Financial Aid Checklist


To receive Federal Financial Aid for Central Michigan University's off-campus programs, students must complete the following:

 

bullet The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) can be completed on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You will need to know Central Michigan University’s Title IV code: 002243. The federal processing agency will mail a Student Aid Report (SAR) to you within four to six weeks after you submit your application. This form must be completed each academic year.
 
bullet Admission to a degree-seeking program

bullet Eligibility
  • Graduate Students - minimum of 5 credit hours per semester
  • Undergraduate Students - minimum of 6 credit hours per semester
 
bullet First time borrowers must complete Entrance Loan Counseling: www.cel.cmich.edu/financial-aid/counseling.html

bullet Sign the Master Promissory Note: https://dlenote.ed.gov.
 
bullet Refer to page 17 of the Off-Campus Programs FA Manual at www.cel.cmich.edu/financial-aid/FinancialAidManual.pdf for Federal Direct Student Loan Limits

bullet To monitor your Financial Aid Award Status https://portal.cmich.edu/Pages/Finances.aspx. You will need your CMU Global ID and your password. (If you do not know your password you will need to contact the CMU helpdesk at (800) 950-1144, ext: 3662.)

bullet Award Notification – Official notification of your financial aid award will be e-mailed to your cmich webmail for new students; returning students will receive award notification via e-mail to your cmich webmail.

Reduce or reject offered loans online via the Student Status page via the student portal
 
bullet Set up direct deposit of your financial aid funds with CMU Receivable Accounting. For instructions and to download a form, see www.cmich.edu/University_Billing_Office/Refunds/Direct_Deposit.htm.

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You can now have your Financial Aid, Receivable Accounting Refunds deposited directly on to CMU’s new Money Network™ MasterCard ®.

For frequently asked questions, go to: www.controller.cmich.edu

Visit the CMU Portal to sign up today: https://portal.cmich.edu/default.aspx


 
bullet Loan disbursement will take place when:
  • Semester has officially started
  • You are registered for the minimum number of credit hours
        -6 for undergraduate and 5 for graduate
  • First class has started
  • Signed Master Promissory Note is on file (you can check for receipt by CMU on the Financial Aid Status Page)
 
bullet Financial Aid Warning/Suspension may delay or prohibit you from receiving financial aid - see page 8 of the OCP FA Manual at www.cel.cmich.edu/financial-aid/FinancialAidManual.pdf for details.
   
bullet How it happens
  • FAFSA filed
  • Award Notification via cmich e-mail
  • Registration based on your program requirements (register for all of the classes you want to take for the semester to assure timely disbursement of your financial aid funds, remember if you drop/withdrawal it will affect your financial aid). See www.controller.cmich.edu/Receivables/checkrun.htm for the refund schedule.
  • Tuition Statements e-mailed to Global ID account to all students
  • Tuition Paid by financial aid if packaged
  • Refund as applicable for remaining award balance