At some point, nearly every student has questions about the financial aid process. If that sounds like you, read on for more information on applying for financial aid!
Net Price Calculator
Use the Net Price Calculator to estimate your Financial Aid eligibility.
Steps to Apply for Financial Aid
- Familiarize yourself with the financial aid deadlines at Horizon University. Note that some grants and loans require you to apply to Horizon and file your FAFSA before applying for aid.
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) soon after January 1 of the year you plan to attend. This form determines your eligibility for federal and state aid, including grants and loans. Be sure to list Horizon University (code 041405) on the FAFSA when prompted. If you have already filled out your FAFSA, but have not yet entered your current year’s tax information, please follow these IRS Data Retrieval Instructions.
- Complete a Student Interview online at the Virtual Financial Aid Office (VFAO):
You will need the following information from enrollment and registration to complete the VFAO Student Interview:- The EFC number provided through the FAFSA process
- Attendance: Full-time, ¾ time, ½ time, less than ½ time
- Year: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior
- Expected Graduation Date:
- Program: BBTS or AABTS
- Term: Fall 2011
- Receive your Estimated Financial Aid Award Letter from Horizon Virtual Financial Aid Office and return any requested items to the Financial Aid Office. Note: The financial aid offer in your Estimated Financial Aid Award Letter is subject to change if:
- Information on your FAFSA was incorrect or incomplete
- Your housing, attendance, or enrollment status was incorrect or changed
- Aid that you have or will receive was not listed on your letter
- Your financial aid needed to be coordinated to fit into your federally determined financial need
- Receive your Confirmed Financial Aid Award Letter from Horizon Virtual Financial aid Office. Note: The financial aid offer in your Confirmed Financial Aid Award Letter is subject to change if:
- Your housing, attendance, or enrollment status changes
- You receive other awards not previously accounted for
- Any of your family members’ enrollment in college changes
- Register for classes and pay your down payment.
Questions about a particular financial aid term? Chances are, that word or form may be listed on this page.
If you still have questions, feel free to contact the Financial Aid Office.
Important Terms
Award – Financial aid, such as a grant or loan.
Deferment – Official postponement of loan repayment.
Dependent Student – Any student who does not qualify as an independent student.
Disbursement – When financial aid awards are credited to the student’s account.
E-signature – An electronic signature used to authorize the processing of loan documents and other personal information on the internet.
Essential Need – The total cost of education minus the expected family
Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) – a measure of your family’s financial strength and is calculated according to a formula established by law.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – The financial aid application used to determine a student’s eligibility for federal and state grants and loans as well as need-based institutional aid.
Grant – Money that does not need to be repaid.
Independent Student – A student that meets one or more of these qualifications:
- is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
- is a graduate student
- is married
- is an orphan or ward of the court
- has legal dependents other than a spouse
- Lender – An institution from which a student loan is borrowed.
Loan – Money that must be repaid with interest.
Master Promissory Note (MPN) – A form used by all schools and borrowers to simplify and streamline the loan application process for students.
IRS Data Retrieval Instructions
- Log onto your 2012-13 FAFSA application at www.fafsa.gov
- Under the Financial Information Tab, update your answer to “Already Completed.”
- Six options will appear, to help you decipher whether or not you will be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval.Note: If you filed your taxes “recently” (see the circled explanation in the screen shot below), you may need to wait until the IRS Data Retrieval is available to you. Also, if you owe the IRS any payment of taxes, the IRS Data Retrieval will not be available to you until a few weeks after your payment has been received by the IRS.
