Applying for Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid for the academic year, students should complete only the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is available from your high school guidance office, local community college, upon request from the RU Financial Aid Office, or you can complete the application online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.   A separate Radford University Financial Aid Information Sheet is required only for Alternative Loan applicants, when students have not applied for other types of financial aid. This form may be downloaded from this site or obtained from the RU Financial Aid Office. The priority filing date for Financial Aid at Radford University is March 1, 2009 (for the 2009-2010 academic year). For more specific information on individual programs at Radford University, click here for Undergraduate information (or here for Graduate Information).  PLUS applicants must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in addition to the on-line PLUS application.

Radford University awards financial aid separately for the regular academic year and for summer sessions.  The FAFSA should be completed annually and is effective for the academic year and the following Summer sessions. The priority filing date for 2008-2009 financial aid is March 1, 2008.

The application process must be FINALIZED by August 8, 2008 in order to be eligible for a deferment of charges for Fall 2008.  This includes verification being completed, all requests completed in full and all loan applications being finalized.

A separate Summer Financial Aid application must be filed for those interested in applying for Summer Financial Aid. This form is available from the RU Financial Aid Office or you may download this form from this site. The priority filing date for the Summer 2008 Financial Aid Application is March 1, 2008.

The deadline for finalizing all Summer 2008 Financial Aid applications is May 23, 2008.  No summer application processing will occur after this date. 

Quick Tips:

• File your FAFSA on the web for 2008-09 after January 1, 2008, but before March 1, 2008.  (Applications are accepted after this date, but will only be considered for funds available).
   

• New Freshmen should check with their high school Counselors about private scholarships.
   

• Returning RU students can file Foundation Scholarship applications between January 20, 2008 and March 1, 2008.
   

• Students should research all scholarships available.  Review scholarship opportunities and search engines on our scholarship page.
   

• Submit all documents requested as soon as possible.  Awards can not be finalized until all documents are received.
   

• If you need funds to pay for university charges that your financial aid awards do not cover, you should apply for PLUS Loans and Alternative Loans before July 1, 2008. The calculator that is available on our website will help you estimate how much you will need to borrow from another program.

You may also want to visit the following sites for additional information on the application process at RU: 

Financial Aid Newsletter 2008-2009

Dept. of Education FAFSA website

Financial Aid Timeline 2008-2009

Financial Aid Tips 2007-2008

RU Undergraduate Financial Aid Information

RU Graduate Financial Aid Information 

Selection, Notification, and Disbursement

Common Causes of Processing Delays

Verification