ABOUT THE FAFSA

• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is an application for federal student aid. It is the only form you need to complete to apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants and loans. Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to federal student aid—the largest source of aid— to help you pay for college or career/trade school.
• In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid.
• While you are visiting schools and deciding which is right for you, it’s important to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible.
• You can send your FAFSA information to up to 20 schools, so there is no need to wait.

HOW TO APPLY

• Complete the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov
• You may need to provide information about your parents if you are a "dependent" student. You will be required to respond to a series of questions to determine if you are a "dependent" or "independent" student.
• If you are a dependent student, your parents will also need to complete their own information on the FAFSA. If you are married, your spouse may need to complete information on the FAFSA. These individuals will be referred to as contributors on the FAFSA.
• You will need the following information to complete the FAFSA:
  • Your Social Security Number
  • Your A-Number (if you're not a U.S. citizen)
  • Federal income tax returns, records of child support received; and your current balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts
  • Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable), net worth of investments, businesses, and farms
  • Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
  • Your Contributors information
    • First and last name
    • SSN (if they have one)
    • Date of birth
    • Email address
  • Both you and your contributors must provide consent and approval to have the IRS transfer your federal tax information into the FAFSA form. Your contributors must provide consent and approval even if they don’t have a Social Security number (SSN), didn’t file a tax return, or filed a tax return outside the U.S. If you or your contributors don’t provide consent and approval, you won’t be eligible for federal student aid.
  • Look up your Empire Beauty School code here and add it to your FAFSA
  • Electronically sign and submit the FAFSA
• After your FAFSA form is submitted and processed, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to access an online copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary. This will NOT tell you how much financial aid you will receive, however, review the Summary for accuracy.
• If you enroll at Empire Beauty School, you will be emailed a Financial Aid Offer informing you of the amount of aid you are eligible to receive.

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID

Your FAFSA application will help you apply for various types of Financial Aid.

Every student who meets certain eligibility requirements can get some type of federal student aid, regardless of age or income.

Basic Eligibility Requirements:

• Demonstrate financial need
• Are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have a valid social security number
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school
• Have a H.S. diploma, GED or have completed a homeschooling program approved by your state

There are 2 categories of Federal Student Aid: Grants and Loans.

Grants are money that does not have to be repaid. There are several types of grants available through the U.S. Department of Education and other sources.

• Federal Pell Grant:Undergraduates with financial need can receive a Federal Pell Grant for up to 12 semesters (or a total of 6 years).
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: For undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Funds depend on availability at school.
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant: For students who are not PELL eligible due only to less financial need, but whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11 and who were, at the time of death, less than 24 years of age.

Loans are borrowed money for college or career school that must be repaid. There are several types of loans available through the U.S. Department of Education:

• Direct Subsidized Loans: For undergraduates who have financial need. The U.S. Department of Education pays interest while borrower is in school and during grace and deferment periods.
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans: For all undergraduate students. The borrower is responsible for all interest.
• Direct PLUS Loans: For parents of dependent undergraduate students. Borrower is responsible for all interest.

2024-2025 FEDERAL STUDENT AID PROGRAMS

YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Student loans are borrowed money and need to be repaid, with interest.
• You do not have to accept all of the aid you are offered. When your school’s Financial Assistance Department sends you a Financial Aid Offer, you will have the option to indicate which financial aid you want to accept.
• Just like car loans and home mortgages, you cannot have these loans cancelled because you didn’t like the education you received, didn’t get the job you anticipated, or are having financial problems.
• Because you will need to pay these loans back, you will want to think about the amount of loans you’ll need to repay before you accept the loans. We suggest only borrowing as much money as you need, even if you qualify for more, so there will be less to pay back after school.
• While you may be responsible for repaying your loans 6 months after you stop attending school, you can also pay on your loans while you are in school.
• Again, grants and scholarships do not need to be repaid, only loans need to be repaid.

SPECIAL AND UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES

• Examples of a Special Circumstance in which you could complete a Special Circumstance Request Form are:
  • Loss of employment or significant reduction in hours, wages, or assets for the student, spouse, or parent of a Dependent student, compared to the income reported on the FAFSA
  • Medical, dental, or nursing home expenses not covered by insurance
  • Change in housing status (e.g., homelessness)
  • Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school
  • Child or dependent care expenses
  • Severe disability of the student or other member of the student’s household
  • Other changes or adjustments that impact the student’s costs or ability to pay for college
• Examples of an Unusual Circumstance in which you could complete an Unusual Circumstance Request Form are:
  • A student’s voluntary or involuntary removal from their parents' home due to an extreme situation that threatened the student’s health and/or safety and due to these conditions, parent support was terminated
  • Incapacity of parent(s) such as incarceration, mental or physical illness, or the inability of the student to locate the parent(s)
  • Human trafficking
  • Legally granted Refugee or Asylee status
  • Other extenuating circumstances that can be sufficiently documented
• If you have a Special or Unusual Circumstance, contact the Financial Assistance Department at 570-429-4210 or 570-429-2751.

VETERAN'S EDUCATION BENEFITS

Some Empire Beauty Schools are approved to certify Veteran's Educational Benefits for veterans, eligible dependents of deceased or disabled veterans and active status National Guard and Reserve personnel. Any student interested in this type of benefit must verify with the school representative that the school is approved to certify Veteran’s Educational Benefits.

FINANCIAL AID TIMELINE

• Within 3 days of enrolling, complete and submit the FAFSA
• Within 7 days of notification of documentation request, submit requested documents to the school

FINANCIAL AID PROCESS

• Student completes and submits the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Within 1-5 business days, student receives email with instructions on how to access an online copy of their FAFSA Submission Summary and the school receives electronic Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR).
• Student is notified by email if additional documents are required.
• Student submits requested documents.
• FA Department reviews submitted documents.
• Upon approval of submitted documents, a Financial Aid Offer is emailed to the student.
• Financial aid is disbursed onto the student’s tuition account after the student attends school.
• Stipend checks are issued to student within 14 days of when the credit from a Federal Grant or Loan occurs during a payment period.

QUESTIONS

• By email at faquestions@empire.edu
• By phone at 570-429-4210 or 570-429-2751