You know that investing in your education is critical.  An important first step toward that investment is applying for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Institutional Aid Application for international and undocumented students.

Apply for Aid

The first step in applying for aid (scholarships, grants, loans or work-study) is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Helpful tips for filling out the FAFSA:

1. Make sure you double check your information – Social Security Number, date of birth, and name (legal name) must be those of the recipient; incorrect information here will severely delay the processing of your application.

2. Enter Meredith’s school code #002945 on your FAFSA to ensure that we receive the data.

3. Leave no blanks – Unless instructed to do so, make sure all blanks are filled in, even if that means entering a “0”. Read the FAFSA instructions carefully.

4. Don’t procrastinate – Complete your FAFSA as soon after October 1 as possible. Remember, you must file your FAFSA by the priority deadline (February 15 for new students; March 15 for returning students) in order for you to receive priority funding. Our priority deadline means that all applications received by this date will receive maximum consideration for all available funds. Students applying after the priority deadline are less likely to receive maximum funds.

Video Links to Help with the FAFSA

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/resources#fafsa

If you have been notified to complete missing information, please do so as soon as possible. If you’ve been selected for verification, you’ll find an explanation of what that means below.

You must be officially accepted by Meredith before any financial aid package (scholarships, grants, loans and work-study) can be offered.

Next Steps 

1. New students whose FAFSA is received by February 15 will be given priority for awards and will be notified of aid eligibility by mid-March. Returning students typically receive their award packages in June.

2. Review your award letter and determine if you are accepting or declining all or part of your financial aid awards. Return your signed statement of award to the Office of Financial Assistance.

Meredith College
Attn: Financial Assistance Office
Johnson Hall East
3800 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27607
Fax: (919) 760-2373

3. If awarded the North Carolina Need Based Scholarship (NBS), please complete the NC RDS (Residency Determination Service) online form to determine your eligibility at www.ncresidency.org.

4. Complete Entrance Counseling and Loan Agreement for a Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan (MPN).
Note: If you are a current student, this step only needs to be completed your first year.

5. Utilize the Calculating your Annual Cost Worksheet to determine your estimated annual bill. If additional funding is needed, please refer to the back of the Worksheet where additional options are listed with instructions.

Selected for Verification

Some FAFSA’s will be selected by the Federal Department of Education for a process called Verification. When selected, Meredith College is required by law to collect specific documentation from the student/parent(s)/spouse listed on the FAFSA to verify information that was submitted. Being selected for Verification is not an indication that there is a problem, but rather an effort to ensure the accuracy in the Federal Financial Aid System.

When a FAFSA is selected for Verification, the Financial Assistance Office will contact the student about what information is needed for documentation, how it may be obtained, and how it is submitted. If you have been asked to complete a form, please look under Missing Information Forms. The Financial Assistance Office cannot waive the requirement for verification when the student is selected by the Federal Department of Education. Failure to provide documentation may result in the delay and/or loss of Federal, State and Institutional funds.

Missing Information (For current students only)

If you have received an email indicating you are missing financial aid documents, you can view the items that are necessary to complete your financial aid application.