Award Structure & Costs

Disbursement of Financial Aid Awards

Student financial aid is packaged to meet individual financial need. A combination of grants, federal work-study, employment, and loans may be included. Financial aid awards are disbursed once per semester, with the exception of Federal Direct Loans that are disbursed twice per semester. All aid is disbursed based on attendance in class.

Flex Courses

A student registered in flex courses will not receive their full financial aid award until enrollment in the flex classes is confirmed and refund periods are complete.

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance is an estimated amount of what it will cost for a student to go to school. If a student is attending at least half-time, the cost of attendance is an estimate of multiple components, including:

  • Tuition and fees
  • Housing and food
  • Books and supplies
  • Transportation
  • Loan Fees
  • Miscellaneous personal expenses

These expenses are not what you will be charged, but what a student should anticipate in order to successfully navigate the academic year. Awards for most of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs are based on some form of financial need. The cost of attendance (COA) is the cornerstone of establishing a student’s financial need, as it sets a limit on the total aid that a student may receive for purposes of Direct Loan programs and is one of the basic components of the Pell Grant calculation.

Students will be asked to self-certify their housing situation. Students will be asked to indicate if they are living off-campus or off-campus with family. This can create an impact on your Cost of Attendance budget. Students who do not self-certify will be assumed to be living with family. Students should notify the Financial Aid office if their living situation changes.

Applying for Financial Aid

  1. New students must apply for admission to Belmont by going to www.belmontcollege.edu and completing the online application.
  2. New students completing the FAFSA need to obtain a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. The parent(s) of dependent students will also need to obtain a FSA ID to process the FAFSA. Go to https://studentaid.gov.
  3. Complete the FAFSA by going to https://fafsa.gov. Belmont College’s School Code is 009941. Students are strongly advised to complete the FAFSA as early as possible for the upcoming academic year not only to allow for the verification process, but also to ensure that they will receive all eligible financial assistance available.
  4. Review your FAFSA Submission Summary. Once you complete the FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will send your FAFSA Submission Summary results. Read this carefully as it contains messages and possible errors you will need to correct. If you find any errors, correct them by going to https://fafsa.gov.
  5. Submit any missing documents to the Financial Aid Office. Check your financial aid status online through your MyFAO account to see if you have missing documents such as Verification Worksheets or tax documents. For more information, see What is Verification?
  6. Once all forms are complete, the Financial Aid Office will process your Financial Aid award and mail or email you a Financial Aid Award notification showing any estimated grants or scholarships you may be eligible to receive. Students who wish to borrow Federal Direct Student Loans will be required to complete a Federal Direct Student Loan Request Form each semester even if you have had a loan in the past. This application is available in-office or on our website.
  7. If you apply for a Federal Direct Student Loan, new borrowers must complete the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note. Returning borrowers need to complete the ASLA (Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement). These can be done online at https://studentaid.gov.
  8. Make sure your bill is covered. If you receive a balance due, do not assume your financial aid will cover it. If your file is incomplete, you are not eligible for any Financial Aid awards. Check your Financial Aid status on the MyFAO or by contacting the Financial Aid Office at 740.695.8510 or financialaid@belmontcollege.edu. Payment arrangements must be made with the Business Office (740-695-9500).

What is Verification?

The U.S. Department of Education may purposely or randomly select a financial aid application for verification. This is much like an audit of the information you provided on your FAFSA. Belmont is required to verify or confirm the information reported on all of the selected applications. The College may also require verification or correction of any application that may be in question. In these cases, certain information will be requested to help determine the accuracy of the information and to determine the student’s eligibility for financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education and the Financial Aid Office will notify all aid applicants who are selected for verification. You may be asked to provide tax information, identifying information, and to complete a federally required worksheet.  Please respond promptly to the Financial Aid Office’s request for these required documents.