Applying for Financial Aid

How to apply for Financial Aid

To get started, follow these simple steps:

Establish a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID)

Students, Parents, and borrowers are required to use an FSA ID, which requires a username and passcode, to access certain U.S. Department of Education’s websites, including the FAFSA.

Your FSA ID is used to confirm your identity when accessing your financial aid information and electronically signing your federal student aid documents. If you don't already have an FSA ID and password, you will need to create one before completing your FAFSA.

To create your FSA ID, go to StudentAid.gov Remember, both the student and the student's parent (if applicable) must each have an FSA ID.

According to federal regulations, to be eligible for financial aid a student must be enrolled in an approved program leading to a degree or certificate at Brockton Hospital School of Nursing, and the student may only receive financial aid for the classes that are required for degree completion at Fisher College.

Students may not receive financial aid from two schools at the same time. Students can only receive aid from the school at which they are matriculating.

Step 1: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at StudentAid.gov The form requires from 30 minutes to an hour to complete. It will usually require information from both the student and parent (custodial parents only, including step-parents). Students may begin the form, save what information has been provided, and then go back at a later date to finish it. If the student and parents have not yet done the current year’s tax returns, the income information may be estimated based on the prior year’s return. Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing Title IV School Code - 013542.

Step 2: One to two weeks after you submit the FAFSA, you will receive an Electronic Student Aid Report (ISAR).

Step 3: Once the Brockton Hospital School of Nursing receives a completed copy of the SAR, the Student Financial Services office will use the information to determine if any more information is needed to prepare your financial aid award package. If no more information is needed, an official financial aid award letter will be mailed to you. If more information is needed, a letter requesting the additional documentation will be mailed to you.

Step 4: Once you receive the official financial aid award letter from the Office of Financial Assistance, you must decide whether or not to accept the different loans offered to you. Use the Award Letter to decline or reduce loan amounts.

Every year ALL STUDENTS must complete a NEW FAFSA.

Common FAFSA Mistakes to Avoid

Completing the FAFSA thoroughly and accurately is important. The slightest error may cause weeks of delay in receiving your financial aid award letter. Brockton Hospital School of Nursing.

The most common mistakes to avoid are:

• Forgetting to sign the application. Be sure both student and parent(s) sign the FAFSA application.
• Parents using the W-2 form to report income. Do not use this form! For income reporting, take the Adjusted Gross Income directly from the 1040/1040A/1040EZ federal tax return, not from the W-2.
• Parents using the W-2 form to report taxes paid. Parents often use the taxes withheld on their W-2 forms instead of their actual tax liability. They should list the actual taxes paid shown on their 1040/1040A/1040EZ federal tax return.
• Not reporting all required sources of untaxed income. Be sure to include child support, tax-exempt interest income, etc.
• Divorced parents, including their ex-spouses’ income. The custodial parent should list his/her income and that of a current spouse if applicable.
• If you are a male applicant, please make sure that you register for Selective Services.
• Make sure social security numbers are accurate.
• Not following instructions.
• If you notice that you made an error after you submitted your FAFSA, you may go back and correct it. Of course, you may call us at 508-941-7052 to assist as well.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to receive financial aid from BHSON, a student must meet the following standards:

• Be enrolled as a student at BHSON.
• Be enrolled at least half-time (12 clock hours) for Federal Title IV programs. Exception: Federal Pell Grant recipients may be enrolled less than half-time (90 clock hours) per term.
• Be enrolled full-time (24 clock hours) for MASS Grant monies.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (legal resident).
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by BHSON.
• Must not be in default on any federal student loan nor owe any refund on any grant received while attending any institution of post-secondary education.
• Demonstrate financial need (for need-based aid) as evidenced by the results of a valid Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA).
• Sign statements of educational purpose, selective service status, anti-drug use/abuse, and certification of rights and responsibilities for participation in financial aid programs.
• Provide all requested documentation to the Financial Aid Director to verify the determined need, such as a federal tax form and the verification worksheet.