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New Student Step-by-Step Guide

Helpful tips to help students who are new to financial aid.

1. Plan Ahead

Consistently checking the federal and university dates and deadlines will ensure applications, documentation, and registration are completed on time.

Recognize that your financial aid awards may not be enough to cover the cost of attendance. Working hard and saving money before coming to school can greatly reduce the stress of paying for college. Create a Semester Financial Plan and utilize BYU-Idaho’s Financial Wellness Program.

Search the student job board for on-campus employment options and help wanted postings for other local jobs.

2. Submit FAFSA & Complete Required Documents

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) offers Pell Grants and Direct Student Loans to help you pay for your educational costs. BYU-Idaho does not participate in Work-Study. Not all students are eligible to receive Pell Grants; however, all students are offered loans. Certain scholarship applications, including the BYU-Idaho Scholarship Application, require you to complete your FAFSA. Prepare to receive federal aid by viewing the federal aid eligibility requirements.

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After your FAFSA is submitted, you may be required to submit additional documents to the Financial Aid Office. This process is called FAFSA Verification, and its purpose is to confirm that the information provided on the FAFSA is correct.

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If you are selected for verification, you will find the required verification documents on your financial aid portal.

3. Apply for Grants & Scholarships

Apply for the BYU-Idaho Scholarship, which requires the BYU-Idaho Scholarship Application along with the corresponding FAFSA to be completed by March 1st each year. Also, check your eligibility for other University Grants, apply for Non-BYUI scholarships through Scholarship Universe, and review other private aid resources.

4. Register for Program Applicable Classes

Federal Aid can only be awarded for classes required for graduation. This is referred to as Program Applicability (PA). Refer to your degree audit to determine the required courses for your declared major. The Program Applicability Tool (PAT) will help confirm which registered courses are eligible to receive federal financial aid.

To receive the maximum amount of qualified federal aid, you must be enrolled in at least 12 PA credits, though most awards can be prorated down to 6 PA credits. If you enroll in non-PA credits, you will not receive federal aid for those credits.

The BYU-Idaho and Talent Grants are not restricted by Program Applicability; therefore, these grants are awarded on both enrolled PA and non-PA credits. However, the Internship Grant does require you be enrolled in a program applicable internship class.

5. Accept Loans if Necessary

For some students, their work income, Pell grant, and BYU-Idaho Grant (if awarded) may not be enough to cover all educational expenses. Student loans, when used responsibly, can be an additional resource to help fund your education. These loans can be accepted through your financial aid portal once your FAFSA is received by BYU-Idaho and verification is complete (if applicable).

6. Enroll in eRefund and Complete Federal Aid Authorization

Your qualifying financial aid will automatically be applied towards your tuition, class fees, and room and board (if you live at Centre Square or University Village). You can then receive any excess funds after these charges are paid off through eRefund, which provides the quickest and safest way to receive your additional aid funds into a U.S. checking or savings account.

You can also authorize the use of your federal financial aid to pay for other educational fees such as your student health care plan, health center and university store charges, parking permits and/or fines, and other miscellaneous expenses by completing the federal financial aid authorization.

7. Know How Your Decisions Affect Your Financial Aid

Considering dropping classes or deferring? Make sure to talk to a Financial Aid counselor to see how your funds will be affected. Be aware of how withdrawing from a semester will affect your current aid eligibility and your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). If you are planning to or have taken out loans, be aware of important loan policies. Finally, know how remedial and repeated coursework will affect your aid.