2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog > Student Services > Student Financial Aid
The Office of Student Financial Aid supports the University goal of providing postsecondary education opportunities by assisting qualified Athens State University students in the pursuit of their educational goals with funds from grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs from federal, state, and private sources. The Office is committed to:
For questions regarding financial aid, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid: (mail) Athens State University Office of Student Financial Aid, 300 North Beaty Street, Athens, AL 35611; (phone) 256-233-8122; (email) finaid@athens.edu. Students may also visit the Financial Aid webpage. The Student Financial Aid Office is located on the lower-level of the Sandridge Student Center. Basic Steps for Applying for Aid
Students must apply for aid each academic year. Additional details can be found on the Student Financial Aid webpage Transfer Guide and Process.
Apply for a U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID)
Apply for an FSA ID at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch. You will be asked to create a username and password and enter your email address. You will receive a secure code by email at the address you entered asking you to confirm your email address with the code. The FSA ID will be your electronic signature for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), renewal of FAFSA, and Master Promissory Note for loans. Parents of dependent students must also have their own FSA ID to sign the FAFSA electronically.
Apply for Federal Aid Apply for Federal Aid at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. This application is required to determine a student’s eligibility for federal grant and loan programs. The results of this application are emailed to each student and electronically transmitted to each institution listed on the student’s application. Athens State University’s School Code is 001008.
Verification Review Policy and Procedures (Federal Regulation Reference: 34 CFR 668.51-61) Each year the federal processor selects a number of financial aid (FAFSA) applications for a review process called verification. In addition to those selected by the federal processor, the University may also select applications for verification. Before awarding any Federal Student Aid, we require this process be completed and may ask you to confirm the information reported on your FAFSA. If your application is selected, the Office of Student Financial Aid will notify you of the items needed. The Office of Student Financial Aid will compare your FAFSA with the information and documentation you provide, and will make any necessary corrections and submit the corrections to the federal processor. The federal processor will then send you and the University an updated information record. The following important information also applies to this process:
If you have questions about verification, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid as soon as possible so that your financial aid will not be delayed.
Apply for a Direct Student Loan
Students requesting loan funding must also fulfill the one time online requirements of Entrance Counseling and the completion of a Master Promissory Note at www.studentaid.gov. The Master Promissory note requires a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) to complete. The Financial Aid Office receives direct electronic confirmation of the completion of these requirements.
Federal Requirements on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Students Receiving Aid All undergraduate students must comply with the Federal Requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress as outlined below: Undergraduate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
If at the end of a semester of enrollment, your completion rate is lower than 67% and/or your cumulative GPA falls below 2.00, your status will be WARNING. (See information below regarding WARNING status.) If at the end of your WARNING semester you fail to regain compliance with SAP, your status will be SUSPENDED. (See information below regarding how to appeal a SUSPENDED status.) Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Potential Timeline
Reinstatement Process A student has two options to regain federal financial aid eligibility:
Please note: The process, detailed below, is for appeals related to the suspension and reinstatement of financial aid. Students who have also been suspended from the University for poor academic performance must file a separate appeal concerning the University suspension. Additional information on this process can be found in the Standards of Academic Performance policy. Student Appeals
Students on SUSPENDED or MAX status may submit an appeal for aid reinstatement due to extenuating circumstances. Student appeals must include:
The appeal documentation should be provided to the Office of Student Financial Aid no later than 30 days prior to the tuition payment deadline for the upcoming semester. Failure to provide all documentation within the prescribed dates will result in a delayed determination. Once the Office of Student Financial Aid makes a decision on your appeal, you will be notified via your Athens State University email account. If you have an approved appeal, your status will be PROBATION. Many times, conditions are required. The status of PROBATION is only allowed for one term. If you cannot regain SAP within that time frame, provided you met all conditions of the appeal approval during the probation term, your status will be changed to PLAN and you will be eligible to receive aid. Failure to follow all conditions spelled out in your appeal approval will result in financial aid being terminated. If you have previously had your financial aid suspended and you are appealing for a second time, the appeal and all supporting documents will be sent to the Financial Aid Suspension Committee. The Committee will review the appeal and notify the student via Athens State University email account. The Committee’s decision is final and there will be no further appeal reviewed for that financial aid suspension case. The Committee reviews appeals on an intermittent basis which could result in an appeal review taking at least two weeks. If your appeal is denied or you decide not to appeal, you must complete the hours necessary and achieve the grades required to return to compliance with SAP. Financial Aid Programs Additional information on aid programs can be found on the Student Financial Aid webpage Types of Assistance. Federal Programs Pell Grants This program is for students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree or first professional degree. The actual size of a grant award will depend upon the family’s financial situation, the amount of funds actually available for the program each year and the cost of education.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) This program provides grants to qualified applicants who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Pell Grant recipients who demonstrate the most financial need will be the first to get FSEOGs.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant The TEACH Grant Program provides up to $4,000 a year in grant aid to Athens State University undergraduate students pursuing certain majors. Students pursuing an additional bachelor’s degree or a post baccalaureate certification are not eligible for the TEACH grant program. Eligible students may not receive more than $8,000 in total TEACH Grants at Athens State University. A student who receives a TEACH Grant must complete the required teaching service as specified in the conditions of the TEACH grant, or will be required to repay the grants as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement. Federal Work-Study Program Federal Work-Study is designed to help students pay for their educational expenses by working part-time on campus in coordination with their class schedules. This program is available on the basis of need as defined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information. All requirements and conditions for employment under the Federal Work-Study Program are available in the Athens State University Career Development Center.
Federal Direct Loan Programs
Direct Subsidized Loans – provides students the opportunity to borrow funds for education costs at low interest rates. For students who demonstrate need on the FAFSA, the federal government subsidizes the interest during the certain specified periods.
Direct Unsubsidized Loans – for students who do not demonstrate need on the FAFSA, the federal government provides loan funds with low interest rates but does not subsidize the interest. Interest accrues from the time of disbursement.
Direct Parent PLUS Loans – provides parents the opportunity to borrow funds for their dependent undergraduate student. Students must be enrolled at least half time in an eligible program at an eligible school. PLUS loans require an acceptable credit history. PLUS loans may be used to borrow up to the cost of education less other financial aid offered to the student. An accepted application must be received by the Office of Student Financial Aid before the award will reflect on the student’s account here at Athens State.
State Programs Alabama Student Assistance Program Grant This program is a State Aid Program designed to provide assistance to residents of the State of Alabama. The program is need based and offers awards based on the Pell need analysis to students with demonstrated “exceptional need.” ANGEAP Those students in the Alabama National Guard may be eligible for a stipend each semester. The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs encourages all Alabama National Guard Members to fill out an ANGEAP application each semester. (Re)Engage The Alabama (Re)Engage Grant is a State Aid Program that provides assistance to Alabama residents in certain majors. The program is need-based and offers awards to eligible adult learners who have previously earned college credit but have not yet completed a degree and who have stopped out of college for at least two years.
Eligibility Requirements for Federal Aid Programs
Refund Requirements for Federal Student Aid (Title IV)
If a student earned less aid than was disbursed, the institution would be required to return a portion of the funds and the student would be required to return a portion of the funds. When Title IV funds are returned, the student borrower will be required to pay that amount back to Athens State University if a refund has already been issued.
If a student earned more aid than was disbursed, the institution will owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement, to be paid within 120 days of the student’s withdrawal. Responsibilities of Students Receiving Financial Aid
A student receiving financial aid has the responsibility to:
Rights of Students Receiving Financial Aid
A student has the right to ask the University: