Cameron Students posing for a picture on Campus

Office of Financial Aid

applying for aid

Applying for financial aid at Cameron University (CU) begins with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Cameron’s Scholarship Application. The FAFSA application is used to apply for nearly all types of financial aid, including federal, state, and institutional aid. The results of the application assist our office in determining the amount and type of aid that may be awarded.  The Scholarship Application Portal is used to award institutional scholarships offered by the university.

What do I need to do?

1.  Create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID.

The student and at least one parent of a dependent undergraduate student will need an FSA ID to sign and submit the FAFSA online. Do not share your information with anyone, and make sure to save all passwords, security questions, etc., for future use. Your FSA ID is created using your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and email address or phone number.

2.  Gather your information.

The FAFSA compiles information about you and your financial situation. You will need the following information for yourself, your spouse (if you are married), and your parents (if you are a dependent student):

  • Social Security numbers for student, spouse (if married), or parents (if a dependent student)
  • Alien Registration number, if you are an eligible non-citizen
  • Federal tax information:
    • IRS Form 1040, Foreign Tax Return, or tax return for Puerto Rico or another U.S. Territory or Freely Associated State
    • IRS Form W-2
  • Records of untaxed income, such as child support received, IRA distributions, pensions or annuities, IRA deductions and payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, and qualified plans, tax-exempt interest, and foreign-earned income exclusions. 
  • Information on cash, savings, and checking account balances, investments (including stocks and bonds and real estate, but not including the home in which you live), and business and farm assets.

3.  Complete the FAFSA.

Remember: filing is free!  Information and complete instructions are provided to guide you through the process. Be sure to designate Cameron University as your institution by entering our school code, 003150.  Don't forget to sign the application before you submit!

4.  Review your FAFSA Submission Summary.

After completing the FAFSA, a FAFSA Submission Summary will be generated. You may view this information by logging into your StudentAid.gov account. If you submit the FAFSA by mail, a copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary will be mailed to you within a few weeks. This document will allow you to review and verify the information you submitted on the FAFSA. 

5.  Check your AggieAccess for status and updates.

Our office typically begins processing the FAFSA for the upcoming year by December or January. Once you submit your FAFSA, you should allow approximately 2 - 3 weeks for us to process your application.  Once we receive and process your information, we may request additional documentation to complete or verify the information you reported on the FAFSA. You can view the status of your application and any requested documentation in the 'My Info' tab of AggieAccess. 

6.  Review your award package.

Once your aid has been packaged, you can view and accept your awards in AggieAccess.  Awards for the fall and spring semesters are generally awarded based on full-time enrollment. Summer aid is based on actual enrollment. If you do not plan on enrolling full-time, please contact our office for more accurate award amounts.

What if my FAFSA does not reflect my current situation, or I am not able to use my parents' information?

Our office will review your situation to see if you have a special or unusual circumstance that can be accounted for on your FAFSA. 

What happens if I'm selected for verification?

Any student who completes a FAFSA may be chosen for verification by the Department of Education. Cameron does not select students for verification, but may request verification documents to resolve conflicting information.

Students may be required to submit documentation to verify the following:

  • household size
  • adjusted gross income, income tax paid, tax-exempt interest, education credits, income earned from work
  • untaxed pensions, untaxed IRA distributions, IRA deductions, and payments
  • tax-exempt interest income, education credits, and income earned from work
  • identity and a Statement of Educational Purpose

Documents may be faxed, mailed, emailed, or submitted in person to the Office of Financial Aid. Always keep a copy for your records. We strongly discourage emailing any document with personally identifiable information.

A Financial Aid Specialist will compare the documentation to the information on the FAFSA and make corrections as needed. Students are responsible for repaying any aid that is received in excess of their eligibility.

To avoid delays in processing your aid, submit documentation before the priority deadlines listed below. Documentation received after these dates will be reviewed, but the disbursement of aid may be delayed.

  • Fall: July 1
  • Spring: November 1
  • Summer: May 1

Please note: Loans cannot be disbursed if verification is not completed before the student ceases enrollment for the term. Students who are eligible for the Pell Grant must complete verification no later than 120 days after the last day of enrollment of the academic year.