Current & Returning Undergraduates
Current & Returning Undergraduate Students
The starting point for all need-based financial aid is the Free Application for federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the only need-based application required by Guilford. The FAFSA must be filed annually in order to reestablish need-based aid eligibility each year. Students who filed the FAFSA the previous academic year will receive via email a reminder to complete the next year’s FAFSA. This email is sent by the U. S. Dept. of Education to the email address that was reported on the prior year’s FAFSA. It is the student’s responsibility to file each year’s FAFSA, whether or not you receive the federal reminder. You should complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Follow the directions and be sure that ALL required data elements are completed and both student (and parent, if required) PIN numbers are included. The priority deadline for all continuing and returning students, both Traditional Campus and CCE, is May 1st.
Continuing and returning Traditional Campus students will receive any merit scholarships for which they continue to meet the required gpa threshold. There is no need to file any renewal application for merit awards that were authorized at the time of admission to the college.
All financial aid recipients are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). This requirement differs from the gpa requirement to retain eligibility for enrollment in that it has a minimum pass rate for attempted hours. Please familiarize yourself with the full text of the financial aid SAP policy.
It is important also to remember that the majority of books and academic supplies must be purchased during the first few days of the semester. Students cannot rely on work-study earnings for this purpose. You should arrive on campus with sufficient funds to purchase books and other academic supplies required for the start of the semester.