Do I have to fill out a FAFSA every year?
Yes. The form must be completed each academic year and is available at studentaid.gov after Dec. 1 for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

I want to drop a class but I receive Financial Aid. What should I do?
You may email the Viterbo Financial Aid Office if you wish to determine how dropping a class could impact your current financial aid. Email financialaid@viterbo.edu before you drop the class to request how a dropped class could impact your aid. Include the specific class you are planning to drop (class number and section) as well as when you would like to drop it. If you received institutional aid, that aid may be revised based on the Business Office tuition refund policy and/or the specific funds policy. Federal, state, and outside aid will be revised based on the policy for each anytime you change your enrollment after the start of a semester.

How many credits do I need to qualify for federal financial aid?
You must be enrolled at last half-time to qualify for financial aid. This is six credits for an undergraduate student and three credits for a graduate student within a 16 week semester.

Are there implications for future financial aid if I drop or fail a class?
Yes. The specifics can be found under Satisfactory Academic Progress.

What is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loan?
The subsidized loan is need-based and the interest is paid on your behalf by the Federal Government while you are enrolled as an undergraduate student at least half-time. The unsubsidized loan is not need-based and interest accrues while you are in school.

What is the deadline to apply for financial aid?
The priority filing date is Feb. 1. See Critical Financial Aid Dates for further explanation and other critical dates.

What if I only want to accept a portion of my award(s)?
Accept the full amount on VitNet and email the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@viterbo.edu with the lesser amount(s) you would like.

How will I receive my award offer?
Your financial aid award offer notification will be emailed to your Viterbo email account from the Financial Aid Office. The email will provide access to important financial aid information, including step-by-step instructions for accessing your award offer on VitNet.

How do I apply for aid for a summer term?
Specific details and links are found online here. 

How do I get work study?
Work study is a need-based program and eligibility is determined by the FAFSA. Starting in the 24-25 academic year, the FAFSA no longer asks if you are interested in work study. If you are eligible for work study based on your FAFSA, then it will be offered to you in your Financial Aid Award Offer. Please accept or reject it as soon as you can. If you do not plan to work a work study job while attending school then please reject your award so that we may offer it to another student.

How much do I owe out of pocket?
Complete the Cost Estimate Worksheet, found in the Helpful Financial Aid Information, to determine your out of pocket cost. You may also review your Student Account Statement on VitNet.

Why didn’t I get as much financial aid as last year?
Each year’s aid is based on the FAFSA. Any changes to information reported on the FAFSA (i.e., family income, student income, investments, etc.) can lead to a decrease in aid. There could also be a change in federal or institution regulations that is leading to a decrease in aid awarded. If you do not apply by the priority deadline, and did the previous year, you could see a decrease in aid you are offered.

The tax numbers on the FAFSA no longer depict my family’s financial situation. How can I change them?
Utilize the Request for a Special Circumstance Consideration to inform the Financial Aid Office and provide details about your situation along with any pertinent documentation. We may be able to recalculate your financial aid eligibility. If so, we may send you additional paperwork to complete.

Why didn’t the total amount of loans I accepted pay towards my charges?
Federal loans have an origination fee, or a fee taken off for processing the loan. Review the loan fees on our Loan Chart under Helpful Financial Aid Information.

When do I get my financial aid? (refunds vs. funds paid towards charges)
Accepted financial aid awards are posted to student accounts 10 days before each semester begins. If your financial aid exceeds your charges, and you have completed all Financial Aid and Business Office requirements, you will receive a refund check the second Friday of the semester. Refunds are processed weekly thereafter.

My parents do not claim me on their taxes, so I am considered independent, right?
Wrong. In order to be considered independent on the FAFSA and for Financial Aid purposes, you must be able to answer “yes” to one of the Dependency Status questions on the FAFSA. The Dependency Status questions and situation(s) in which you may be considered independent are addressed under Dependency Status.

My parents do not financially support me, and they are refusing to complete the parent portion of my FAFSA. What do I do?       

If your parents refuse to complete their portion of the FAFSA, you should contact the Financial Aid Office, and ask about a special conditions form. Your parents can sign the form acknowledging that they refuse to complete the FAFSA, and you can then be eligible to receive federal direct student loans at the dependent student level. However, you will not be eligible for any federal, state, or institutional need-based aid.

My parents are divorced or separated. Which parent’s information is used on the FAFSA?
You should include the information for the the parent who provides for more than half of your support. This may or may not be the parent you live with or the parent who claims you on their tax return. 

I want to move off campus. Does that impact my aid?
If you are receiving a merit scholarship, then YES. Your merit award will be reduced by $1000 per semester if you entered Viterbo as a first-time freshman and $500 per semester if you entered as a transfer student. Other need-based financial aid could also be impacted.

I probably don’t qualify for any financial aid. Should I apply anyway?
Yes. If you wish to borrow any Federal Loans to assist in paying for college, you must complete the FAFSA. We suggest you complete the Financial Aid application materials as there are many factors that go in to the calculations and you may be surprised to find out you do qualify. The application materials may also be required for some outside scholarship funds.