Undergraduate Student FAQ

How do I apply for financial aid? To apply for federal and state financial aid which includes grants, work-study, student loans, and TOPS complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  LSUS school code is 002013.

When should I apply for financial aid? You must complete a new FAFSA before the start of each academic year (August – July). You should always complete the application as soon as possible! The FAFSA is available October 1 every year.

How do I apply for scholarships at LSUS? LSUS scholarships will automatically be evaluated upon admission to the university. Donor-funded and departmental scholarships can be applied for via Academic Works. For additional details and deadline dates, please view our Scholarships page. Also, we send out scholarship opportunities periodically throughout the school year via your student email.

Can I use my financial aid and scholarships to pay for my Pilots Pointe Apartments?  YES!  Financial aid and scholarships can be used to pay for housing at Pilots Pointe.  Your Pilots Pointe charges will be listed on myLSUS.  If your financial aid is more than tuition and fees, then we will apply those excess funds towards your housing balance.  If your financial aid doesn’t cover your full housing balance, you can pay the remaining rent monthly.

My parents don’t claim me on their tax return and don’t pay my tuition. Can I file my FAFSA as an independent student? Whether or not your parents claim you on their tax return does not determine if you are considered an independent student. There are specific criteria that determines a student’s dependency status. Except under very limited circumstances, you must provide parental information if requested to do so by the FAFSA.

How do I check my application status? Login to myLSUS>Financial Aid Application Status>Select appropriate year.  If there red flag(s), please locate the appropriate LSUS Financial Aid document.  If you are selected for verification, please keep in mind that this process can take up to 2 weeks (or longer during peak times) to complete.

My FAFSA is selected for verification. What does this mean? Because the FAFSA is a self-reported application, some students are required to submit additional paperwork to verify the data reported on the FAFSA. Our office will ask you to provide the necessary documentation to verify your information. Please allow our office approximately 10 – 14 business days to review your paperwork. Verification must be complete before our office can determine how much aid you are eligible to receive. This is one reason it is important to complete your FAFSA as early as possible.

How do I view my financial aid awards? Login to myLSUS.  Go to Financial Aid>Financial Aid Awards>Select appropriate year.

Do I need to “Accept” my financial aid? YES! You need to accept your financial aid before the start of EACH SEMESTER. You can do this approximately 2 weeks before the fee payment deadline each semester.  Login to myLSUS.  Go to Financial Aid > Financial Aid Acceptance > Accepted change No to Yes for the semester > Save Changes.

It is the fee payment deadline, but my financial aid has not been awarded yet. Will my classes get dropped? If you have not been awarded financial aid and you have not set up the payment plan, your classes may be at risk of being dropped. If you have completed all the necessary financial aid requirements, contact our office to determine if you are eligible for a financial aid fee deferment. If your financial aid file is incomplete, you will need to set up a payment plan.  The payment plan is located on the homepage of myLSUS.     

Do I have to be full-time to receive financial aid? This depends on the type of aid received. Federal Work-Study and many scholarships require full-time enrollment; however, grants are prorated based on enrollment and student loans only require half-time status.

I see on my myLSUS account that I was awarded a Direct Unsubsidized Loan and a Direct Subsidized Loan. What is the difference between the subsidized and unsubsidized? The difference between the two loans is the subsidized loan does not accrue interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time.   The unsubsidized loan accrues interest immediately after disbursement.  You can read more information at studentaid.gov.

How do I reduce or decline my student loan? You can reduce or decline the loan on your paper award letter and return it to our office or you can complete and return the Aid Adjustment Form found here.  Email the completed form to finaid@lsus.edu from your student email account. Please allow 5 – 7 business days for the adjustment to be completed.

Can I purchase books using my financial aid? Yes. If you have financial aid in excess of your tuition and fees, you can purchase your books online or in person at the LSUS Bookstore using your financial aid credit balance approximately 2 weeks before the start of classes for each term. Simply select to use your financial aid as a payment method.                

When will I receive my financial aid credit balance refund? If you are due a credit balance refund, they will be issued 5-7 business days after the last day to drop/census date for each term. The dates for each 2021-2022 academic terms are as follows:

How much is my financial aid credit balance refund? Subtract your tuition and fees, book charges, and any other University charges from the total aid amount credited for the semester.  The difference will be the amount of your refund. You can setup direct deposit via myLSUS.  Contact Accounting Services 318.797.5275 or Accounting_Services@lsus.edu with any questions.

It is past the census date, why has my student loan not credited? Our office may be missing your Master Promissory Note and Loan Entrance Counseling. Please login to studentaid.gov to complete these electronic documents. LSUS should receive them within 2 business days of completion.

I do not receive any financial aid but I want to setup a payment plan. How do I do that?  You can set up the payment plan on myLSUS.    Contact Accounting Services at 318.797.5275 or Accounting_Services@lsus.edu with any questions.

I failed a class. Will I lose my grants and loans? Not necessarily.  Please see our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, which explains the academic requirements for keeping federal aid.

Will dropping classes affect my financial aid? Maybe. This depends on how many classes you drop, the type of aid you are receiving and how it is affecting your academic progress. We encourage students to contact our office when they are considering dropping a course to find out how it will specifically affect them. It is also very important to be familiar with our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Where can I access my 1098-T form? 1098-T forms are available on myLSUS under the “My Financials”. Any questions regarding these forms should be directed to the Accounting Services at 318.797.5275 or Accounting_Services@lsus.edu.

What happens to my Financial Aid if I have to drop all my classes? If you receive student loans and/or a Pell Grant and drop ALL of your classes before completing 60% of the semester, you may owe a portion of the aid back to the University. Please go here for more information.

I can’t find the answer to my question.  Where can I find more information?  Please call or email our office at 318-797-5363 or at finaid@lsus.edu.  We are happy to answer your financial aid questions.