Radford University uses the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as the primary document to determine aid eligibility. The FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year launched December 1, 2024.
Your completed FAFSA must be received by our March 1 priority deadline to be considered for both grant programs and the Radford Tuition Promise program. We will continue to review FAFSAs received after March 1 for grant programs as funding allows.
Please note that the Department of Education FAFSA form does not request you to make a payment in order for it to be processed. If you are asked to pay an application fee you are not completing the FAFSA.
If you are a Virginia resident who is not eligible to complete the FAFSA, you could be eligible to submit the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) Application. Virginians who are nonimmigrants, undocumented, have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or are otherwise ineligible to file the FAFSA can apply to be considered for state aid. The VASA application provides access to state and some institutional financial aid programs., but does not provide access to federal student aid.
If you have any questions about filing the FAFSA or VASA, please contact our office.
We feel that it is important for you to understand what we do and when we do it, so we have designed this timeline with important information and deadline dates for you. The timeline gives you some general guidelines on when you should begin certain processes, when you can anticipate hearing from us, and follow-up actions that need to be taken.
The 2025-26 FAFSA launched December 1, 2024.
The FAFSA Simplification Act was passed in 2020, laying the ground work for a significant overhaul of the FAFSA application and processing starting with the 2024-2025 application cycle. These changes include the FAFSA application itself, the need analysis that determines federal financial aid eligibility, changes in terminology, as well as updated policies and procedures for schools that participate in federal student aid programs.
There are many benefits of the FAFSA simplification act. These benefits include, but are not limited to, a more streamlined application process for a better user experience, expanded eligibility for federal student aid, and reduced barriers for certain student populations.
The FAFSA is shorter and more user-friendly
The FAFSA will reduce the maximum number of questions fro 108 to 46. The FAFSA web
application is dynamic which means not all students will be presented with all 46
questions. The streamlined format simplifies the application process and makes it
less daunting for students and families.
Students can list up to 20 colleges
In previous years the FAFSA would only allow up to 10 colleges and universities.
Applicants will be required to use the IRS Direct Data Exchange
Previously, users had the option to enter their tax information manually or use the
IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Beginning with 2024-25, the FAFSA will require consent provided
by all users for the Department of Education to receive tax information or confirmation
of non-filing status directly from the IRS. For most students the IRS data will transfer
directly to the FAFSA. This change makes it easier to complete the FAFSA and reduces
the number of questions to be answered.
FAFSA "Contributors" must provide financial information
A contributor refers to anyone who is required to provide information on a student's
FAFSA. This can include parents, step-parents, or spouses.
Contributors will receive an email informing them that they've been identified as such and will need to log in using their own FSA ID and provide the required information on the student's FAFSA.
Being a contributor does not mean they are financial responsible for a student's educations costs, but it does mean the contributor must provide information on the FAFSA or the application will be incomplete and the student will not be eligible for federal student aid.
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is replacing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
If you have completed a FAFSA in the past, then you may be familiar with the term
Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The new term is the Student Aid Index (SAI) and
instead of having a low of 0 like the EFC, the SAI will have allow for a negative
number as low as -1500.
The SAI is a number used to determine financial aid eligibility.
The number in college will not be calculated in the SAI
In previous years the FAFSA took the total number of household members in college
into account when calculating the EFC. Beginning with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the application
will still ask how many household members are in college, but that number will not
be calculated into the SAI.
Family farms and small businesses must be reported as assets
Families now must report the value of their small business or family farm. If the
family farm includes the principal place of residence, applicants should determine
the total net value of all farm assets and subtract the net value of their principal
residence to determine the final value of their farm assets.
Before Starting the FAFSA
Once you have submitted the FAFSA and your information has been received by the school, we begin our work to assist with the financial aid process. The information from the FAFSA informs the Office of Financial Aid on the next steps for each student. Due to the unique nature of FAFSA data, every student can have a slightly different experience. Below we provide information about common terms you may hear during the financial aid process.
Common Financial Aid Terms
Financial Aid Counselors very quickly learn a new vocabulary when they begin reviewing
and processing student applicants. Here are some of the most frequently used terms
and what they mean.
Cost of Attendance - COA
This is the estimated costs to attend school for one academic year. It is made up of items that will be included on your bill (i.e. tuition, on campus room, on campus meal plan) and those expenses that you will not be billed for (i.e. books, personal expenses, travel)
Expected Family Contribution - EFC
This is a term used on 2023-2024 and prior FAFSA. Once your FAFSA is submitted and completed you will receive your EFC. This number should not be taken literally, it is used by the Financial Aid Office to determine what aid programs you qualify for and how much you may receive from particular programs.
FAFSA Submission Summary - FSS
This is a new term that began with the 2024-2025 FAFSA. Your FSS summarizes the information you submit on your FAFSA and provides you with your student aid index (SAI).
Need
This is a calculation that takes your COA (cost of attendance) minus your SAI/EFC,
the result is your need, or the amount of additional funding that may be needed to
pay your educational expenses
SAR – Student Aid Report
This is a term used on 2023-2024 and prior FAFSA. Your SAR summarizes the information
you submit on your FAFSA and provides you with your EFC.
Verification
Verification is a process where Radford University confirms the data reported on your
FAFSA. Additional documentation is requested from students and parents for applications
that are selected for verification.
Definitions above are modified but provided by the Department of Education Student Aid.
Eligibility Criteria
Because the majority of funds awarded by Radford University are federal and state
need based award programs and is governed by federal regulations. In order to be
considered eligible for these award programs you must meet the following criteria:
Determining Dependent/Independent Status
When you apply for federal student aid, your answers to certain questions will determine whether you're considered dependent or independent for financial aid purposes. Students are classified as dependent or independent because federal student aid programs are based on the idea that students (and their parents or spouse, if applicable) have the primary responsibility for paying for their postsecondary education.
Dependent students are required to report their parent’s income and assets as well as their own
Independent and must report only their own income and assets (and those of their spouse, if they are married)
To be considered an independent student you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
If you claim to be an independent student, we may ask you to submit proof before you can receive any federal student aid.
If you think you have unusual circumstances that would make you independent even though none of the above criteria apply to you, talk to your Financial Aid Counselor. Your counselor can review your circumstances and change your dependency status if it is warranted based on the documentation you provide. But remember, the aid administrator won't automatically do this; extensive and verifiable information is required to complete this process. The decision is based on his or her judgment, and it's final--you can't appeal it to the U.S. Department of Education.
Understanding SAI
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is new starting with the 2024-2025 FAFSA. This new measure replaces the Expected Family Contribution or EFC from prior year FAFSA information.
WHAT DOES SAI MEAN?
SAI is your Student Aid Index - This number results from the information that you provide on your FAFSA® form. This number is not a dollar amount of aid eligibility or what your family is expected to provide.
HOW IS MY SAI CALCULATED?
Your SAI is calculated by the FAFSA Processing System (FPS) responsible for all FAFSA applications. The FPS uses data from on the FAFSA to determine your SAI. The formula is determined by federal legislation that takes into consideration family income, assets, the number of family members, etc.
HOW DOES RADFORD USE SAI?
Your SAI helps the Office of Financial Aid determine your eligibility for financial aid programs. There are federal, state and institutional regulations and policies that govern what aid programs a student may be eligible for and many of these are governed by SAI. When Radford receives your FAFSA with a valid SAI, we review your application and determine what award programs students are eligible for.
Understanding EFC
The expected family contribution will no longer be provided after the 2023-2024 academic year.
WHAT DOES EFC MEAN?
EFC is your Expected Family Contribution - or the amount that it is estimated that your family can pay towards the cost of your education for the upcoming academic year.
HOW IS MY EFC CALCULATED?
Your EFC is calculated by the Central Processing System (CPS) responsible for all FAFSA applications. The CPS uses all the data submitted on the FAFSA to determine your EFC. The formula is determined by federal legislation that takes into consideration family income, assets, the number of family members, etc.
HOW DOES RADFORD USE EFC?
Your EFC helps the Office of Financial Aid determine your eligibility for financial aid programs. There are federal, state and institutional regulations and policies that govern what aid programs a student may be eligible for and many of these are governed by EFC maximums. When Radford receives your FAFSA with a valid EFC, we review your application and determine what award programs students are eligible for.
Understanding Need
The goal of financial aid is to help students obtain funds to meet their "need". Need is a calculation that is performed by the financial aid office. Financial Aid determines an estimated cost of attendance based on your student status, we receive your SAI/EFC when your FAFSA is processed and need is merely the difference of the two figures.
For example:
A student's financial aid cost of attendance is $19,000
The student's SAI/EFC as determined from FAFSA is $4,500.
The student's need is $14,500 ($19,000-$4,500)
FAFSA Verification
The federal government requires some students to verify the information reported on their FAFSA. Colleges are responsible for performing this verification and must do so before federal funds can be disbursed. Verification requirements apply to the following federal programs: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work Study (FWS) and Federal Direct Loans. Verification is also required for state and other need based aid programs.
The review of particular items, such as estimated tax information, number in household/ college, etc., will be requested and reviewed throughout the year. Parents and students must return the items requested within 30 days to prevent delays in the application review process.
When you "verify", you are telling the Financial Aid Office that the information you reported when you applied for financial aid is still true and correct. If you have misreported something on your FAFSA or if certain family circumstances have changed, you have the opportunity to tell your aid counselor and have corrections made to your financial aid application.
Sometimes the corrections that need to be made can be done by the financial aid office, if this occurs, you should be aware that your FAFSA may have to be returned to the processor for corrections. You will receive email notification from the Department of Education when we submit a FAFSA correction as a result of verification. If you have any questions on this process, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
In addition to the federal requirements, colleges have the right to verify information for all students who apply for financial aid, and deny funding to those students who refuse to submit the required documentation.
Standard budgets have been established by the Financial Aid Office to help determine your eligibility for aid. The financial aid budget does not reflect what you will be billed by the university. The budget does take into account expenses you may expect to incur while enrolled at Radford University; your tuition, on campus meal plans, room and board, etc. factors such as certain program fees, transportation, marital and dependency status are also taken into consideration.
Tuition & fees will be billed by the University each semester. If you live in campus housing, whether a dorm or campus apartment, those charges will also be billed each semester.
The room and board portion of your budget is an allocation for expenses you will experience either on or off campus for rent and meal related expenses. This allocation remains a part of your financial aid cost of attendance regardless of your living arrangements.
The Financial Aid Office will provide you with an award package to assist in meeting your needs based on the results of your FAFSA. Please keep in mind that the Financial Aid Office may not be able to meet your full cost of attendance with an aid package, but there are additional financing options that can be explored to help you pay for these expenses.
The budgets are not intended to meet everybody's full financial responsibilities; rather, they are average or typical costs for students during an academic year. Of course, actual expenses will vary among students, depending on lifestyles, priorities, and obligations. You should notify the Financial Aid Office of any additional costs related to your transportation, medical and child care costs. With supporting documentation, such factors may merit an adjustment in the amount of financial aid to which you are entitled.
You can learn more about your estimated cost using our Net Price Calculator
If you would like to see the full tuition and fee information please visit the Bursar's Office website, the university’s official location of the tuition and fee schedule.
Examples of Costs that are included in your Financial Aid Budget
|
Costs Included in Your |
Billed Directly by University? |
|
Tuition & Fees |
Yes |
|
On Campus Housing |
Yes |
|
On Campus Meal Plan |
Yes |
|
Off Campus Housing |
No |
|
Off Campus University Meal Plan |
Yes |
|
Transportation Allowance |
No |
|
Book Allowance |
No, Book Vouchers are exceptions |
|
Personal Expenses |
No |
|
Independent Student Allowance |
No |
|
Additional Program Costs |
No |
*Based on full time enrollment of 12-16 credit hours a semester for the full 2024-2025 Academic Year.
**Matriculation Fee is for Undergraduate Students only and is a one time, first semester fee.
|
Educational Expense |
Billed by |
In-State |
Out-State |
|
Tuition & Fees* |
Yes |
$12,548 |
$25,633 |
|
Living Expense - Housing (on campus) |
Yes |
$6,879 |
$6,879 |
|
Living Expense - Food |
Yes |
$5,854 |
$5,854 |
|
Matriculation Fee** |
Yes |
$325 |
$325 |
|
Estimated Direct Cost |
|
$25,606 |
$38,691 |
|
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment |
No |
$1,260 |
$1,260 |
|
Transportation (on campus) |
No |
$1,386 |
$1,386 |
|
Personal Expenses |
No |
$2,450 |
$2,450 |
|
Estimated Indirect Cost |
|
$5,096 |
$5,096 |
|
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance |
|
$30,702 |
$43,787 |
*Based on 9 credit hours a semester for the 2024-2025 Academic Year
|
Educational Expense |
Estimated Amount In-State |
Estimated Amount Out-State |
|
Tuition & Fees* |
$10,332 |
$17,640 |
|
Estimated Direct Cost |
$10,332 |
$17,640 |
|
Living Expense - Housing |
$6,879 |
$6,879 |
|
Living Expense - Food |
$5,854 |
$5,854 |
|
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment |
$1,260 |
$1,260 |
|
Transportation |
$1,950 |
$1,950 |
|
Personal Expenses |
$2,450 |
$2,450 |
|
Independent Allowance |
$1,838 |
$1,838 |
|
Estimated Indirect Cost |
$20,231 |
$20,231 |
|
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance |
$30,563 |
$37,871 |
With over 9,000 FAFSA filers at Radford University applicants that file by the February 1 deadline and complete their application are given priority in the review and awarding process.
Dependent students often omit parent information in the hopes that they will be considered independent for financial aid purposes. Radford University uses the guidelines for dependency status as they are defined by the questions on the FAFSA. If you are prompted for your parent’s information while completing the FAFSA it should be provided to prevent your application from not being processed.
Students often neglect to review their SAR and confirm that the FAFSA application was processed and is complete. If you are missing required data or signature your FAFSA is considered “rejected” and cannot be processed. If you thoroughly review your SAR you can confirm that your FAFSA is complete and is waiting to be reviewed by the school.
Students and parents should confirm that the following information is correct on the SAR –
Student applications are reviewed, processed, and awarded based on the time that the application is considered complete. It is imperative that all documentation be submitted as soon the request is received.
Parents and students should ensure that they have provided the appropriate signatures on requested forms and also include the student’s name and ID number so we may link the documents to the correct student.
If the Financial Aid Office has requested that you complete a form, please enter all of the information on the form. If you have any questions about the form, please contact our office so that we can walk you through completing the form.
As a recipient of state or federal aid, each student has certain rights and responsibilities. Knowing what they are will place the student in a better position to make decisions about educational goals and how they best can be achieved. If at any time there are questions about financial aid, students should come to the Financial Aid Office where there is additional information available concerning their legal rights and responsibilities.
The student has a right to know:
The student is responsible:
Eligible Dual Enrollment Programs
Students may enroll in a Radford University program can potentially take classes at another institution and still and be eligible to apply for financial aid. Students are only eligible to receive federal financial aid programs at one institution. Students must be admitted fully admitted to a Radford University degree program to be considered eligible for financial aid. Students will only be eligible for financial aid for the courses that are required for their program of study.
Things to remember about dual enrollment
Application Process
Students should follow the same application procedures as those students attending classes on the Radford University campus. The same FAFSA priority filing date of February 1st will apply to all dual enrollment students.
Students who intend to dually enroll in another college's classes are required to submit additional paperwork if they want to include these hours with Radford University hours for financial aid purposes. Students who have not been admitted into a degree-seeking program are not eligible to receive financial aid for dual enrollment at another college.
Required Dual Enrollment Forms
Consortium Agreement Request form: the consortium agreement request form notifies the Financial Aid Office of the hours that you plan to take at both institutions for the upcoming term. This form cannot be processed unless it is signed by your academic advisor.
The consortium agreement request should be submitted no later than the following priority deadlines for consideration:
August 1: Fall semester consortium agreement requests
December 15: Spring semester consortium agreement requests
April 15: Summer consortium agreement requests.
Consortium Agreement Request [PDF]
The course withdrawal form should be submitted if you enroll for classes at another college, but have to withdraw or drop any of those classes.
Considering Financial Aid for Study Abroad?
In many cases, students are interested in obtaining financial assistance to help them with the cost of a study abroad program.
Students should contact the Center for Global Education & Engagement regarding study abroad experiences. Students must be enrolled at Radford University in an international course before financial aid can be awarded for a study abroad program. Program costs are determined by the international programs office and forwarded by Global Education to the financial aid office before applications can be reviewed.
Please contact the study abroad coordinator in the financial aid office at 540-831-5408 for questions regarding financial aid applications for study abroad.
You will also need to apply for admission to the program via the McGlothlin Center for Global Education & Engagement website.
FYI for Study Abroad Financial Aid
Due to the timing of these programs and the deposit requirements, financial assistance through federal aid programs may not be available. For most study abroad programs students must apply for a Parent or Graduate PLUS loan or a Private Education loan to help fund the experience. Student applications will be reviewed for federal financial aid programs, but students may be required to pay deposit fees and/or airline tickets out of pocket.
Study Abroad Options to be Eligible for Financial Aid
There are three opportunities for students who are interested in studying abroad. Only two of these options may be funded through Radford University, unless an exception is made.
Option 1: Radford University offers study abroad opportunities through the university.
Students are enrolled for credit hours at RU and are considered Radford University students. To obtain financial assistance for these study abroad programs, students should take the following steps:
Please Note: published financial aid priority processing dates and deadlines apply.
Option 2: A student may obtain permission from Radford University to participate in a study abroad program that is offered through an accredited international school.
Formal application materials must be completed through the Center for Global Education & Engagement, the Radford University Registrar's Office, and the Radford University Financial Aid Office. To obtain financial assistance for this type of study abroad program, students must complete university requirements as outlined in the Radford University undergraduate catalog.
Option 3: Exploring a study abroad opportunity that is offered through another university.
Typically, financial assistance for these programs must be obtained through the university that the student plans to attend. If there are unusual circumstances that require a student to participate in these study abroad experiences, the student may write a letter of appeal to the Director of Financial Aid requesting a consortium agreement be set up with the host school. However, neither Radford University nor the host school is required to make this type of agreement. If the student's request is approved, additional forms are required before financial assistance can be received.
Students who are interested in Summer Financial Aid should enroll in all summer courses by April 1 for priority consideration. Enrolling by the priority date means that you will be reviewed for available aid before Summer classes begin.
We will continue to review students who register after April 1st, but students will be expected to make payment arrangements prior to the bill deadline. We cannot guarantee that your application will be reviewed prior to the bill deadline.
Students who will be applying for Private Education loans, Graduate PLUS loans or have parents applying for Parent PLUS loans should have all applications submitted prior to April 19th. Loan applications submitted by April 19th will be reflected on the bill to assist with the deferment of summer charges. Loan application submitted after April 19th will be processed in the order they are received, but we cannot guarantee that they will be posted prior to the bill deadline.
Summer Aid Requirements
(Undergraduate students – at least 6 credit hours, Graduate students – at least 3 credit hours)
*The total amount of credit hours across all summer sessions
(If your FAFSA is fully processed, it will appear as a satisfied requirement in OneCampus. Financial Aid Dashboard -> *select current aid award year*)
Summer Aid Conditions
Satisfactory Academic Progress will be checked after spring semester grades are posted (for students enrolled at Radford University). If summer financial aid is awarded to a student who has not made satisfactory progress after spring grades are reviewed, their financial aid will be canceled.
Summer aid eligibility cannot be determined until you are registered for the minimum credit hours listed above.
How Summer Aid Eligibility is Determined
With the aid awarding strategies utilized for Fall/Spring terms of an academic year, limited federal funds are available during the summer. If a student has any federal aid eligibility, it will normally be through the Federal Direct Loan program or the Pell grant program. Students may only borrow Federal Direct loan funds if they have remaining eligibility from the prior fall and spring semester, based on their academic class standing.
Eligible students can utilize additional Pell Grant aid to help pay towards Summer course costs. If you were awarded Pell Grant aid, during the aid award year and remain Pell Grant eligible, up to 50% of your initial awarded, can be awarded for summer. At the time your summer application is reviewed, we will determine your summer Pell Grant eligibility.
Summer Aid Application Steps
Register for summer courses as soon as possible! Registration information is available online - Course Registration Information
If Summer Course enrollment changes after April 1, please complete a Change of Hours form.
You can check your OneCampus -> Financial Aid Dashboard, to ensure a FAFSA is on file, for the current academic year.
If you are starting your program in the summer, please also check your current FAFSA, to ensure you added Radford University to your list of schools. Radford University School Code: 003732
Students are notified via email (sent to @radford.edu address) when they have been offered summer aid.
Review and accept/decline aid offer by the deadlines provided to ensure aid is processed in a timely manner.
Aid can be reviewed in OneCampus in the Financial Aid Dashboard.
Financial aid is generally not available for the Wintermester session. We recommend that you save part of your fall financial aid refund to pay towards your Wintermester classes. However, there are some Private Education Lenders that will allow students to borrow money to cover tuition and fees costs.
Students who intend to apply for these loans should do so at least 60 days prior to the billing date. Students, who have financial aid for the spring semester that exceeds their spring university charges may sign an agreement to defer Wintermester charges until spring refunds are received.
To see if you are eligible for this deferment please complete the Wintermester Charges Deferment form that is available upon request in our office. If a deferment request is approved and the student does not attend the spring semester, the student will be required to pay the Wintermester charges owed immediately to the university.
Please contact the Radford University Financial Aid Office if you have any questions at finaid@radford.edu or by phone at 540-831-5408.
Although our priority deadline for filing the FAFSA is March 1, you may complete your FAFSA after this date. We will continue to process all FAFSAs received throughout the academic year. The priority deadline means that your application will be considered for all eligible aid programs. All applicants filing after the deadline will be reviewed for remaining available aid programs.
Prior to the end of each academic year a deadline for receiving FAFSAs is established. Because the application review and verification process can take several weeks to complete we cannot guarantee that applications received after this deadline will be processed. You can learn more about deadlines for each term and academic year by reviewing the financial aid timeline.
We recommend that you work diligently to meet the established deadlines. Missing financial aid deadlines will cause you to miss out on grant and scholarship opportunities.
We have prepared a brief checklist to help you navigate the various steps required to receive financial aid. Use this as a resource guide throughout the various stages of the financial aid process.
Getting Started
Aid Offer Notice
Accepting Student Loans
Additional Required Information
Important Things to Remember