Parents
Our Financial Assistance team is here to help guide your family through the financial assistance process. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns, and we look forward to meeting you!
How to Apply
In order to receive financial assistance, all students will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Eligibility for grants, loans and need-based scholarships will be determined based on the results of the FAFSA form. The FAFSA is available on January 1st of the year in which the student plans to attend. For entering first-year students, the priority deadline to complete the FAFSA is February 15th. Returning Meredith students should file their FAFSA no later than March 15th. In order to successfully complete the form, you will want to complete the following steps:
Complete the FAFSA Form Online
In order to submit the FAFSA successfully, you will need to:
- Sign Up for Your Federal PIN- In order to sign the electronic FAFSA, you will need to use a four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN). You may choose your own combination of numbers, or you may request that the Department of Education assign a federal PIN to you by visiting www.pin.ed.gov and clicking “Apply for a PIN.” This number may be used to sign the FAFSA each year and should be kept with your financial documents. For dependent students, both the student and a parent will be required to obtain a federal PIN.
- Gather Your Documentation-The FAFSA will use the information contained in your tax documents to determine your level of financial need. In order to enter this information accurately, you will want to have your current tax forms and W2’s handy. Keep in mind that this means you may want to file your taxes early since the priority filing date for entering first-year students is February 15th, two months prior to the official IRS deadline. For those who are unable to file their taxes before February 15th, you may use your previous year’s taxes to estimate your earnings on the FAFSA, but you will be required to update the FAFSA once your taxes have been completed.
- Answer the Questions- Answer the required questions using your taxes, W2’s and financial statements, and submit the form by entering your federal PIN. The FAFSA’s of dependent students must be signed by both the student and the parent. At the end of the form, you will be asked where you would like the results of your FAFSA form to be sent. You may search for Meredith College in the online listing, or you may simply enter our school code of 002945.
If you have any trouble understanding the FAFSA questions, you may contact the federal processor directly by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). You may also contact our office at 919-760-8565.
Wait for Your Results
Once the Office of Financial Assistance receives your completed FAFSA and supporting documentation, our counselors will create a financial assistance Statement of Award based on your FAFSA results. Incoming first-year students who have completed the FAFSA by the priority deadline of February 15th can expect to receive their Statement of Award in March. Returning students will receive their continuing Statement of Award after spring semester grades have been submitted in June.
To find out more about the financial assistance Statement of Award and the next steps to planning for your educational expenses, please continue reading in our “What’s Next” section below. If you have specific questions regarding the FAFSA application, you may also want to visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
What's Next?
If you have already completed your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online, follow the steps below:
Wait for Your Financial Assistance Statement of Award
Once the Office of Financial Assistance receives your completed FAFSA, our counselors will create a financial assistance Statement of Award based on your FAFSA results. Some students will be selected by the federal government to complete a one-page worksheet and submit their tax information in addition to completing the FAFSA form. If you are selected by the federal processor to complete the additional worksheet and submit your tax information, we will notify you by mail and supply you with the form.
Incoming first-year students who have completed the FAFSA by the priority deadline of February 15th can expect to receive their Statement of Award in March. Returning students will receive their continuing Statement of Award after spring semester grades have been submitted in June.
To find out more about the financial assistance Statement of Award and the next steps to planning for your educational expenses, please continue reading in our “What’s Next” section below. If you have specific questions regarding the FAFSA application, you may also want to visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Review Your Statement of Award
Review the assumptions made on your Statement of Award regarding your student classification, attempted credit hours, and pending financial assistance. The types and amounts of financial assistance available will vary depending upon the results of your FAFSA. If you would like to know more about specific types of aid listed on your Statement of award, please visit our grants, scholarships, and student loans pages or visit our FAQ.
Complete the Enclosed Documents
Your Statement of Award will include documentation that you will need to complete in order to receive the funding listed in your letter. These documents may include but are not limited to:
- The North Carolina Need Based Scholarship- This form must completed by all eligible residents of the State of North Carolina.
- Federal Direct Loan Entrance Loan Counseling and Master Promissory Note- If you wish to receive the student loans listed, bothe the loan counseling and promissory note must be completed online.
- Calculate Your Annual Cost Worksheet- This worksheet will help students and families anticipate the total cost of education and develop a clear financial plan.
Sign and Return Your Statement of Award to the Office of Financial Assistance
You may return your award and accompanying documentation via mail, fax, or email to:
The Meredith College Office of Financial Assistance
3800 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
Fax: 919-760-2373
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Additional Options
In addition to federal, state, and institutional assistance, there are a variety of financing options available. Our counselors are committed to working with families to coordinate these financial resources to help students achieve their educational goals.
Payment Plans
Tuition Management Systems Monthly Plan
Pay your tuition bills in monthly installments, interest-free, with the Tuition Management Systems Payment Plan. Monthly payments are easier on your household budget and they can save you money by reducing the amount you need to borrow and by letting you keep funds longer in interest-bearing accounts. The annual enrollment fee is $65; no other charges are incurred. For more information about this plan, click here.
Parent Loans
The federal Direct Parent PLUS loan is the only loan available exclusively to the parents of undergraduate students. The Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan offers a deferred payment option, fixed rate of interest, and generous repayment terms. The Parent PLUS loan is available to fill out after June 1st, 2013 for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year.
Direct Parent PLUS Loan Application and Completion Instructions
Due to recent congressional legislation, all parent loans are now administered directly by the federal government. Parents who have loans through other lenders may continue to have those loans serviced by the lender of their choice, but all new parent PLUS loans must be issued by the Department of Education through the federal Direct Loan program. Additionally, the federal government now requires that all PLUS applicants complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to receive a parent PLUS loan. To apply for a parent PLUS for the 2013-2014 academic year, please complete the steps listed below:
- Complete the FAFSA- Beginning in the 2011-2012 academic year, all PLUS applicants MUST complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For instructions on completing the fafsa, click here.
- Sign In - Click the link to the left and sign in on the federal Direct Loan website. You will need to sign into your account using your social security number, first two letters of your last name, date of birth, and your federal PIN. Your federal PIN should be the same as the PIN you used to complete the FAFSA. If you have lost or forgotten your federal PIN, you may retrieve it by visiting pin.ed.gov. Please note: You must sign in using your parent PIN. Do not sign in using the student's PIN or social security number.
- Select "Start PLUS Application Process" - After signing in, you will be brought to your home profile screen. From this screen, select the link titled "Start PLUS Application Process." (**Note, do not select the link to complete an MPN from the home screen. If you do so, you will skip the credit application step and your loan application will NOT be complete).
- Choose the "Parent PLUS " link and follow the on-screen instructions.
Outside Scholarships
In addition to aid available from federal, state, and institutional sources via the FAFSA, students and families may also want to pursue outside schoalrship opportunities from other donors. These scholarships may be competitive and are frequently based on additional qualifying criteria established by the donating organizations. To begin exploring outside scholarship opportunities, please view the outside scholarship listing on our scholarships page.
