Getting Started

At the Academy, we know that securing financial aid is an important key to helping you boost your career through our educational programs. Finding the right financial aid program can be a daunting task, so our Financial Aid team is here to work with you during the process.

Our Financial Aid counselors are here to answer questions and help ease any concerns you may have about the process. Please contact our Financial Aid team at 1-251-445-0363 (direct line) or 1-800-223-2668 (ext. 7146) today!

Students should also consider visiting https://nslds.ed.gov/nslds/nslds_SA/ to view their current status with respect to financial aid availability.

This segment first aired on the “Studio 10” program on WALA Fox 10 in Mobile, Ala. September 2021.

Apply for a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID

at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch (This will be your electronic signature)

Complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid

at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. (Required for Federal Grants and Loans)

Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) with the Department of Education

at https://studentaid.gov/.

Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement
Starting in January 2021:

  • If you are a student with existing federal student loans, you must acknowledge that you understand how much you owe and how much more you can borrow.
  • If you are a student accepting a federal student loan for the first time, you must acknowledge that you understand your responsibility to repay your loan(s). Please complete the Annual Loan Acknowledgement with the Department of Education at https://studentaid.gov/.

If you have any questions about this acknowledgment, please contact financialaid@ussa.edu.

Complete the Direct Loan Entrance Counseling

at https://studentaid.gov/.

Must Be Accepted

into a Degree Seeking Program.

Maintain Enrollment

In order for you to be eligible for financial aid, you must be enrolled at least half-time, in a degree program.

Renewal of Award Process

Students must re-apply for financial aid each academic year.

Application Process

Are you in a hurry to begin classes? Apply for financial aid while completing your admissions application and have your award ready for registration. The instructions below will get you started. All students receiving financial assistance must maintain an enrollment status of at least half time, which is six credit hours per semester at the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree level or three credit hours for the Doctoral degree.

U.S. Citizens

  1. Federal School Code: 021706
  2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online or request a paper copy from the financial aid office.
  3. First time applicant? You will need to complete the Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling.
  4. To maintain financial aid, you must complete a new FAFSA every year.

International Students

Apply for an International Student Loan at http://www.internationalstudentloan.com. You will need a U.S. Citizen as a co-signer.

Federal Assistance Programs

Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines your eligibility for the following types of assistance.

Federal Pell Grant

  • Money that does not have to be paid back to the federal government
  • Determined by an Expected Family Contribution (EFC), an analysis conducted on information provided on the FAFSA
  • Pell Grants must be awarded in two equal amounts. The amount per semester students may be eligible for are as follows (all reference to number of credits refer to total number of credits for the semester, including Semester, Block, Modular, and Fusion classes):
    • Full-time (12+ credits) = 100% of Pell for term
    • 3/4-time (7 to 9 credits) = 75% of Pell for term
    • 1/2-time (6 to 8 credits) = 50% of Pell for term
    • 1/4-time (1-5 credits) = 25% (Not all eligible for 1/4-time payment)

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

  • Money that does not have to be paid back to the federal government
  • Awarded on a first come, first serve basis
  • Awarded to Pell Grant eligible students

Federal Direct Student Loan Program

A Direct Student Loan is money authorized by the Federal Government to help pay for your college costs. These funds must be paid back to your lender upon your withdrawal from school or graduation.

The interest of The Federal Direct Loan can be subsidized or unsubsidized, which is determined by an analysis conducted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  • Subsidized loans do not accrue interest while you are in school
  • Unsubsidized loans accrue a low interest as soon as it is applied to your tuition

Students are limited to the amount they can borrow

2020-21 Dependent Independent
Sophomore $6,500 per year $10,500 per year No more than $4,500 may be subsidized
Junior/Senior $7,500 per year $12,500 per year No more than $5,500 may be subsidized
Total lifetime limits $31,000 maximum $57,500 maximum No more than $23,000 may be subsidized
2020-21 Independent
Graduate Professional $20,500 per year
Total lifetime limits $138,500 maximum

Repayment of a Direct loan does not occur as long as the student is enrolled half-time or until six months after last date of attendance. However, it can be paid back at anytime without penalty.

Repayment of the loan will be completed in a ten year time frame.

Federal Parent Loan Program (PLUS)

The Federal Parent Loan Program (PLUS) are funds the government has made available to parents to help with their student’s education costs.

  • Interest rates for the PLUS are still low, but they are higher than the Federal DirectLoan
  • Parents can borrow enough to supplement their student’s cost of attendance
  • Repayment on the PLUS begins three months after the funds are disbursed to the student’s account
  • Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is not required, but encouraged
  • Applying for the PLUS requires parents to have a credit application approved with a lending institution. Most applications can be completed online. The lending institution will then supply the school with a certification form to finish the application process

Students whose parents are denied the PLUS, for credit reasons, are eligible for the additional loan limits independent students are typically allowed.

Preferred Lenders