University Financial Aid FAQ - Trident University
Federal Title IV Financial Aid FAQs
- What Financial Aid Programs are Offered at Trident?
- What Lenders are available for Federal Student Loans?
- Will financial aid cover ALL of my tuition expenses?
- What is the Enrollment Agreement and Disclosure (EAD)?
- What things should I know about the Federal Financial Aid Process?
- What is Verification?
- How will I receive my disbursement?
- When will I receive my Direct Loan disbursement?
- When will I receive my Federal Pell Grant refund if I am eligible for a Pell Grant?
- Who do I notify when my Mailing Address Changes to ensure I receive my refund check?
- What is Trident's Policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for maintaining Federal Financial Aid eligibility?
- Which degree programs are eligible for Federal Financial Aid?
1. What Financial Aid Programs are Offered at Trident?
We participate in federal student financial aid programs that are authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act ("Title IV Financial Aid programs"). Specifically, we participate in the Federal Pell Grant Program, the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program ("Direct Loan Program"), the Federal Direct PLUS Loan program, and the Direct PLUS Loans for Graduate and Professional Degree Students Program. Trident disburses financial aid in two equal disbursements over three consecutive sessions, which constitute the academic year/loan period. We do not offer scholarships at this time. However, we will accept your scholarship(s) from other sources.
2. What Lenders are available for Federal Student Loans?
Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year (July 1, 2010), the primary federal student loan program will be the Direct Loan Program. The United States government is the lender for all Direct Loans.
3. Will federal financial aid cover ALL of my tuition expenses?
Even if you are eligible for federal student financial aid, such aid MAY NOT cover ALL of your tuition and other education-related expenses. You may need to seek to supplement your federal student financial aid by applying for veteran's education assistance, military tuition assistance (TA), or sources of aid for which you may be eligible, in order to help defray costs of attendance.
4. What is the Enrollment Agreement and Disclosure (EAD)
The EAD is an agreement between you and Trident, which you accept responsibility for paying any and all tuition and fees in connection with your enrollment and attendance if your financial aid is unable to be awarded and/or disbursed. Signing an EAD postpones payments on your tuition until your federal financial aid funds arrive, if you remain eligible. If you have any questions about the EAD as it relates to tuition charges and payments please contact the Bursar's Office at bursar@trident.edu.
5. What things should I know about the Federal Title IV Financial Aid process?
The Financial Aid Department cannot award federal financial aid to an eligible student until the student has been admitted to degree program and has completed required documents. The FAFSA, Trident financial aid application, and any required verification documents enables Trident to develop a financial aid package based on your eligibility for federal financial aid and expected contributions from other sources. Trident encourages students to utilize the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data retrieval tool when completing the FAFSA. The information provided on the application is compared to other documents presented to the Financial Aid Advisor. It is imperative that students submit all documentation timely and provide accurate information or corrections may need to be submitted to the Department of Education for processing and may delay the awarding and disbursement of federal financial aid funds.
Receiving an award letter verifies a student's Title IV grant will be processed and/or Title IV loans will be certified. If you need assistance in understanding your award letter, please refer to the sample award letters below:
Undergraduate Sample Award Letter (PDF attached to the email)
Graduate Sample Award Letter (PDF attached to the email)
Note that funds will not be received until it is determined the student is meeting satisfactory academic progress and module 1 has been completed. In addition to those requirements, if a student is a first-time federal student loan borrower, the loan funds will not disburse until the student has been in attendance for 30 days. Students who are receiving federal student loan funds (not Pell Grants) will receive an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Notification via email from the Bursar's Office when loan funds are received notifying them of the loan amount disbursed and other pertinent information.
6. What is Verification?
The U.S. Department of Education 'ED' may select your file for a process known as 'verification.' If you are selected for verification, the Trident financial aid application will prompt you with a request for additional information and/or documentation and ask you to confirm data reported on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Verification documentation must be received prior to awarding and disbursing of any aid.
Verification documentation may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- A copy of federal tax transcripts. Effective with the 2013-2014 award year, beginning July 1, 2013, students who do not elect to use the IRS data retrieval tool when completing the FAFSA may be required to provide the institution with tax transcripts from the IRS. Tax transcripts are the acceptable tax documentation, and signed tax forms will no longer be accepted.
- Documentation of high school completion.
- Valid form of identification.
- Original notarized statement of educational purpose.
- Verification documentation verifying household size, number in college, child support paid, SNAP benefits, received, etc.
7. How will I receive my disbursement?
After the completion and approval of your Federal Title IV Financial Aid application and official admittance to the University, you will receive an award letter for the academic year (3 non-overlapping session) if you are eligible for aid. Trident will release the amount awarded to you in two equal disbursements; the first disbursement during at the beginning of the academic year (first session) and the second disbursement after half of the academic year is completed (third session if satisfactory academic progress is met). The first disbursement should be received within 10 days after completion of your first module in the first session, unless you are a first-time borrower in which the loan funds will not be disbursed until you have been in attendance for 30 days. Trident will apply the disbursement amount to your student account to cover any tuition owed to the University. If your financial need was greater than tuition, the disbursement amount may exceed the tuition owed to the University creating a credit balance on your student account. Depending on what you have directed the University to do with the funds, Trident will hold any excess amount in your student account to cover future tuition costs, return the excess to the lender, or refund the excess to you. If you selected to have the credit balance sent directly to you, the Bursar will mail the check to you within 14 days from the date the funds are credited to your student account, per requirements of the Department of Education.
The second disbursement is subject to your ability maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). To remain eligible for federal student financial aid, among other requirements, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Trident's satisfactory academic progress policy is available at (TUI Policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)). If SAP is met, the second disbursement will be received within 10 days after completion of module 1 in the 3rd session of your academic year. Trident will apply the disbursement amount to your student account to cover any tuition owed to the University. If your financial need was greater than tuition, the disbursement amount may exceed the tuition owed to the University creating a credit balance on your student account. Depending on what you have directed the University to do with the funds, Trident will hold any excess amount in your student account to cover future tuition costs, return the excess to the lender, or refund the excess to you. If you selected to have the credit balance sent directly to you, the Bursar will mail the check to you within 14 days from the date the funds are credited to your student account, per requirements of the Department of Education.
When applying for Federal Title IV Financial Aid within SSS, you will be asked to read and electronically accept the University's SAP policies. Your original award letter assumes you will maintain SAP. However, if over the course of the first disbursement period you have not maintained SAP, your second disbursement will be delayed and you may lose eligibility to receive the aid. The delay will occur regardless of what your original award letter and/ or communications with your lender may have indicated.
Please be sure you have read the University's policies on SAP and understand them. If you have any questions, please contact the Financial Aid department for clarification.
Out of Pocket Costs
The Federal Title IV Financial Aid offered to a student in the award letter may not be enough to cover tuition.
Students have an obligation to pay Trident any tuition not covered by Federal Financial Aid or other sources. Students may contact the University Bursar for payment information on tuition balances.
8. When will I receive my Direct Loan Disbursement? (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and Graduate PLUS):
Trident will release the amount awarded to you in two equal disbursements; the first disbursement during at the beginning of the academic year (first session) and the second disbursement after half of the academic year is completed (third session if satisfactory academic progress is met). The first disbursement should be received within 10 days after completion of your first module in the first session, unless you are a first-time borrower in which the loan funds will not be disbursed until you have been in attendance for 30 days. Trident will apply the disbursement amount to your student account to cover any tuition owed to the University. If your financial need was greater than tuition, the disbursement amount may exceed the tuition owed to the University creating a credit balance on your student account. Depending on what you have directed the University to do with the funds, Trident will hold any excess amount in your student account to cover future tuition costs, return the excess to the lender, or refund the excess to you. If you selected to have the credit balance sent directly to you, the Bursar will mail the check to you within 14 days from the date the funds are credited to your student account, per requirements of the Department of Education.
The second disbursement is subject to your ability maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). To remain eligible for federal student financial aid, among other requirements, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Trident's satisfactory academic progress policy is available at (TUI Policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)). If SAP is met, the second disbursement will be received within 10 days after completion of module 1 in the 3rd session of your academic year. Trident will apply the disbursement amount to your student account to cover any tuition owed to the University. If your financial need was greater than tuition, the disbursement amount may exceed the tuition owed to the University creating a credit balance on your student account. Depending on what you have directed the University to do with the funds, Trident will hold any excess amount in your student account to cover future tuition costs, return the excess to the lender, or refund the excess to you. If you selected to have the credit balance sent directly to you, the Bursar will mail the check to you within 14 days from the date the funds are credited to your student account, per requirements of the Department of Education.
9. When will I receive my Federal Pell Grant refund if I am eligible for a Pell Grant?
Pell Grants are available only to Bachelor's degree students who do not already have a baccalaureate or first professional degree.
Trident will release the amount awarded to you in two equal disbursements; the first disbursement during at the beginning of the academic year (first session) and the second disbursement after half of the academic year is completed (third session if satisfactory academic progress is met). The first disbursement should be received within 10 days after completion of your first module in the first session. Trident will apply the disbursement amount to your student account to cover any tuition owed to the University. If your financial need was greater than tuition, the disbursement amount may exceed the tuition owed to the University creating a credit balance on your student account. Depending on what you have directed the University to do with the funds, Trident will hold any excess amount in your student account to cover future tuition costs, return the excess to the lender, or refund the excess to you. If you selected to have the credit balance sent directly to you, the Bursar will mail the check to you within 14 days from the date the funds are credited to your student account, per requirements of the Department of Education.
The second disbursement is subject to your ability maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). To remain eligible for federal student financial aid, among other requirements, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Trident's satisfactory academic progress policy is available at (TUI Policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)). If SAP is met, the second disbursement will be received within 10 days after completion of module 1 in the 3rd session of your academic year. Trident will apply the disbursement amount to your student account to cover any tuition owed to the University. If your financial need was greater than tuition, the disbursement amount may exceed the tuition owed to the University creating a credit balance on your student account. Depending on what you have directed the University to do with the funds, Trident will hold any excess amount in your student account to cover future tuition costs, return the excess to the lender, or refund the excess to you. If you selected to have the credit balance sent directly to you, the Bursar will mail the check to you within 14 days from the date the funds are credited to your student account, per requirements of the Department of Education.
10. Who do I notify when my mailing address changes to ensure I receive my refund check?
Students are obligated to provide the most RECENT mailing address in the Student Services System (SSS). When a change in address occurs, students are required to update their records by accessing SSS. Financial Aid personnel are not permitted to update this information for a student. Students receiving Federal Title IV Financial Aid must also notify the lender of changes to their name, address, and phone number.
11. What is Trident's policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for maintaining federal financial aid eligibility?
Generally, to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress:
- If you are an undergraduate student, you must be continuously enrolled in at least 8 credits (two courses) per non-overlapping session, receive passing grades (grade of 'D' or better is passing effective Summer 2012, prior to Summer 2012 ‘C’ or better grade is passing), and maintain the equivalent of a 2.0 GPA. When you register, be sure you are taking enough classes. Do not drop classes without considering the implications for your award.
- If you are a Master's student, you must be continuously enrolled in at least 4 credits (one course) per non-overlapping session, receive passing grades of 'B-' or better, and maintain the equivalent of a 3.0 GPA.
- If you are a Ph.D. student, you must be continuously enrolled in at least 4 credits (one course) per non-overlapping session, receive passing grades of 'B' or better, and maintain the equivalent of a 3.0 GPA.
If you do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, you may not remain eligible for the full amount of your award. Your understanding of SAP is very important to your experience at Trident. Please print, read and make every effort to understand Trident's SAP policy. You may access information pertaining to SAP at the following link:
TUI Policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Return Policy -- Returns of Title IV Funds for lack of Academic Activity or cessation or interruption of enrolled status or other reasons:
You may become liable for return of your federal student financial aid if you cease academic activity or enrollment at Trident before the end of your academic year/loan period. Click Here to review the university Return of Title IV funds policy. If you have questions, please contact Trident's Financial Aid Department at financialaid@trident.edu.
12. Which degree programs are eligible for Federal Financial Aid?
Trident's undergraduate and graduate degree programs are eligible for federal student financial aid. Students must also meet student eligibility requirements for such aid. Trident also offers various certificate programs, but certificate only programs are NOT eligible for federal student financial aid.