Award Notification
California University typically starts the awarding process in early April of each year. If you are an accepted freshman/new student and we have received the results of your FAFSA by the date we begin our awarding cycle, you can expect to receive your Award Notification by April 1st. Award notification information may also be accessed on the "Web for Student" Web site at: https://sisweb.cup.edu . For students who have not been accepted and/or their FAFSA has not been received at the point the awarding process begins, our office will send an Award Notification to these students throughout the year as their file becomes complete (accepted to the University and receipt of FAFSA record).
Please Note: Only accepted students receive an Award Notification.
Upper class award notifications will be sent once we have received the results of your FAFSA and have determined that you are making Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid purposes (typically starting mid-May).
Understanding your Financial Aid Awards
Estimated Awards: The "estimated" award(s) that are listed on the award offer are based on the information available to us at this time. These awards are not final. Listed below is specific information on finalizing these estimated awards.
Federal Pell Grant: If your award offer includes an “estimated” Pell Grant, it will not be finalized until our office has completed the verification of your FAFSA information.
Federal Stafford Loan: If you check either "student loans "or "both work-study and student loans" to question # 26, an estimated Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Stafford Loan has been listed on your award letter.
However, your Stafford Loan eligibility cannot exceed the maximum allowed per year for your grade level. Furthermore, your total financial aid (including Stafford Loans) can not exceed the cost of attendance.
Finalizing Your Stafford Loan: A pre-certified Federal Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) will be sent by AES/ PHEAA to all new Stafford Loan borrowers who accept all or a portion of their Stafford Loan estimate(s) listed on the enclosed award letter and the web. Previous Stafford Loan borrowers who accept all or portion of their loan estimate(s) will receive a Loan Disclosure Statement indicating the amount of their accepted awards. See Stafford Loan Application Process for additional information.
Final Awards: The awards which are not listed as an estimate are final awards based on information available to us at this time. However, changes to family income data or additional awards from agencies/donors (other than California University) at a later time may require an adjustment to your award(s).
Your Total Financial Aid Package: Your total financial aid package equals your estimated award(s) plus the actual awards(s) and is based on information available to us at this time. The award(s) listed on your award notice is based on full-time enrollment and is pro-rated over the appropriate semester(s) of attendance. If you will be enrolled less than full-time, your awards may be adjusted.
Accepting/Declining Your Award: If you are accepting the award package as offered, no further action is necessary. However, if you were awarded a Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study and/or Federal SEOG for the academic year and wish to decline any of these awards, please log on to the Student Self-Service website (SISWEB) to decline the award(s).
Reducing and/or Canceling Your Stafford Loan: If you wish to reduce and/or cancel the amount of your Estimated Federal Stafford Loan(s), you must complete and return the Stafford Loan Adjustment Form to the Financial Aid Office. This form can be downloaded by clicking here.
Miscellaneous Grants and Scholarships
Most miscellaneous grants/scholarships (OVR, JTPA BCOA, athletic grant-in-aid, and private scholarships) have not been finalized for the academic year. Therefore, these awards will not appear on the enclosed award letter. Please notify the Financial Aid Office if you will be receiving a private grant/scholarship award(s) during the academic year. Federal regulations require our office to monitor all financial aid (including private scholarships/grants) received by a student in order to insure that a student’s total financial aid package does not exceed the student’s demonstrated financial need and/or total cost of attendance at California University of PA.