Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

For faster processing, you can file electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov, or you can complete the paper version and mail it directly to the federal processor. The Federal code number for St. Bonaventure is 002817. Please include this code in step six of the FAFSA information. If you completed the FAFSA in recent years you'll want to look up your FAFSA PIN #. The FAFSA site linked above has instructions for retrieving a forgotten PIN #. 
 
Note that there is not a lot of federal grant aid for graduate study (with the exception of certain fields), but the FAFSA is still necessary even to receive the Graduate Stafford Loan.

Verify the accuracy of the Student Aid Report (SAR) 

A couple weeks after filing the FAFSA you'll receive a Student Aid Report in the mail. The SAR summarizes the information you placed on the FAFSA.  Please look this over and if any changes are needed make them promptly and return the SAR to the address provided. The SBU Office of Financial Aid will receive a copy of this information, which will be used to determine your level of financial need. Financial aid staff may request additional information to verify your file, such as a copy of your federal tax return. If this turns out to be the case, your need-based funding will not be processed until all the necessary information has been received.

Applying for the Stafford Loan

Complete the St. Bonaventure Graduate Student Loan Request Form

To request the Federal Direct Loan, you must complete the Graduate Student Loan Request Form, which is available on My.SBU. Click on the links below to view Federal Direct Loan Information. Please calculate how much you will will need for your studies; we encourage students to borrow only what they will need.

• To help estimate your costs, click here to access the Graduate Cost Sheet Calculator. 

Calculate your costs for the academic year, considering your cost along with any scholarships you'll be receiving, sign and date the form, and fax or mail it to the following address:

St. Bonaventure University
Office of Financial Aid
Route 417
St. Bonaventure, NY 14778
FAX: (716) 375-2087   

Financial aid-related forms are also available at the Office of Financial Aid.

Borrowers Complete Federal Direct Loan MPN and Entrance Counseling

The St. Bonaventure University Office of Financial Aid will submit your Federal Direct loan electronically to the Department of Education.  If you have not previously borrowed a Federal Direct loan and do not have a current Master Promissory Note (MPN) on file with the Department of Education, log onto the Department of Education’s Web site at www.studentloans.gov. Select the “Sign in” button. Enter this information:

• Your correct Social Security number
• The first two letters of your LAST name
• Your birthday
• Your FAFSA pin number
• Submit

In the middle of the page select Complete Master Promissory Note. Select Subsidized / Unsubsidized and begin your MPN. After you complete and electronically sign the MPN, your loan will automatically be approved and disburse. Loan processing will halt if you are in default on past loans or if you have exceeded the maximum graduate aggregate loan limits.  

First time Federal Direct loan borrowers must complete Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling, which can be done on-line at www.studentloans.gov, Select the “Sign in” button: Enter this information:

• Your correct Social Security number
• The first two letters of your LAST name
• Your birthday
• Your FAFSA pin number

In middle of page select Complete Entrance Counseling and begin your counseling session. 

Register for Classes

If the Admission Committee offers you admission, you'll receive an official letter of acceptance and an enrollment confirmation form. You can register for classes approximately three days after you confirm your attendance.  In order to qualify for a Federal student loan, you must be enrolled in a degree program (in other than evaluation status) and be taking at least six (6) credit hours in each semester for which you wish to receive the loan. Any change in enrollment after the loan is processed, especially dropping to less than half-time, can cause complications (e.g. refunding $$ to the lender).   

You can confirm your intent to enroll by mailing or faxing back the enrollment confirmation form, or by e-mailing the Office of Graduate Admission. 

To have a federal loan processed, all five steps must be completed before the final day of classes. The billing and payment process will be simplified, though, if you can take care of loan paperwork in a timely fashion before the beginning of the semester. 

Please direct any questions regarding your student loan to the St. Bonaventure University Office of Financial Aid. Be sure to become familiar with the variety of federal student loan repayment options and forgiveness programs. Go to nasfaa.org or studentaid.gov for more information. 

Office of Financial Aid
St. Bonaventure University
Hopkins Hall Room 123
Phone: (716) 375-2528
Toll Free: (800) 462-5050
FAX: (716) 375-4015

Be sure to check out the scholarship programs described in the Scholarships & Aid web page.