FINANCIAL AID
All financial aid, including scholarships, outside donor funds, BIA and Tribal funds, tuition waivers, grants, work study and loans for students, is processed or monitored through the Financial Aid Office in the Lommasson Building or The College of Technology.
All federal aid requires planning in advance and requires the filing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To complete the application process other forms and documentation are required and must be filed with the Financial Aid Office when requested.
Most types of aid, including UM scholarships, grants and loans, appear as a future credit on the registration/bill and will be used for payment as long as the student has finalized his or her registration/bill by the posted deadlines.
- Loans will appear on the bill as a future credit as soon as offered, but students must complete separate entrance counseling and sign master promissory notes before actual payment can be made. Stafford rules require this once while Perkins loan holders must complete this requirement each year received.
- Students receiving electronic payments from Stafford loans, private educational loans, or parent loans (PLUS), will have funds credited directly to their student account without requirement of any additional signatures.
- Students receiving physical loan checks must endorse them at the Cashier Station in Griz Central during the first week of classes. Physical loan checks for parents must be endorsed by parents via mail system.
- If financial aid exceeds fees, a refund check will be mailed as long as the student has finalized his/her registration/bill (refer to refund section of this book). All desired changes in courses and fee options should be completed before finalizing payment with financial aid.
Students who are on financial aid warning may register for classes as scheduled, but must wait for final grades from the previous semester before using financial aid to pay fees to avoid losing classes. If aid is unavailable, students must pay their own fees by the deadline or classes will be cancelled.
CREDIT LOAD
WARNING: If a student's credit load has dropped by the end of the third week of classes (September 15, 2008), financial aid repayment may be required.
NOTICES:
- Students who are working toward in-state residency for fees must register for fewer than 7 credits during the 12-month waiting period, but a student must take at least 6 credits to receive most financial aid.
- Any credit load less than 12 is considered part-time and grants will be pro-rated.
Faculty/staff tuition waiver forms require pre-approval of supervisors and Human Resources. Approved forms must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office in Griz Central or College of Technology at least two days before making fee payment. Please plan accordingly to comply with payment deadlines and avoid cancellation of classes.
Tuition waivers for Native Americans, Montana Veterans, and other waivers require special applications. Please see Financial Aid in Griz Central or College of Technology for details.