Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the University of New Haven’s Federal School Code?

R. 001397 - The FAFSA is the first step in applying for aid.

Q. How do I apply for financial aid?

R. You first step is to provide the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the March 1st priority deadline.  Once the FAFSA is completed with our federal school code indicated on the application, it will be sent to UNH from the federal processor.  The next step is to submit a signed copies of the most recent year's Federal 1040 tax returns and w2's to the Financial Aid Office by the stated deadline for you and your parents.  Note: We may request additional documents or information in order to successfully review your file.  More detailed instructions and links are found on Applying for Financial Aid

Q. How do I apply for merit scholarship at the University of New Haven?

R. Merit-based grants such as the Distinguished Scholar Award and the Presidential Scholarship are awarded by our Admissions office at the time of acceptance and recognize a student’s scholastic achievement.  Visit the Academic Scholarship page for more more detailed information.

Q. What are the most common errors when applying for financial aid?

R. Filing your application late - Incorrect Social Security Numbers – Omitting the school code 001397 on the FAFSA - Not using your legal name from your social security card - Submitting illegible, incomplete, or unsigned documentation - Failing to include stepparent income - Not reporting social security , disability, or veterans benefits - Failing to report other untaxed income such as child support, contributions to a 401k plan or an IRA, etc. - Under reporting or failure to report parent and/or student assets, examples found on the FAFSA worksheet - Incorrect reporting of number in household/college on the FAFSA. Please be sure to check your FAFSA carefully before submitting it.

Q. What is meant by “financial need”?

R. Each student’s individual financial need is calculated based on the following formula: Cost of Attendance (COA) – Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = NEED The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated by the Federal Department of Education from the information reported on your FAFSA. The EFC formula considers income, assets, family size and number of family members in college.

Q. What if my family has extenuating or unusual circumstances?

R.  Families who experience a significant change in income, marital status, loss of job, or encounter special circumstances that are affecting their current financial situation must provide a detailed explanation of the situation along with supporting documentation to the financial aid office. In some cases the financial aid counselor will request further information in order to perform an accurate evaluation.

Q. Will UNH meet 100% of my need?

R. The financial aid office has a limited amount of resources to distribute as equitably as possible to all of our financial aid applicants. We meet a percentage of a student’s need with grants and scholarships, loans and student employment. Most families supplement their EFC and unmet need through a variety of resources such as PLUS loans, alternative loans or payment plans.  These alternative options can be found on our Student Loan Page.

Q. How much aid will I receive?

R. Use the UNH Financial Aid Calculator for a preliminary estimate of your EFC and your UNH financial aid package.

Q. What type of financial aid is available at the University of New Haven?

R. Financial aid takes many different forms and comes from a variety of sources including federal, state, institutional, and private sponsors such as: Merit-based grants, Athletic grants, Need-based aid grants, Student Employment, Loans – Federal Perkins, Federal Subsidized Stafford, Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, and Alternative Loans.  These resources are all outlined in Financial Aid Programs.

Q. When will I know how much aid I have been awarded?

R. If you have submitted your FAFSA by the March 1 deadline and have been formally accepted by Admissions, you will receive an “estimated” aid award letter. The letter will provide all the details of your “financial aid package”. A final award will be made once you have submitted the required tax documentation. Your estimated award my be subject to change if the tax documentation pertaining to income or assets indicates a significant change from the information originally reported on your FAFSA.

Q. If I receive an outside scholarship must I notify the financial aid office?

R. Yes. Anytime a student receives funds from an outside company, employer, agency, or civic group they must report it to the UNH Financial Aid Office. Any outside scholarship will first be used to satisfy unmet need and then to replace self-help (federal loans or work-study). Outside scholarships in excess of $3,000 will be substituted dollar for dollar from any university grants.  We can be notified by email at Financial Aid.

Q. Will UNH match a financial aid package from another institution?

R. Each institution has its own unique set of awarding criteria that may treat students differently, especially when it comes to awarding institutional funds. Most institutions do not get into the practice of matching another school’s financial aid award.

Q. Do I have to re-apply for financial aid every year?

R. Yes. Financial aid is not automatic and must be reapplied for each year. You can file anytime after January 1. Our priority deadline to submit the FAFSA is March 1.

Q. Am I guaranteed my financial aid each year?

R. A student’s need is determined for one year at a time and is therefore subject to change from one year to the next. Students are required to reapply with a new FAFSA and provide the latest tax documentation by the annual deadline each year. The Financial Aid Office strives to maintain the same award from year to year. However, there are certain factors that can cause significant change to a financial aid award. These include: changes in an expected family contributions (EFC), reduction of the number of family members in college/household, change in marital status, moving off campus, and making satisfactory academic progress.

Q. Who do I contact with additional questions or for more information on financial aid?

R. The Financial Aid Office is located in Maxcy Hall, Room 118B, and is open from 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday-Friday. We can also be reached at (203) 932-7315, toll-free at 1-800-DIAL-UNH, ext.7315, or by email at financialaid@newhaven.edu.