February 2, 2021     Uncategorized    

How can I pay for my degree?

  • The first and most important step is to complete an application for federal student aid (FAFSA). This needs to be completed each Spring for the next academic year. Trinity will offer resources to support you in completing this application for the first time during Start Strong events and there are resources provided by the US Department of Education.
  • Once you have completed your FAFSA, Trinity determines what federal grants and loans you are eligible for. This is based on the information you provided on your FAFSA and where you are in your educational journey. It’s important that you respond to requests from Enrollment Services who may need more information to process your aid package.
  • Trinity will send you notification of your financial aid package which explains how much aid you have available to you and breaks it down by source (scholarships/grants/subsidized loan/unsubsidized loan). You will then have to “accept” this financial aid offer in self-service.
    • Note: a subsidized loan means that you do not pay any interest on the loan until after you graduate. Eligibility for subsidized vs. unsubsidized loans depends on the income you report on your FAFSA.
    • Note: Federal loans will require completion of Master Promissory Note and Loan Counseling online. This will take at least 30-45 minutes; many students need help with these.
  • Once you have accepted your financial aid offer, Trinity will process this and then deduct the total aid from your cost of attendance (i.e. your tuition and if applicable on-campus living costs).
  • If there is money left over after Trinity subtracts your aid from your balance, then you will receive book vouchers and a refund check. Your refund money should be used for school related expenses like technology, transportation, and supplies.
  • If your financial aid does not cover your balance, then you will need to make arrangements to pay the remaining balance. There are a number of options for this including private loans, parent plus loan, and monthly payment plans.
  • You can also apply for private scholarships. Some common sources to check includes churches and civic groups, such as high school alumni clubs, professional organizations, and fraternal groups. Use can also use FREE online search engines such as Fast Web, FinAid, or Student Aid.
  • Your most recent balance is always available in self-service and is like a bank statement with tuition costs and aid all itemized so you can easily see them. You should be sure to check this regularly and set up a payment plan in self-service.
  • It is important that you are aware of and make arrangement to pay for your financial obligation to Trinity. If your balance becomes too large you may not be able to register for more classes until you make arrangements to reduce it. In addition, you cannot graduate with your degree until your balance is completely paid.
  • Federal aid does also have limits on how much you can receive and so it is also important that you make reasonable academic progress to make sure you don’t run out of available aid before you finish your degree. Some important things to keep in mind:
    • Once you are registered for a class you have a financial obligation and so it’s important that you follow the policies to add/drop on time
    • Withdrawing from a class is not the same as dropping it – while withdrawing will protect your GPA you will not be refunded the tuition and it will remain on your balance
    • Making “satisfactory academic progress” is a requirement for continued renewal of your financial aid and so it’s important that you pass your classes and keep progressing.