Polytechnic University has available, for qualified students, the following financial aid programs. The students’ eligibility for these programs will depend on their economic need and the availability of funds. The amount granted to the student could be adjusted based on the student’s academic load for a trimester.

• Benacquisto Scholarship Program: This is a merit scholarship for Florida high school graduates who received recognition as a National Merit Scholar. The incentive award will be an amount equal to the institutional cost of attendance minus the sum of Bright Futures and National Merit award.
  • Program Requirements: The student must meet the eligibility requirements to receive state aid, enroll during the fall academic term following high school graduation, and be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term.
• Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program
• Federal Pell Grant: This program is need based and is available to undergraduate students who have not received their first bachelor’s degree. For the 2021-2022 academic year the maximum annual award is $6,495 for a student with an EFC = “0”. Amounts will be adjusted based on the student’s academic load.
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): Program available to Pell eligible undergraduate students with exceptional financial need (students with EFC = 0). For the 2021-2022 academic year, the maximum annual FSEOG award is $600. Trimester amounts will be adjusted based on the student’s academic load and funds availability. Priority will be given to eligible students with a completed FAFSA before due date.
  • Program Requirements: Be enrolled in at least nine credits per trimester. Minimum GPA of 2.00.
• Florida Bright Futures Scholarship: Program that establishes three lottery-funded scholarships to reward Florida high school graduates for high academic achievement.
  • Initial Eligibility Requirements: The student must be a Florida resident, and meet specific coursework and minimum grade point average (GPA) and test score requirements. Submit initial application during the last year in high school.
• Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG): Need-based grant program available to degree-seeking, resident, undergraduate students who demonstrate substantial financial need and are enrolled in participating postsecondary institutions.
  • Initial Eligibility Requirements: The student must be a Florida resident, not have previously received a baccalaureate degree, be enrolled in 12 credits or more per term, and meet Florida’s general eligibility requirements for receipt of state aid.
• Honorably Discharged Graduate Assistance Program:  This is a supplemental need-based veteran educational benefit.  Funds are to be used to assist in the payment of living expenses during holiday and semester breaks for active duty and honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces who served on or after September 11, 2001.
  • Program Requirements: The student must meet the eligibility requirements to receive state aid, be an active duty or honorably discharged member of the Armed Forces, be enrolled in a program of study, have completed an error-free FAFSA, and have sufficient unmet need.
• Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund: This program is a need-based merit scholarship that provides financial assistance to eligible students of Hispanic origin who will attend Florida public or eligible private institutions. Applicants for undergraduate study must apply during their senior year of high school. Graduate students may apply, but priority for the scholarships is given to graduating high school seniors. The number of new awards made each year is subject to contributions from private sources and funds appropriated by the Florida Legislature.
  • Initial Eligibility Requirements: The student must meet residency requirements, have earned, by the end of the seventh semester, a minimum unweighted cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in high school for an undergraduate scholarship, or a 3.0 institutional cumulative GPA for undergraduate college work if applying for a graduate level scholarship, and enroll each academic term for a minimum of 12 credit hours for undergraduate study or 9 credit hours for graduate study per term.
• Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans and Service members (CSDDV): This program provides scholarships for dependent children or unremarried spouses of Florida veterans or service members who died as a result of service-connected injuries, diseases, or disabilities sustained while on active duty or who have been certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs as having service-connected 100% permanent and total disabilities. CSDDV also provides funds for dependent children whose parent is classified as a prisoner of war or missing in action by the Armed Forces of the United States or as civilian personnel captured while serving with the consent or authorization of the United States Government during wartime service.
  • Initial Eligibility Requirements: Contact the Financial Aid officer for requirements for the veteran or service member and for the child or spouse.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for student aid programs, you must meet the following basic eligibility requirements:

• Demonstrate to have financial need, except for unsubsidized and PLUS loans
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security number
• Enroll in an eligible degree seeking program as a regular student
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent
• If male between ages of 18 and 25, must register with the Selective Service
• Meet satisfactory academic progress requirements
• Certify that you will use any federal student aid for educational purposes only
• Have not defaulted your student loans or do not owe a refund on a federal or state student grant

**Some Federal and State student aid programs have additional eligibility requirements. If you have been convicted for the sale or possession of illegal drugs while you were receiving federal student aid, your eligibility may be affected. (See notification included in this guide, page 21) To find out your status, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center 1-800-433-3243 or go to www.fafsa.gov.

Student Aid Application Guide (pdf file)

Create or retrieve your FSA ID
https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm

How to create your FSA ID (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLi0q7hkFns

Complete your FAFSA
https://fafsa.ed.gov/

Federal Student Aid Gateway
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/redirects/federal-student-aid-ed-gov

Florida State Scholarship and Grant Programs
http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/home/uamain.htm

How to fill out the FAFSA? (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK0bbu0y5AM

After the FAFSA: What happens next? (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c1gNefSw78

Career One Stop Scholarship Finder    
https://www.careeronestop.org/

Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando
http://www.hhsfmo.org/#home

Hispanic Scholarship Fund
https://hsf.net/

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
http://www.hacu.net/hacu/default.asp

Information on scholarship scams
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/scams

Scholarships Database
http://www.educationplanner.org/

Subsidized Direct Loan: Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education will pay the loan interests while you are in school at least half-time (6 credits undergraduate or 3 credits graduate), during the grace period, and during deferment periods. The loan amount is determined taking into consideration the student’s economic need, expected family contribution and academic level.

Unsubsidized Direct Loan: Under this program, the student is responsible to pay all loan interest which will accrue from the first disbursement. The loan amount is determined taking into consideration the student’s economic need and academic level.

Direct PLUS Loan: This program is available to eligible graduate students and the parents of undergraduate dependent students. The borrower’s eligibility for a PLUS loan will be based on the borrower’s credit history. The Plus loan amount should not exceed the student’s economic need.

Read more…

Federal Student Loans Basics for Students (pdf booklet)

Federal PLUS Loan Basics for Parents (pdf booklet)

Create or retrieve your FSA ID
https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm

Get information on your student loan outstanding balance
www.studentaid.gov

Tools to help you get additional funding for college
http://www.educationplanner.org/

Tools to help you with your student loan debt
http://www.youcandealwithit.com/

Complete your Student Loan Application
https://www.pupr.edu/orlando/services/financial-aid-services/loan-application-form/

Student Loan Application Guide (Pdf File)

Before completing your Student Loan Application, you must:

• Have processed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year you are applying for.
• If your FAFSA was selected for the Verification Process, you must have submitted all required documentation to the Financial Aid Office.
• Be enrolled at least part-time during all trimesters you will receive a federal student loan disbursement (6 credits for undergraduate students or 3 credits for graduate students).
• Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards of Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
• Be admitted as a regular student
• Have not defaulted previous student loans or do not owe a refund on a federal student grant
• Have financial need
• If applying for a new loan, complete a Master Promissory Note and an Entrance Counseling at www.studentaid.gov.

Every student should comply with all eligibility requirements in each trimester to be eligible to receive student loan funds. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements when the Institution receives your loan funds, those funds will be returned to the federal government.

Annual Loan Limits for Student’s Grade Level

Interest Rates for Stafford and PLUS Loans under Direct Loan Program
Rates effective July 1, 2018

Origination Fees: An origination fee will be deducted proportionately from each loan disbursement to cover processing costs incurred by the Federal Government.

Important information for students applying for federal student loans:

1. You will need approximately 30 to 60 minutes to complete your loan application.
2. Make sure you complete the following documents:
   1. Student Loan application
   2. Entrance Counseling
   3. Master Promissory Note (MPN)

Information you must gather before starting the application process:

1. Your Federal Student Aid ID. You can create or retrieve your FSAID Username and password at https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm.

2. Personal Information
   1. Home Address
   2. Mailing Address (if different from your home address)
   3. Phone number
   4. E-mail address
3. Employer information
   1. Employer name
   2. Employer address
4. College Name: Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico / Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
5. Information of References of two people that you know for the past 3 years. The first reference should be of your father/mother or of the legal tutor.
   1. Reference Name
   2. Complete Address
   3. Phone number
   4. Relationship with student

To apply, please go to the Financial Aid tab in MyPoly.

Important information for parents applying for a Parent PLUS loans:

1. You will need approximately 30 to 60 minutes to complete your loan application.
2. Make sure you complete the following documents:
   1. Parent PLUS Loan application
   2. Master Promissory Note (MPN)

Information you must gather before starting the application process:

1. Your Federal Student Aid ID. You can create or retrieve your FSAID Username and password at https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm.
2. Parent’s Information
   1. Home Address
   2. Mailing Address (if different from your home address)
   3. Phone number
   4. E-mail address
3. Employer information
   1. Employer name
   2. Employer address
4. School Name: Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico / Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
5. Information of References of two people that you know for the past 3 years. The student cannot be included as a reference.
   1. Reference name
   2. Complete address
   3. Phone number
   4. Relationship with student
6. Student’s Information
   1. Name: First, Middle Initial and Last Name
   2. Social security number
   3. Date of birth
   4. Mailing address
   5. Phone number

To apply, please go to the Financial Aid tab in MyPoly.

The Financial Aid Office at Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico will verify all Institutional Student Information Reports (ISIRs) selected by the U.S. Department of Education for the Verification Process and those with conflictive information and Comment Flags. The Verification Process will be performed as established by Federal Government in 34 CFR Part 668.16 (F). The Verification Process will cover all Federal and State Student Aid Programs.

If the student’s application is selected for the Verification Process, the Financial Aid Office will request the necessary documentation to satisfy the verification requirements. If the Verification Process uncovers errors, the Financial Aid Officer will correct the student’s application. Only those students who complete the Verification Process will be able to be considered and receive student aid disbursements.

If the student’s application is selected for the Verification Process after the student aid was disbursed, no further disbursements will be processed until the Verification Process is completed. If the student could not satisfy the Verification Process, any disbursed fund could be adjusted or cancelled.

The following chart shows the required verification items and acceptable documentation to complete the Verification Process. Documentation will be requested based on the applicant’s verification group and household situation. The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to request further documentation if considered necessary to resolve any conflictive information.

** Non-tax filers will be required to submit a Non Filing Tax Transcript to confirm a Tax Return was not filed.

It is the student’s responsibility to:

• Provide accurate information to complete the Verification Process.
• Submit all required documents before the deadline to avoid delays in the verification process and loss in opportunities for additional student aid.
• Notify the Financial Aid Office of any changes in the household such as loss of income, household size, and college enrollment status for other household members.
• Return any student aid overpayment received because of incomplete or incomplete information submitted in the FAFSA.