Financial Aid – BC Knowledge for Students

Financial Aid Appeals Reference

maxelrod — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 17:50:02 +0000

This guide defines terms and provides quick information and resources about the different types of financial aid appeals at Brooklyn College. Submission of any of these appeals does not guarantee approval.

General Terms

Conflicting Information

The presence of additional information that calls in to question the information reported on the FAFSA, which affects eligibility. Additional documentation such as proof of citizenship, identity, loan default status, tax returns and other financial statements can be sources of conflicting information.

Dependency Status

This status is determined based on the personal circumstances questions, age and marital status that students report on the FAFSA.

Learn more about FAFSA Dependency Status

Video: Am I a Dependent or Independent Student on the FAFSA® Form?

FAFSA Verification

The process of confirming family size, income, taxes paid, identity and other resources as reported on the FAFSA. This process is usually required for students completing a Special Circumstance Income Adjust appeal (see below).

Financial Aid Advisor

A full-time professional staff member in the office of financial aid who assists students in answering complex financial aid questions, planning and the financial aid appeal process.

Learn more about how to schedule an appointment.

Provisional Independent Status

Students who indicate on their FAFSA that they have unusual circumstances or need a homeless youth determination, will be given provisional independent status (see more below).

FAFSA will calculate the Student Aid Index (SAI) based on details like student income. This shows what aid a student might qualify for—but the application is still incomplete until the student finishes the required appeal process.

Students cannot receive federal aid until this process is complete. It must be completed before the semester starts or while the student is enrolled after the semester starts.

Student Aid Index (SAI)

The Student Aid Index is a number that is created based on a legally defined calculation for determining a student’s financial need. The lower the number the greater the financial need. The number is used to determine eligibility for Federal Pell, FSEOG, Federal Work-Study and subsidized Federal Direct Loan programs.

Learn More: Federal Student Aid – What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?

Adequate Supporting Documentation

Documentation that students are required, by law, to submit along with their signed appeal form.

Supporting documentation must corroborate the circumstances outlined in the student’s appeal form and/or personal statement (if applicable). It can include, but is not limited to, financial documents, letters of support from third parties, and invoices documenting expenses.

NOTE: Letters from third parties must all be signed and dated by the person who wrote them.

FAFSA Appeal Types – Details

Homeless and Unaccompanied Determination

Definition of Homeless and Unaccompanied

Students who meet the criteria below and are not otherwise independent on the FAFSA may be considered for a Homeless Youth Determination by a financial aid advisor:

Unaccompanied—when a student is not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

Homeless—lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing.

At risk of being homeless—when a student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate (e.g., a student who is being evicted or has been asked to leave the current residence and has been unable to find fixed, regular, and adequate housing).

Self-supporting—when a student pays for his or her own living expenses, which includes paying for fixed, regular, and adequate housing

Parent FAFSA Refusal – Unsubsidized Loan Only

Parent FAFSA Refusal

Students who are not living with and not supported by their parents, or if their parents refuse to provide parental information on the FAFSA, and they do not qualify for an unusual circumstance.

Students appealing in this category are only eligible for an unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan and the dependent student loan maximums.

Special and Unusual Circumstances

Special Circumstances – Income Adjustment

Special circumstances are financial situations (e.g., loss of a job) that justify an aid administrator adjusting data elements in the FAFSA need calculation often called an income or asset adjustment.

Special Circumstances – Unusual Expense Adjustment

Special circumstances are financial situations (e.g., medical expenses not covered by insurance) that justify an aid administrator adjusting data elements in the cost of attendance. Often called an expense or budget adjustment.

Specific Unusual Expense Categories

You, your spouse, or your parents (if dependent) pay (or paid) tuition expenses for a member of your household at an elementary or secondary school.

You, your spouse, or your parents (if dependent) pay (or paid) unusual medical, dental, or nursing home expenses, not covered by insurance, for a member of your household.

You are in a study abroad program and incur additional costs related to that study.

For Dependent Students Only
One or both of your parents will be enrolled in a degree or certificate program at a post-secondary institution on at least a half-time basis during the current award year and the course of study is required by their employer or by law/regulation to retain their salary or job.

Non-Applicable Expenses
Standard living expenses such as those for utilities, credit card payments, vacation expenses, mortgage payments, income taxes and other taxes, and tithing/charitable donations are not considered unusual expenses and are not eligible for consideration for this process.

Special Circumstances Appeal – Qualifying Conditions

A significant loss of income has occurred due to a period of unemployment, termination of current employment, change of jobs, or a reduction of wages or hours from current employment.

Money was earned during the tax year information used on the FAFSA. However, money could no longer be earned after that tax year due to disability or natural disaster that occurred after the relevant tax year.

A student (if independent) or parents (if dependent) separated or divorced after filing the FAFSA.

A student’s (if independent) or parent’s (if dependent) spouse has died after the FAFSA was filed.

A student and/or parent previously received unemployment compensation or a type of untaxed income or benefit but have since completely lost that income or benefit. The untaxed income or benefit must be from a public or private agency, from a company, or from a person because of a court order.

For Dependent Students Only
When you filed your FAFSA, you were a dependent student. After you filed, your FAFSA your marital status changed from single to married.

Unusual Circumstances – Dependency Override

Unusual circumstances are the conditions that justify an adjustment to a student’s FAFSA dependency status based on a unique situation (e.g., human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment, incarceration, etc.), more commonly referred to as a dependency override.

Unusual Circumstances – Applicable Scenarios

Circumstances such as physical or emotional abuse, severe estrangement, abandonment, parental drug or alcohol abuse, mental incapacity, or another such situation beyond the student’s control are what constitute severe situations warranting consideration for this appeal. For this type of appeal the student must be able to document a complete breakdown of the relationship with both parents.

Another applicable circumstance is that the student is a non-U.S. citizen (who is otherwise eligible to receive federal financial aid), and the student’s parents currently reside in a foreign country and the student is unable to obtain parental information because of long-standing political policy or civil unrest in that country that prevents mail or funds from passing between you and your parents.

Federal Work-Study Appeal

FWS Appeal Form

A form that allows students who do not have an FWS offer on their aid package to request consideration for Federal Work-Study can appeal.

Learn more in step 2 of the FWS Student Process Guide.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Terms

Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress

The academic standards that students must meet to maintain eligibility for federal student financial aid programs like Pell, FSEOG, Work-Study and Direct Loans.

GPA
Pace of Progression
Maximum Timeframe

These standards and appeal process are outlined in detail on the SAP Standards Webpage.

NY State Academic Progress and Pursuit Waiver Appeal

The academic standards that students must meet to maintain eligibility for NY State TAP.

GPA
Progress
Pursuit

Learn more about the good academic standing standards for TAP.

Learn more about the TAP Waiver appeal process.

U.S. Citizenship, Immigration Status & Secondary Confirmation for Federal Student Aid Programs

maxelrod — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 16:18:28 +0000

Basic eligibility criteria for Federal student financial aid programs require that a student be either a U.S. Citizen (by birth or naturalized) or an Eligible non-U.S. Citizen. Eligible non-U.S. citizen status is defined by law and encompasses a number of different categories. This article elaborates on the process of determining federal aid eligibility for non-U.S. citizens.

Who is Considered an Eligible non-U.S. Citizen?

Federal Student Aid publishes a comprehensive list of what defined an eligible non-U.S. Citizen. Click to learn more about the eligible categories.

When and why might you need to submit documents to prove you are a U.S citizen or eligible non-U.S. citizen?

U.S. Citizens

Naturalized U.S. citizens may need to submit proof that they are a U.S. Citizen after filing their FAFSA. The reason this occurs is because at the time the student became a U.S. citizen there was no automatic report to the Social Security Administration that the person is now a U.S. citizen. So, when the FAFSA is filed and the database match with the Social Security Administration is conducted, it does not report that the student is now a U.S. Citizen. In those cases federal law requires that the college obtain proof from the student that they are U.S. citizen before any federal aid can be disbursed.

To avoid having to submit these documents every year students are encouraged to update their citizenship status with the Social Security Administration. Click here for information on how to do that.

Eligible non-U.S. Citizens

FAFSA records for Eligible non-U.S. citizens go through a database match with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the time the FAFSA is filed. If the database match confirms that the student meets one of the eligible non-U.S. Citizen categories then the student does not need to submit any documents to the college. If however, the database match comes back stating that the match is not confirmed then the college financial aid office is required, by law, to obtain proof form the student that they meet one of the eligible non-U.S. citizen categories before aid can be disbursed.

The office of financial aid, in many cases, must then submit that documentation to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) electronically through the SAVE (Systemic Alien Verification for Entitlements) system to assist in confirming eligibility. This process can take up to 30 calendar days and as such can lead to delays in processing of aid. A negative response from SAVE would make a student ineligible for federal student financial aid.

Which Documents are acceptable to prove citizen or immigration status?

Students who hold any of the documents listed in the categories below would be considered eligible for federal student aid. As noted above some of these documents require additional Verification through the USCIS SAVE system.

U.S. Citizens born in the U.S.

A copy of a birth certificate showing that they were born in the U.S. (or a U.S. territory such as Puerto Rico, Guam etc.)

A U.S. passport book or card, current or expired. Note if the passport is expired it may not be used for verificaiton of identity. In those cases an additional valid government issued identity documents must accompany the U.S. Passport

U.S. Citizens not born in the U.S.

A valid U.S. passport book or passport card (described above in the “U.S. Citizens born in the U.S.” section above )

A Certificate of Citizenship (N–560 or N–561), issued by USCIS to persons who
derive U.S. citizenship through a parent;

A Certificate of Naturalization (N–550 or N–570), issued by USCIS (or, prior to 1991,
a federal or state court), or through administrative naturalization after December 1990
to those who are individually naturalized.

Note: A Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization must include the:
Certificate number
DHS Alien Registration Number
Student’s name
Student’s date of birth; and
Date & location of issuance

If issued to a minor child, a Certificate of Citizenship may bear the signature of the
parent instead of the child, this does not affect the legitimacy of the document.

A copy of Form FS-240 (Consular Report of Birth Abroad), FS545 (Certificate of
Birth Issued by a Foreign Service Post), or DS1350 (Certification of Report of Birth).
These are State Department documents.

U.S. Travel Document – Must be annotated with “Permit to Reenter Form I-327

Non-Citizen National

U.S. Passport book or card which must be stamped “Noncitizen National”

Eligible non-U.S. Citizen – U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)

Unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551, since 1997)
Unexpired Resident Alien Card (Form I-551, before 1997),
These are commonly referred to as “green cards”.

Older Alien Registration Receipt Card – (remains acceptable as evidence of permanent residence for the purpose of receiving federal student aid.)

Note: A Permanent Resident Card or Resident Alien Card must be accompanied by additional government issued identity documents if the picture on the card is a baby picture. However, card holders should update their picture on the document with USCIS on or after age 14.

Unexpired Foreign Passport with MRIV stamped “Processed for I-551”

Must be stamped “Processed for I-551″ with an expiration date. May have Machine Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV) with admission stamp and the following statement “Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year”

Arrival/Departure Record (CBP Form I-94) or the new electronic Departure Record (Form I94A) with the endorsement “Processed for I-551.

NOTE: The I-94 form will have an A-number annotated on it and is an acceptable
document as long as the expiration date has not passed at the time it is submitted for secondary confirmation. Applicants can access their I-94 status by visiting:
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home.

Other Eligible non-U.S. Citizens

“Arrival-Departure Record” Form I-94 or electronic I-94A
Must be endorsed:
Refugee,
Asylum Status
Conditional Entrant (before April 1, 1980)
Parolee
Cuban-Haitian Entrant
UHP
NOTE: Students paroled into the U.S. must have a stamp indicating that the student has been paroled into the U.S. for at least one year.

Victims of Human Trafficking
Unexpired HHS Certification or Eligibility Letter or
Valid T-Visa (if spouse or child of HTV).
Status must be verified each year by a confirmation
phone call to HHS.

Battered immigrants-qualified aliens under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)– Form I-797 Notice of Action approval or prima facie letter or immigration judge’s court order. Form I-797 is USCIS’s formal communication with customers issued when an application or petition is approved or to confer an immigration benefit.

Afghan Special Immigrant – I94 with the following stamped:
Special Immigrant Status (SQ/SI) Parolee
Sec 602(b)(1) AAPA / Sec 1059(a) NDAA 2006
Date _____USCIS officer:______

There may be another document such as Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a C11 parolee category.

Afghan Non-Special Immigrant Parolees
Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a C11 category or a CBP “PAROLED” stamp in their passport;

Ukraine Citizens and National Paroled into the U.S

Ukrainian national paroled into U.S. between Feb. 24, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2023

OR

Ukrainian national paroled into U.S. after Sept. 30, 2023 if they are a:
Spouse or child of a Ukrainian citizen or national paroled into U.S. between February 24, 2022 and September 30th, 2023 OR;
Parent/guardian/primary caregiver of unaccompanied noncitizen child paroled into U.S. between February 24, 2022 and September 30th, 2023

Documentation
Paper Form I-94 with a UHP Class Of Admission (COA);
Foreign passport with parole stamp that includes a UHP COA; or
Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a “C11” category, if they
have applied for and received one.

Jay Treaty of 1794 students – Native Americans Born in Canada

A “band card” issued by the Band Council of a Canadian Reserve, or by the Department of Indian Affairs in Ottawa.

Birth or baptism records

An affidavit from a tribal official or other person knowledgeable about the applicant’s or recipient’s family history

Identification from a recognized Native American provincial or territorial organization

Citizens of the Freely Associated States

Citizens of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau

Documentation of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) in any of the above Freely Associated States.

Note: Citizens of the Freely Associated States are eligible for Federal Pell Grants but are not eligible for any federal loans.

Common Documents that are not acceptable for proving U.S. Citizenship or non-U.S. Citizen eligibility status

There are a number of common documents issued by federal state or local government which, although official, do not meet the statutory requirements in the law to make a student eligible for federal student aid. Some of these are listed below.

Unacceptable Visas

Non-immigrant visas such as but not limited to:

F-1, F-2 or M-1 Student Visa

B-1 or B-2 Visitor Visa

J-1 or J-2 Exchange Visitors Visa

H series or L series Visa (which allow temporary employment in the U.S.)

A2 and A3 Visas (foreign official, including attendants)

NATO Visas (NATO) or

G series Visa (pertaining to international organizations)

U-Visa

Other Unacceptable Government Issued Documents

Form I-817, Application for Family Unity Benefits

Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I- 464)

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (students may be eligible for NY State Aid)

Employment Authorization Card (Form I-688A), Employment Authorization Documents (Form I-688B or Form I-766) or the Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688)

Social Security Number (SSN) Card

State issued ID or Driver’s license

Municipal/School Issued ID Cards

Form I-94 stamped “Temporary Protected Status

Withholding of removal” order issued by an immigration judge or by the Board of Immigration Appeals.

How do I know when I need to submit these types of documents?

Students who need to submit proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen status will have a “Verify My FAFSA” to do list item in their CUNYfirst student center. Follow the link in the to do list item to login to the document submission system and follow the instructions on the screen.

What is the deadline to submit these documents?

You must confirm that you met the eligibility requirement under one of the categories above during your period of enrollment. All documents should be submitted before the last day of your enrollment.

How to Schedule an Appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor

maxelrod — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:54:05 +0000

Regular Undergraduate, Macaulay Honors College and Graduate Students

Step 1 – Login to Navigate

Step 2 – Use the Schedule an appointment button

On the Home page click the blue “Schedule an Appointment” button in the upper right portion of the screen below the “Brooklyn College” logo.

Step 3 – Select the Appointment Type and Service

Select “Student Financial Services” for the type of appointment for the first drop down menu.

Select the type of service you would like under the financial aid section of the second dropdown menu. Note that Bursar and Scholarship office service options are available in that dropdown menu as well.

Select a date and click the “Find Available Time” button to see your options.

Step 4 – Choose a date, time and how you would like to meet

Navigate will provide you with all the current available times. You can choose to meet with a specific advisor or take any available appointment slot that works for you.

Note that Navigate requires at least 24 hours to be a able to schedule an appointment. If you need a same day appointment you will need to speak with a Call Center representative or a representative at the Enrollment Services Center.

Step 5 – Review your appointment details and confirm

Confirm that the date, time and service type match what you expect.

You can then select how you would like to meet with the financial aid advisor.

Enter any notes that you want the advisor to know before you meet. Doing this is recommended because it allows the advisor to prepare ahead of your appointment maximizing the time spent with you.

Make sure the email reminder and text reminder boxes are checked so that you will get an appointment reminder. Note email goes to your Brooklyn College email address and this cannot be changed.

The text message reminder defaults to the phone number you have in Navigate. You can change the number if you so wish in the “Phone Number for Text Reminder” box.

When you are done reviewing and ready to book the appointment click the blue “Schedule” button to schedule your appointment.

Doctoral Audiology and Feirstein School of Cinema Graduate Students

Doctoral Audiology and Feirstein School of Cinema Students should email Klarinda Louis directly to schedule an appointment.

SEEK, Veterans, Accessibility Students

SEEK, U.S. veterans, and accessibility students should email Gregory Williams directly to schedule an appointment.

How to Verify Your Identity Remotely (V4/V5 Verification)

maxelrod — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 20:16:52 +0000

Step 1: Understand Why You’re Here

You were selected for V4 or V5 verification by the U.S. Department of Education. This means you must confirm your identity before your financial aid can be processed.

Since you cannot verify your identity in person or with a notary, please log in to Student Forms to confirm that the “Remote Identity Verification Information” task is on your account. This confirms that you’ve been approved to complete your identity verification remotely via a Zoom appointment.

Step 2: Schedule Your Virtual Appointment

Click to Read Step 2

You’ll need to meet with a Financial Aid staff member using Zoom.

You can schedule your virtual meeting using Navigate to book an appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor and select the service type V4/V5 Verifying Identity.

Make sure to schedule the appointment as soon as possible to avoid delays in your financial aid processing.

Step 3: Prepare Your ID

Click to Read Step 3

Before your meeting, make sure you have one of the following valid, unexpired, government-issued photo IDs ready:

A) U.S. Passport

B) State-issued driver’s license

C) State-issued non-driver ID

Note: College IDs and military IDs (due to prohibition from being photocopied) are not accepted for identity verification.

Step 4: Attend Your Remote Meeting

Click to Read Step 4

During your scheduled Zoom meeting you must:

1) Prepare to have your camera on for video session
2) Show your valid, non-expired, government issued photo ID clearly on camera

The Financial Aid staff member will:
1) Confirm your identity
2) Capture a screenshot of your ID

This step satisfies the federal requirement for visual identity verification.

Step 5: We’ll Upload your Identity Verification

Click to Read Step 5

After your meeting:

The staff member will upload the ID screenshot on your behalf

The staff member will upload the Remote Identity Document Staff Certification form

Step 6: Final Review

Click to Read Step 6

Once your documents are uploaded to Student Forms, our office will review them. If everything is in order, your V4/V5 verification file will proceed to the next steps for processing and completion.

IMPORTANT Note!

After your documents are uploaded and reviewed, please note that you will be contacted if additional information is needed. If the requested information is not provided, we will be unable to complete the verification process to determine your financial aid eligibility.

Questions?

If you need help at any point during this process, please contact us:

Email: finaid@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Call: 718.951.5234
Join the Virtual Office
- Mondays, 10 am–1 pm
  Wednesdays, 2pm–5 pm

Doctoral Student Loan Guide

maxelrod — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 15:03:04 +0000

Introduction

Federal Direct Loans and Alternative Private educational loans are available financial aid options for Doctoral (Audiology) students at Brooklyn College. Federal direct loans require an applicant to file the FAFSA to determine basic eligibility criteria. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan has a loan origination fee and accrues interest from the time of disbursement. The Federal Graduate PLUS loan has the above, requires passing a credit check, has a higher interest rate and loan origination fee. The loan origination fee amount and interest rates are determined annually by the U.S. Congress.

Alternative private educational loans do not require students to file the FAFSA. They may carry an origination fee and they typically accrue interest from the time of disbursement. Interest rates, fees and repayment obligations are set by the lender. As such there is no set interest rate, that may vary by lender and credit history.

What does this guide offer you?

This guide outlines the steps for the doctoral student Federal Direct loan process. It also includes resources such as videos and links to more information and other guides to help you navigate the student loan process and the CUNYfirst system. Information about the alternative loan process, which is the same for all students at Brooklyn College, is available in the Private Educational Alternative Loan Guide

IMPORTANT Note about Borrowing

The Brooklyn College Office of Financial Aid recommends that you limit borrowing to what you need! If you are unsure of what you would need we encourage you to schedule a financial aid planning appointment (see next heading).

Doctoral (Audiology) Student – Financial Aid Point of Contact

We strongly encourage all Doctoral Audiology students to contact Assistant Director of Financial Aid Advisement Klarinda Louis (Klouis@brooklyn.cuny.edu) to schedule a financial aid planning appointment.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS Loan Process

Step 1 – Complete the FAFSA

Before you can be considered for a Federal Direct Loan (unsubsidized or Graduate PLUS) you must first file and submit the FAFSA to determine that you meet the basic eligibility criteria for federal student financial aid programs. The FAFSA you file should reflect the academic year that you are planning to attend. For example if you are planning to enroll in the Fall 2025 and spring 2026 terms then you should file the 2025-2026 FAFSA.

Step 2 – Review Your CUNYfirst Financial Aid “TO-DO LIST” Items

If your FAFSA requires additional documentation, CUNYfirst will alert you by listing items on the Tasks tile in your Student Center. You must complete these items before any offered or accepted loan will be able to disburse to you. To view your “To-Do List” log onto your CUNYfirst account at https://home.cunyfirst.cuny.edu

Step 3 – Review Your COST OF ATTENDANCE (Financial Aid Budget)

Your Cost of Attendance (which includes direct and indirect costs of your education) is used to determine the maximum amount of financial aid (scholarships and loans) you may receive during an academic year. It is important to review your cost of attendance before borrowing so that you understand borrowing limitations. You cannot borrow or receive aid that is in excess of your Cost Of Attendance.

View your Cost of Attendance:

Access the Financial Aid tile in your CUNYfirst Student Center.
Confirm the appropriate aid year in the top left of the page (use the Change button if the current aid year is not the default). Note: the screenshot example below shows costs for the 2021-2022 year.
Under the “Financial Aid Summary menu” on the sidebar select “Cost of Attendance”.

Step 4 – Enroll For Courses (at least 6 Credits)

You must be matriculated in an eligible graduate degree program and enroll for at least 6 credits (or weighted credits) in the term(s) for which you are seeking the loan to be eligible for the loan.

Step 5 – Complete an Entrance Counseling Session and Sign your eMPN,

If this is your first time borrowing a Federal Direct Student Loan, you must complete the below requirements before your loan will disburse to you:

Entrance Counseling

Using your FSA ID, sign into the Federal Student Aid portal to complete the ENTRANCE COUNSELING SESSION. Be sure to select CUNY Brooklyn College as a school to notify.

If you have already completed one in the past you only need to change the school code to Brooklyn College.

eMPN- Promissory Note

On the Federal Student Aid portal sign the LOAN MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE (MPN) for “Graduate/Professional” students. If you have signed an MPN for the particular loan type within the last decade then you would not need to sign a new one. If you are unsure of how long it has been since you last signed one it is recommended to sign a new one to avoid a disbursement delay due to an expiring promissory note.

NOTE: Make sure you are signing the correct type of promissory note for the type of loan you are borrowing. The unsubsidized loan and the Graduate PLUS loan have separate and different promissory notes because the terms of the loans are different. If you are utilizing both you will need to sign two promissory notes.

Financial Aid TV- Loan Entrance and Promissory Note Video

Step 6 – Accept, Reduce, or Decline your Unsubsidized Loan on CUNYfirst

All Doctoral students who file a FAFSA will have a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Direct Loan of up to $20,500 offered on their aid package. They will also have a Graduate Plus loan offer (more on this in the Graduate PLUS loan section below).

The unsubsidized loan will not disburse if it has not been accepted or if the steps above have not been completed.

Click to learn more about the offered loan process

The loan is offered as a fall/spring loan. This means that the loan amount will be divided evenly between the fall and spring terms. Depending on your tuition charges this may not be sufficient to cover your full balance.

You can accept, reduce, and then accept, or decline the annual unsubsidized loan award by following the steps outlined in the CUNYfirst Student Financial Aid Guide on or Information Guides page (refer to pages 11-12 in the guide).

What Do I do if I want a semester only loan?

If you are seeking to borrow a semester only loan you must decline the offered loan and use the Federal Direct Loan Change Form (scroll down to loan section of the page to find the form) to request a semester only loan.

Loan Limits for Professional Study

Graduate/Professional Students	Maximum Loan Amounts
Annual Unsubsidized Loan Amount	$20,500
Lifetime Aggregate Borrowing Limit*	$138,500

*The Lifetime Aggregate Borrowing Limit includes any borrowing from undergraduate study or prior graduate degrees.

Graduate Plus Loan

Students who need to borrow more than the maximum unsubsidized loan of $20,500 (or those who have already met the lifetime limit on federal direct loan borrowing) to meet their educational costs may request an additional loan by applying for a Graduate PLUS loan.

Click to learn More about the Graduate PLUS loan for Doctoral Students

Doctoral students have a Graduate PLUS loan offered on their account. This is done to show students how much of the loan maximum they could receive if they choose to. However, because there is a credit component for this loan, students must still submit the Graduate PLUS loan form to request the amount they want. The amount requested can be equal to or less than what is on the package but it cannot be more. Additionally, students must still first accept the Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan maximum offer before requesting the PLUS loan.

The Graduate PLUS loan allows students to borrow up to the full annual cost of attendance (COA) minus other financial aid received (scholarships, federal student loans, private loans etc.).

A credit check will be performed by the U.S. Department of Education during the origination process to determine your credit eligibility for the Graduate PLUS loan. The PLUS loan has a higher loan fee and interest rate.

Graduate PLUS Loan Application Process

If you are interested in applying for a Graduate PLUS loan follow the steps below:

1) Accept the maximum annual unsubsidized loan offer of $20,500 in for the academic year. (This step does not apply if you have reached your federal direct loan lifetime borrowing limit.) NOTE: Federal law requires that your eligibility for the unsubsidized loan be determined first before you can request a PLUS loan.

2) Sign the Graduate PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov (you may also need to update your entrance counseling if you previously did it only for subsidized and/or unsubsidized loans).

3) Complete and submit the electronic Graduate Plus Loan Application on the Financial Aid Office Forms Page (scroll down to the Federal Direct Loan section).

4) Pass the credit check (if you fail the credit check you may either obtain an endorser or appeal the decision. If you fail the credit check you must also complete PLUS Credit counseling even if you obtain an endorser or appeal the decision).

5) Enroll for at least 6 credits (or weighted credits) and attend classes.

Pending Aid in CUNYfirst

Authorization and Pending Financial Aid

After you have accepted your unsubsidized loan, and completed all the necessary steps above, allow a 3-5 business days for the loan to authorize. Once authorized, the loan will show on your CUNYfirst Student Center under the “Financial Account” tile as “pending financial aid”. Navigate to “Account Balance” on the menu sidebar to see your total charges, pending financial aid and how much you still owe (if anything). Pending financial aid means that it is approved but pending to disburse on the next (or first) available disbursement date.

For detailed steps on how to view pending financial aid refer to the CUNYfirst Student Financial Aid guide.

Loan Disclosure and Disbursement

How Disbursements Work

You will receive an official disclosure statement via email from the Federal Direct Loan Servicing Center confirming your approved award and anticipated disbursement dates. Federal loans are issued in two separate disbursements. Initial Disbursement dates for the loan are indicated below. Disbursements occur each Monday (excepting legal holidays) following the initial disbursement date. Any disbursement that is in excess of the tuition and fees liability will refund on the Friday after the disbursement date via check or direct deposit.

Initial Federal Loan Disbursement Dates

Fall 2025 – September 2nd

Spring 2026 – February 2nd

Additional Resources

Click to learn more about Interest rates, exit counseling, repayment options, Federal Loan history and more

Federal Direct Loan Program Interest Rates and Loan Origination Fees

Loan Repayment

View your Federal Student Loan History

Federal Direct Loan Exit Counseling

Private Educational Alternative Loan Guide

Financial Aid TV – Loan Videos

Financial Aid TV Videos: Loan Overview

Financial Aid TV Videos: Loan Programs

Financial Aid TV Videos: Loan Repayment

Need More Help?

To ensure the best service, Audiology students should contact Assistant Director of Financial Aid Klarinda Louis (Klouis@brooklyn.cuny.edu) directly for financial aid inquiries.

Dynamic Financial Aid Forms

maxelrod — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:34:58 +0000

What are Dynamic Forms and how does Financial Aid use them?

The Dynamic Forms platform is a form specific (as opposed to portal based) platform that allows you to securely complete, electronically sign, and submit select Financial Aid Office forms in a convenient format 24/7 without having to come in person or wait in line.

The Office of Financial Aid utilizes electronic NextGen Dynamic Forms for the following financial aid processes: loan requests, SAP, TAP Progress and Pursuit Waiver, Federal Work-Study, Special/Unusual Circumstance Appointment Requests, SEEK freshmen and several other forms.

FAFSA-related document submission is completed in the Elucian Campus Logic Student Forms platform.

How Do Dynamic Forms links work?

Each form has its own specific link. To submit a particular form you must locate the link of the financial aid website, click on the link and then login with your WebCentral ID. You may access available forms here.

To access the platform you will need to log in using your BC WebCentral username and login. Dynamic Forms are not hosted in the knowledge base but you access them using your WebCentral ID. Dynamic Forms uses your Brooklyn College email and preferred name in the BC Knowledge Student Portal .

See the rest of this guide for more details.

How To Access a Dynamic Form

Step 1 – Visit the Financial Aid Website

Visit the Financial Aid Resources and Forms webpage

Step 2 – Navigate to the Forms Section of the Webpage

Scroll to the Forms section of the page and click on the link for the type of form you wish to access. Some links on this page will take you to a BC Knowledge article with links to multiple forms and resources (like Loans) related to that program others are direct links to the Dynamic Form itself.

Step 3 – Login using your WebCentral ID and Password.

Click on the link to the form you wish to complete and, when prompted, enter your BC WebCentral ID (Username) and Password.

Step 4 – Welcome Screen and Start the Form

Most Dynamic Forms have a welcome screen that lets you know which form you are about to start. Click the “Complete This Form” button when ready to start.

Step 5 – Complete, Sign and Submit the Form

Complete all the fields on the form and upload documents as may be requested. Some forms may have multiple pages and require you to click the “Next” button before you get to the signature section and “SUBMIT” button.. The forms are programmed to let you know if you missed a required field. Some forms are also programmed to display error messages if the situation warrants that. The error message provides actionable information.

In some cases you and another person (like a parent or spouse or academic advisor) may need to sign a form. When that happens you may be prompted to provide that person’s name and email in order for them to get a link to your form. Some forms have the other form participant preprogrammed in. That participant, if not part of the BC community, will need to create a manual account to be able to access the form and complete and sign their portion of the form.

When the form is complete make sure to sign and submit the form (click the “SUBMIT” button) and follow any prompts. If you do not click the submit button the office of financial aid will not get the form and will not be able to process the form for you.

Note: You can choose to opt out of electronic signature and submission. If you do, you will need to visit Student Financial Services Staff at the ESC to submit the form. It will not be processed until you hand sign it and submit it to the office of financial aid.

Step 6 – Monitor your BC Email, Preferred Email and Dynamic Forms History

Monitor your BC email and preferred email. Forms may be returned to you for correction. Some forms will also send you a notification when they are complete. You can monitor the status of your forms by logging in to Dynamic Forms directly and click on the “My Forms/Portal link in the upper right hand of the screen. You can then see if there are any forms awaiting your signature and click on the “My Forms History” to see the status of forms you have submitted already. You can see the status and view a PDF or Web based version (HTML) of your submission.

If you are still concerned about a pending form status two weeks following your submission then email finaid@brooklyn.cuny.edu for assistance.

The New York State Alternate Eligibility Application Guide

maxelrod — Thu, 29 May 2025 21:02:02 +0000

New York State offers an alternate eligibility application for students concerned about sharing sensitive personal family information, like a parent’s or spouse’s immigration status, on the FAFSA. This allows eligible students to apply for state-funded financial aid programs, including TAP, without completing the FAFSA.

Note the Excelsior scholarship still requires a FAFSA.

Follow the steps to see if you qualify.

Step 1 Getting Started

Visit hesc.ny.gov/altpath and click “Apply Today.”
Log in to your portal or create a new account.
Use a personal email address when creating an account.
Do not use a school or work email. Click “Add New Application”

Step 2 Completing the Path Determination Questionnaire

Select the option that best describes your situation.
Read all instructions and confirm your selection.
For help with these questions, visit the Path Determination Guide.
Begin the Alternate Eligibility Application.

Step 3 Checking Your Eligibility

Answer a few citizenship and immigration questions:
Social Security number, level of study, school year and residency
Click “Submit” to continue with the application.

Step 4 Student Information

Enter full legal name

Date of Birth
This field will display the birth date you entered during account registration. It will be non-editable.

To correct this, contact NYSDREAM@applyISTS.com or call 1-844-833-7129. You will be required to submit a birth certificate or other legal documentation showing the correct date.

Address Information
You will be asked to enter only your city, state, and zip code.

Opt in for notifications

Student Grade Level

Upload supporting documents
Applicants may be required to submit supporting documentation.

Step 5 Submit Your Application

Confirm your information is accurate.
Electronically sign the application.
Submit your completed application.

Once approved, applicants can submit NYS financial aid applications, including the TAP application, through their account portal.

Additional Support

For help completing your application, join the HESC Alternate Path monthly support session.

HESC Call Center 1-888-NYSHESC (1-888-697-4372)

For questions or concerns with your application, use the Account Portal chat box or email NYSDream@ApplyISTS.com.

Brooklyn College TAP Information Website

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) | Brooklyn College

FWS Payroll Schedule

maxelrod — Thu, 08 May 2025 21:20:08 +0000

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Payroll Schedule outlines the pay periods, timesheet deadlines and check issue dates for the FWS program. It also contains a list of days the college is closed, when there are no classes but the college is open and class conversion days.

Important Note: Timesheets and Pay Periods

Timesheet and Pay Periods – Click to Read More

Failure to submit your timesheet by the Timesheet Due date will result in a delay in payment no earlier than the next pay period number.

Pay periods typically end on Saturday. Students who work on Saturday have a one day extension of the published “Timesheet Due” date deadline and must submit the timesheet on the Saturday that they worked at the end of the pay period.

Important Note: Summer Work-Study

Summer Sessions and the Effect on FWS – Click to Read More

Brooklyn College offers three different Summer academic calendars. A 10-week calendar that is divided into two 5-week sessions, an 8-week calendar for graduate accounting and business students online only, and a 10-week single summer session.

In all cases to be eligible to work in the summer you must be enrolled in any of the summer sessions or the fall semester (for at least 6 credits at the time of placement). However, students who are only enrolled in summer session I and not enrolled in the fall, will not be able to be placed.

Additionally students not enrolled in the summer, but who are enrolled in the fall and are working will have their FWS earnings less income taxes applied as a resources towards their eligibility for financial aid need. As such it is possible that some summer Federal work-study earnings will reduce the amount of other aid a student may otherwise be eligible to receive.

Brooklyn College follows a modified summer schedule. For Summer 2025 the college is closed on Friday from June 9th through August 15th except Friday June 20th.

Summer FWS FICA Deduction Information

Students who are working in the summer but not enrolled in the summer will have FICA deductions from their paycheck.

The summer FICA deduction applies to Pay Period 4 (6/29/2025 -7/12/2025) through Pay Period 7 (08/10/25 – 08/23/25).

Students are eligible to be ‘exempt’ from FICA deductions if they meet all categories below:
A) Hired under an on-campus job
B) Have only 1 active job
C) Enrolled for half time or more for the summer term.

Students will be ‘Subject’ to FICA deductions if they fall into any one or more of the categories below:
A) Hired under an off-campus job
B) Have multiple active jobs
C) Enrolled for less than half time for the summer term.

2025 – 2026 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY (FWS) PAYROLL SCHEDULE

Pay Period Number	Pay Period	Timesheet Due	Check Date (Direct Deposit)	Important Note
4	6/29/2025 -7/12/2025	7/11/2025	7/24/2025	Pay period includes legal holiday
5	7/13/2025-7/26/2025	7/25/2025	8/7/2025
6	7/27/2025-08/09/2025	8/8/2025	8/21/2025
7	8/10/2025-8/23/2025	8/22/2025	9/4/2025
8	8/24/2025-9/6/2025	9/5/2025	9/18/2025	8/26/2025 first day of fall term
9	9/07/2025-9/20/2025	9/19/2025	10/02/2025
10	9/21/2025-10/4/2025	10/3/2025	10/16/2025
11	10/05/2025-10/18/2025	10/17/2025	10/30/2025	Pay period includes legal holiday
12	10/19/2025-11/01/2025	10/31/2025	11/13/2025
13	11/2/2025-11/15/2025	11/14/2025	11/26/2025	Bank Holiday Altered check date
14	11/16/2025-11/29/2025	11/28/2025	12/11/2025
15	11/30/2025-12/13/2025	12/12/2025	12/24/2025	Bank Holiday, Altered check date.
16	12/14/25 – 12/22/2025	12/22/2025	1/08/2026	Fall term ends 12/22/2025, last day to work in Fall
17	12/28/2025-1/10/2026	1/9/2026	1/22/2026	Possible deduction of FICA on pay check
18	1/11/2026-1/24/2026	1/23/2026	2/5/2026	1/26/2026 first day of spring term
19	1/25/2026 – 2/7/2026	2/6/2026	2/19/2026
20	2/8/2026-2/21/2026	2/20/2026	3/5/2026
21	2/22/2026-3/7/2026	3/6/2026	3/19/2026
22	3/8/2026-3/21/2026	3/20/2026	4/2/2026
23	3/22/2026-4/4/2026	4/3/2026	4/16/2026	Spring break starts 4/1/26
24	4/5/2026-4/18/2026	4/17/2026	4/30/2026	Spring break ends 4/10/26
25	4/19/2026-5/2/2026	5/1/2026	5/14/2026
26	5/3/2026-5/16/2026	5/15/2026	5/28/2026
27	5/17/2026 – 5/26/2026	5/26/2026	6/11/2026	Spring term ends 5/26/2025, last day to work in Spring and for academic year. Pay period includes legal holiday

Payroll Schedule Tracker Worksheet (PDF)

Payroll Schedule Tracker 2025-2026 Download

Legal Holidays when the College is Closed

Click for Dates

Juneteenth–06/19/25

Independence Day– 07/04/25

Labor Day – 09/01/25

Columbus Day – 10/13/25

Thanksgiving Holiday – 11/27/25-11/28/25

Christmas Holiday – 12/24/25-12/25/25

New Year’s Holiday – 12/31/25-01/01/26

Martin Luther King Jr. Day – 1/19/26

Lincoln’s Birthday – 2/12/26

President’s Day – 2/16/26

Memorial Day – 5/25/26

No Classes Scheduled – College Open

Fall 2025 Dates

September 22-24, 2025

October 1-2, 2025

October 20, 2025

November 29-30, 2025

Spring 2026 Dates

To be announced

Conversion Days

Fall 2025 Dates

October 14, 2025 – follows a Monday schedule

October 24, 2025 – follows a Monday Schedule

Spring 2026 Dates

To be announced

FWS Resources and Forms For Students

maxelrod — Mon, 05 May 2025 19:01:54 +0000

Below are the links, by category, to guides, forms and systems for students applying for and participating in the Federal Work-Study program.

FWS Supervisors should visit the online FWS Supervisor Resource Hub

FWS Program Information and Guides for Students

Federal Work-Study Student Process Guide
Federal Work-Study FAQ

FWS Appeal Form

Click here to Start the FWS Appeal Form

Students will be considered for an FWS appeal based on availability of FWS funds, financial need and enrollment status. Funds are limited therefore, not all requests may be able to be approved.

Students will be notified via e-mail of the decision in accordance to their appeal request.

FWS Placement Forms

FWS Fact Sheet and Placement Form (DF)

Form I-9 (PDF)

Form W-4 (PDF)

Form IT-2104/2104-E (PDF)

Notice and Acknowledgment of Pay Rate and Payday Under Section 195.1 of the New York State Labor Law—Notice for Hourly Rate Employees (PDF)

FWS I-9 Document and New York State Acknowledgment Upload Form – link available on your CUNYfirst Student Center>Task and Holds>To do list>Federal Work Study I9 Form. (NOTE: This To Do list item becomes available only after your Fact Sheet and Placement form is processed. )

FWS JobX and TimesheetX Systems – Apply for Jobs and Submit Timesheets

JobX and TimesheetX Systems

FWS Payroll Schedule

2024-2025 FWS Payroll Schedule
2025-2026 FWS Payroll Schedule

Private Educational Alternative Loan Guide

maxelrod — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:43:01 +0000

Step 1: Browse and apply for an alternative loan

Begin by reviewing various alternative lenders on ELM Select tool and compare Interest rates, fees, and eligibility criteria. Once you find a lender that best suits your needs then you will apply for a loan directly on their website.

Note: Students can request an alternative loan for a prior academic year balance. However, the loan disbursement date cannot be more than 365 days after the end of the loan period. For example, if a student is looking to request an alternative loan for spring 2024 the loan must be disbursed prior to 5/22/2025.

Step 2 – Review Your COST OF ATTENDANCE (Financial Aid Budget)

Your Cost of Attendance (which includes direct and indirect costs of your education) is used to determine the maximum amount of financial aid (grants, federal work-study, scholarships and loans) you may receive during an academic year. It is important to review your cost of attendance before borrowing so that you understand the borrowing limitations. You cannot borrow or receive aid that is in excess of your Cost of Attendance.

Note: If the borrower initially requests an alternative loan amount greater than their cost of attendance, they will receive an email to their BC email account outlining the maximum amount they can request and whether we can proceed with the new amount.

View your Cost of Attendance:

Access the Financial Aid tile in your CUNYfirst Student Center.
Confirm the appropriate aid year in the top left of the page (use the Change button if the current aid year is not the default). Note: the screenshot example below shows costs for the 2021-2022 year.
Under the “Financial Aid Summary menu” on the sidebar select “Cost of Attendance”.

Step 3: Approval

Once you have been approved then a certification request will be sent to Brooklyn College. Please keep in mind that although the lender has approved your loan, the school must certify it before any funds can be disbursed.

Step 4: Alternative Loan Release Form

After Brooklyn College receives your alternative loan request, the borrower will get an email to their BC email account with instructions to complete an Alternative Loan Release Form on Dynamic Forms. This form allows the borrower to specify the loan period, indicate whether they are receiving any Federal Student Financial Aid during the loan period or just alternative loans, and choose whether to reduce or cancel their loan.

Without an alternative loan release form, we will be unable to proceed with certifying your loan.

Note: Students requesting an alternative loan for a prior academic year need to complete an Alternative Loan Release Form for that specific year. For example, a student requesting an alternative loan for Fall 2023 would need to complete the 2023-2024 release form. Alternative loan release forms for prior years can be located at https://students.brooklyn.edu/knowledge-base/loan-resources-and-forms/

Step 5: Certification

Once a borrower has completed their alternative loan release form, the loan certification officer at Brooklyn College will certify their loan directly with the lender and post the approved loan amount on CUNYFirst as anticipated aid.

Step 6: Disbursement

Alternative loans disbursement occurs every Thursday. However, disbursements are scheduled to take place two weeks from the certification date. For example, if your loan is certified on [date], the disbursement will be made on the following Thursday, two weeks later. For borrowers expecting a refund, it may take 5-7 business days after disbursement to receive a refund. For more information about refunds please contact the Office of Bursar.

CUNY Model Mode of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy

CUNY_Model_Code_of_Conduct Download