissory notes and complete entrance counseling for loans you accept. Explore payment options and finalize your budget before school starts in August.
Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool View a step-by-step guide on using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool at uidaho.edu/irs-data, or follow the instructions below. 1. Log in to your 2019-2020 FAFSA account using your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID and password. 2. In the financial section of the FAFSA, you’ll be prompted to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool after answering three eligibility questions. Provide the required FSA ID and password (if requested), then click “Link to IRS.” 3. Provide the tax filer’s name, address and other information exactly as it appears on the tax return. Check the “Transfer my tax information into the FAFSA” box. Click “Transfer Now.” 4. W hen you return to the FAFSA, you will not see income or tax information. Instead, you will see “Transferred from the IRS.” For your protection, IRS tax return information is not displayed on the FAFSA. 5. Remember to review remaining items in the FAFSA and navigate to the last page where it should be signed and submitted. U of I Student Financial Aid Services will receive the information within 1-2 weeks, depending on processing time.
Create a school-year budget and plan how you will pay for college expenses. Use the financial planning worksheet at uidaho.edu/financialplanning. Look online toward the end of March for the Summer Session financial aid application.
Changes to the FAFSA process Changes to the 2019-2020 FAFSA will require you to use 2017 income information when completing the FAFSA. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your 2017 IRS tax return information into the 2019-2020 FAFSA. This will allow you to complete the FAFSA faster and with greater accuracy, and it helps assure an earlier notification of your financial aid eligibility.
What’s next? Check your VandalMail weekly and follow up when we request information or notify you of actions you need to take (accepting scholarships, signing promissory notes, providing additional information to complete the FAFSA, etc.) VandalMail is our primary form of communication with all students before and during the school year. Log in to your account at uidaho.edu/vandalmail-login.
Don’t wait! Apply for admission by Dec. 1 to automatically receive early consideration for all available scholarships and financial aid.
Office of Financial Aid Monday through Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST Summer hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 709 S. Deakin Street Bruce M. Pitman Center, 101 Moscow, ID 83844-4291 Email: finaid@uidaho.edu Phone: 208-885-6312 1-888-8-U-IDAHO
2019-20
FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION
Applying for financial aid at U of I is easy! Simply complete a U of I admission application to be considered for all merit scholarships and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for need-based scholarships and federal financial aid — no additional applications or essays are required.
HOW DO I PAY FOR COLLEGE? There are several ways to pay for a college education: Self-help includes college savings accounts, summer employment and parental/family support. Financial aid includes funding from the federal government, state governments, and colleges and universities. Grants and scholarships: money that does not need to be repaid Work-study: money that is earned through employment at the college or university Loans: money that must be repaid
How do I apply for financial aid? To receive consideration for financial aid and scholarships, simply submit your complete application for admission (including fee, transcripts and test scores) at uidaho.edu/submit-app as well as your FAFSA at http://bit.ly/fafsa-uidaho. There are two primary types of financial aid you might qualify to receive: Merit-based aid: Eligibility for all merit-based scholarship programs is determined by your academic record, which may include GPA and/or test scores. Most scholarships are based on merit. Need-based aid: Eligibility for need-based financial aid — including grants, scholarships, work-study and loans — is determined by submitting a 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Where can I get help? Staff members are trained to help families with budgeting, loan repayment options and special circumstances that may arise in financing your education. Every student at U of I has an assigned Financial Aid Counselor. Yours is looking forward to working with you.
How am I considered for need-based financial aid? Once you are admitted and your FAFSA has been received, the financial aid office will find the best financial aid programs available to you.
How and when will I know if I qualify for financial aid awards? First, we try to notify you of grants and scholarships that you don’t pay back, followed by self-help (work-study programs) and loans (funds that you repay). Next, we’ll present you with an award notification of the financial aid options for which you qualify, including guaranteed scholarship level programs (Go Idaho! or Discover Idaho!). Just select which programs best fit your needs to finance your college costs. (Learn more at uidaho.edu/aid-types.) Finally, we’ll send you a comprehensive award letter, including all your funding sources. Just remember, from your first application to graduation, we’re here to help you navigate the financial aid process.
How much will it cost to attend? Idaho Residents Full-time Student Fees/Tuition $7,864
Housing and Meals $8,880 Books and Supplies (estimated) $1,236
Out-of-State
Full-time Student Fees/Tuition $25,500 Housing and Meals $8,880 Books and Supplies (estimated) $1,236
What does the University of Idaho offer in merit-based scholarships? Resident Go Idaho! Idaho First-Year Students The Go Idaho! program* recognizes first-year Idaho students with up to four years of guaranteed scholarship funding levels based on their accredited high school unweighted GPA. Qualified students receive a combination of university scholarships that meet the guaranteed funding levels listed below. These award levels may be renewed for three additional years by maintaining a minimum U of I GPA.
Levels of Funding Platinum
$4,000
GPA
Gold
3.75 - 3.899
$3,000
GPA
Silver
$2,000
GPA
3.0 - 3.399 GPA
$17,980
Direct Costs
$35,616
Gold
$3,000
GPA
Silver
3.60 - 3.79
$2,000
GPA
3.0 - 3.59 GPA
$1,000
The Discover Idaho! award* recognizes non-resident firstyear students (who have not qualified for WUE) with up to four years of guaranteed scholarship funding levels based on their accredited high school unweighted GPA. Qualified students will receive the guaranteed funding levels listed below. These award levels may be renewed for three additional years by maintaining a minimum U of I GPA.
The Discover Idaho! Transfer award recognizes non-resident transfer students (who have not qualified for WUE) with up to two to four years of guaranteed scholarship funding levels, based on their transfer GPA and number of transfer credits. Qualified students will receive the guaranteed funding levels listed below. These award levels may be renewed for one to three additional years by maintaining a minimum U of I GPA and the number of transfer credits.
Levels of Funding Platinum
3.9 - 4.0
$8,000
GPA
Gold
$6,000 Silver
3.0 - 3.399
$5,000
GPA
Bronze
$2,000
Unweighted 3.2 GPA or higher for students from accredited high schools
-OR-
Minimum 22 ACT/1020 SAT for home-schooled students or those from non-accredited high schools
3.0 GPA or higher and meet credit transfer requirements
Discover Idaho! Non-Resident Transfer Students
3.4 - 3.749
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) students pay 150 percent of Idaho in-state tuition and fees and are not charged out-of-state tuition, a savings of more than $13,000 a year. There is not a separate application for WUE; just apply for admission to be considered. The WUE tuition and fee rate will be awarded automatically to students who are from qualifying states and territories who meet the following criteria:
Transfer Students
Discover Idaho! Non-Resident First-Year Students
GPA
^
^ States included in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Levels of Funding
150%
of Idaho in-state tuition and fees for up to three years if you maintain continuous enrollment with a 2.5 cumulative U of I GPA.
The WUE award for qualifying students will replace Discover Idaho! awards.
graduates from all other Idaho public institutions in earlycareer earnings and are among the highest mid-career earners from all Idaho institutions.
$4,000 Silver
$2,500
* Home-schooled students and students from non-accredited high schools will be considered based on ACT and SAT scores. Additional need-based grant funds may be available based on the results of your FAFSA.
1. First-year students — students with fewer than 14 semester (21 quarter) credits completed after high school graduation — must enter directly from high school or home school to be eligible. 2. All scholarships require continuous full-time University of Idaho enrollment. 3. Criteria and award amounts for scholarship levels are subject to change. 4. For admission and scholarship funding levels, an unweighted GPA from a regionally accredited high school is used. 5. ACT or SAT (critical reading + math) test scores are used for students from home school or non-accredited high schools. 6. Transfer students are students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree and have 14 or more semester credits completed after high school.
What scholarships will I receive to meet my guaranteed level of funding for the Go Idaho! and Transfer Idaho! programs? The U of I invests over $25 million in scholarship funds and non-resident tuition waivers each year to help more than 5,500 students achieve their educational goals. New students will receive general, non-department awarded scholarships their first year to meet their guaranteed level of funding. Department awarded scholarships will go to students who have previously attended the U of I to help meet their guaranteed level of funding. This means, as a new student, you will receive the same dollar amount of scholarships (based on guaranteed level of funding), but it will not be tied to your academic area of study. This process allows you to explore different academic areas of study without fear of losing scholarships if you change your academic major.
Are there more options to help finance my education?
OUTPACE
Gold
GPA
GPA
of Idaho in-state tuition and fees for four years if you maintain continuous enrollment with a 2.5 cumulative U of I GPA.
University of Idaho graduates
3.8 - 4.0 3.60 - 3.79
150%
Bronze
$1,000
3.75 - 3.899
AZ, CA, CO, GU, HI, MT, NV, NM, WUE AK, ND, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY, CNMI
First-year Students
3.8 - 4.0
Bronze
GPA
Direct Costs
The Transfer Idaho! program recognizes Idaho transfer students with two to four years of guaranteed scholarship funding levels, based on their transfer GPA and number of transfer credits. Qualified students receive a combination of university scholarships that meet the guaranteed funding levels listed below. These award levels may be renewed for one to three additional years by maintaining a minimum U of I GPA and the number of transfer credits.
Levels of Funding
3.9 - 4.0
3.4 - 3.749
Resident Transfer Idaho! Idaho Transfer Students
2019-20
Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
— PAYSCALE’S 2016-2017 COLLEGE SALARY REPORT
Yes. There are a number of resources for families. Here are a few: Outside Scholarships It pays to apply for community and national scholarships to help fund the great education offered by U of I. Speak with your guidance counselor, family employers, credit unions, churches and other community organizations to see if they offer scholarships. Learn more at: uidaho.edu/other-scholarships. Student Employment On- and off-campus job opportunities are available. See what kinds of jobs are posted at: uidaho.edu/student-jobs. Payment Plans Monthly payment plans require an enrollment fee at the time you start. The bonus: there are no interest charges. Information is available at: uidaho.edu/payment-plans.