Financial Aid

Applying for Financial Aid

Students applying for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.studentaid.gov. The FAFSA must be completed yearly, and determines the amount of assistance and which program is appropriate for each applicant. FAFSA applications open October 1. Our priority deadline is March 1, of each year however FAFSAs received after this date will still be processed. It can take 2 - 3 weeks for USC Upstate to receive your FAFSA results.

Steps to Apply for Financial Aid

1. You and your parent (if dependent) should create an FSA ID and password at www.studentaid.gov prior to starting FAFSA on the Web so that you can sign electronically. This can also be done at the time that you are completing the FAFSA. All applications must be signed electronically with your (and your parents') FSA ID.
2. USC Upstate’s Title IV school code is 006951.
3. You do not have to wait for your financial aid award before beginning your admissions, advisement and registration processes.  However, to be awarded financial aid you must be admitted as a degree-seeking student to USC Upstate.
4. Communication with Students: The majority of communications from the financial aid office will be sent to your USC Upstate email account.  You must review your email and announcements regularly to ensure you have the latest information about your financial aid status.
5. You are encouraged to respond to email and postal mailing as soon as possible to avoid delays in processing of your financial aid.
6. For State Scholarship purposes, please make sure that final transcripts are sent as soon as possible.
7. Make sure any non-institutional scholarship checks are sent to our office. (You may need to endorse a check if it is made payable to you and USC Upstate.)
8. Check your awards on SSC.
9. For additional information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

More Important Financial Aid Dates 

The forms below are Adobe Acrobat PDF files .

Instructions for Students Transferring To USC Upstate

If you plan to transfer to USC Upstate, you must complete the following steps in order to be considered for financial assistance:

1. Transfer students must have been admitted to USC Upstate and have their current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at USC Upstate by November 1st for the spring semester or June 1st for the fall semester. Applications submitted after this date will be processed; however, aid may not be available by the first day of classes.
2. If you wish to be considered for financial assistance at USC Upstate, you should add us to your processed FAFSA at www.studentaid.gov. In order for the Federal Processor to send USC Upstate your information they will need our school code 006951 and your "DRN" number from your Student Aid Report (SAR). USC Upstate does not have access to your "DRN" number. If you do not have your SAR, you may request a duplicate copy by calling 1-800-433-3243 or if you know your Department of Education PIN number, you may add our school code online to expedite the processing.
3. Before USC Upstate can award you financial aid, any aid at your prior school must be cancelled.
4. Your financial aid award at USC Upstate will be based on the academic credits that have been accepted and posted as of the day your financial aid award is made. Late transfer credits may result in higher loan eligibility.

Instructions for Students Transferring From USC Upstate 

1. If you will not be attending the upcoming semester at USC Upstate, the Financial Aid Office needs written notification in order to cancel any aid for the future term.
2. If you have received student loans at USC Upstate, you must complete an exit interview in the financial aid office.
3. If you wish to be considered for financial assistance at your new school, add yuor new school to your processed FAFSA at www.studentaid.gov.
4. Contact the financial aid office at the new school to find out what other steps you must take to be considered for aid at their institution.

For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Complete FAFSA - www.studentaid.gov (006951 Upstate School Code)

1. Check for pending / missing requirements
2. Send any requested information to the Financial aid Office
3. Check Self-Service for Financial Aid awards
4. Verify SC Residency
5. Accept / Decline awards
   • Financial Aid » Award » Award for Aid Year » USC Upstate as campus » select current academic year » Award Overview » Accept Award Offer tab
6. Complete State Certifications (Terms & Conditions tab)
   Financial Aid » Award » Award for Aid Year » USC Upstate as campus » select current academic year » Agree
7. Complete Title IV Fee Authorization (Resources/Additional Info tab)
   Financial Aid » Award » Award for Aid Year » USC Upstate as campus » select current academic year » Agree
8. Use the College Financing Plan for estimated charges
9. Review tuition and fees charges

Payments

1. 529 and Tuition Assistance Payments - Cashier’s Office
2. Setup tuition payment plan in Self-Service if needed
3. Send outside scholarships to our Cashier’s Office or Financial Aid – these funds are posted to the student’s account once they are received

For VA Benefits - Contact Robin Hollis, VA Representative, in our Records and Registration Office

*CHECK YOUR SCHOOL EMAIL ACCOUNT OFTEN*

• Log in to Self Service Carolina – my.sc.edu
• Click the Financial Aid tab
• Click FINANCIAL AID then FINANCAIL AID FOR AID YEAR
• Click the Award Overview tab to review your award offers
• Click the ACCEPT AWARD OFFER tab
• The aid offer will be displayed separately if you receive more than one offer
• You must accept or decline each award offer by either:
• Selecting ACCEPT FULL AMOUNT ALL AID OR Accept or decline the full amount of each fund individually by using the drop-down box (This allows you to accept partial amount also)
• Click Submit Decision

How to access State Certification

• Log in to Self Service Carolina – my.sc.edu
• Click the Financial Aid tab
• Click FINANCIAL AID
• Then FINANCIAL AID FOR AID YEAR
• Select USC Upstate Campus
• Select the current academic year
• At the top select “Terms and Conditions”
• Read the terms for the State Certification
• Lastly, click the drop-down box and select “Agree”

Fee Authorization Instructions

• Log in to my.sc.edu
• Click the Financial Aid Tab
• Click FINANCIAL AID
• Then FINANCIAL AID FOR AID YEAR
• Select USC Upstate Campus
• Select the current academic year
• At the top select “Resources/Additional Information”
• Finally, click the drop-down box and select “Agree”:

First time loan borrowers must complete Master Promissory Notes (MPN) and Entrace Loan Counseling.

Complete Entrance Loan Counseling and Sign Master Promissory Notes 

• Go to www.studentaid.gov 
• Log in using student FSA ID and password 
• Under “Complete Aid Process” tab at top of page, select “Complete a Master Promissory Note”  Choose first option, MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans 
• Once MPN is completed, under “Complete Aid Process” tab at top of page, select “Complete Entrance Counseling” 
• Click start and complete counseling. Keep in mind, this is just a tool to help you under-stand loans and repayment. Any amount asked to be inserted is hypothetical and does not change awards.
   

• Go to www.studentaid.gov 
• Click the “Parent” tab toward the bottom of the page. 
• Click the first option under Popular Topics: “Apply for a Parent PLUS Loan” 
• Click Log In and use parent FSA ID and password information to log in. It is important to use parent’s FSA ID to log in, not student’s FSA ID. If student’s FSA ID is used to log in on this screen, the PLUS application will not process correctly. 
• Fill in the requested application information. You will be required to select the amount of the loan, the loan period, and if you would like to defer loan repayment. Note: Choosing the maximum loan amount will allow the school to certify the loan amount up to cost of attendance for the loan period requested. Leaving the loan amount blank will delay pro-cessing time. We recommend selecting the full academic year for the loan period (August to May) so that only one application needs to be completed per academic year. 
• Once submitted, an immediate credit decision will be made. USC Upstate will receive the application at the school for certification within 24-48 hours. 
  a. If parent is approved, you will be required to complete a PLUS MPN for Parent Borrowers. A link will appear on the page to complete this step immediately. 
  b. If parent is denied, the student may be eligible for an additional unsubsidized loan amount based on eligibility.

Web Links

The College Board
Information about Admissions and Financial Aid.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
A Financial Planning Resource

The Financial Aid Site
An extensive and complete web site regarding financial aid.

Fastweb
An excellent scholarship service.

Good Call
Has the largest scholarship database in existence ($32 BILLION in scholarships). 

Entrance/Exit Counseling
Conduct your counseling online at this site.

U.S. Department of Education
General site for the U.S. Department of Education.

FAFSA on the Web
Apply for federal aid at this site.

Selective Service Registration
Males can register for selective service at this site.

SC Student Loan Corporation 
You can sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN), check on the status of your loans, repayment history, etc.

Citibank 
You can sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN), check on the status of your loans, repayment history, etc.