Financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance and the student aid index (SAI). The cost of attendance typically refers to the total amount of education expenses, such as tuition and fees, books and supplies, food and housing, personal expenses, transportation expenses, etc. The SAI is the number used to determine your eligibility for federal, state and institutional need-based aid programs. This number results from the financial information you provide in your FAFSA.

The student aid index (SAI) is a number schools use to evaluate your eligibility to receive federal, state and institutional financial aid.

Before you can get an SAI, you must complete and submit a FAFSA. Once your FAFSA has been processed, you will receive your official SAI. Student financial services uses the SAI to determine financial need, which is defined as the difference between the cost of attendance at S&T and your SAI. 

How the SAI is calculated:

• Based on a formula established by the federal government
• Takes into account factors such as family income, assets, household size and the number of family members attending college

How the SAI is used:

• Determines eligibility for federal financial aid, such as Pell Grants, federal loans and federal word-study programs
• Used by institutions and the state to determine a student's eligibility for other aid programs

The SAI is not:

• The amount of money your family will have to pay for college
• The amount of student aid you will receive

Determining dependency

Dependency for financial aid purposes is not the same as dependency for tax purposes. You are determined Dependent or Independent based on the information you provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

You must be able to answer "Yes" to at least one of the following criteria to be considered Independent:

• Will you be a graduate student working toward a master’s or doctorate degree in the coming year?
• Will you be turning 24 this calendar year?
• Are you married or separated but not divorced?
• Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
• Do you have dependents, other than children or a spouse, who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you?
• Are you an orphan or ward of the court?
• Are you a Veteran or serving as active military?
• Are you an emancipated minor or are you in a legal guardianship as determined by the court?
• Are you an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. National or eligible non-citizen
• Possess a high school diploma, its equivalent, or a high school curriculum in a home school setting that meets state requirements
• Be an undergraduate, graduate or professional student enrolled at least half-time (except for less than half-time Pell Grant) in a degree seeking program. For undergraduates in fall and spring semesters, half-time is considered 6 hours; graduate is considered 4 hours. For summer semester, half-time for undergrads is 3 hours and grads is 2 hours.
• Not be simultaneously enrolled in high school
• Make satisfactory academic progress. Read our satisfactory academic progress policy.
• No property subject to a judgment lien for a debt owed to the United States
• Not in default on a Title IV loan, or owe a Title IV grant or loan overpayment

Eligibility requirements for specific programs are as follows:

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) require that your FAFSA be filed by February 1 and that you are Pell eligible. Other eligibility considerations may apply based on funding allocations.
• Federal Work-Study requires that your FAFSA be filed by February 1; students with high need will be given first consideration. Other eligibility considerations may apply based on funding allocations.
• Missouri Access requires that your FAFSA be filed by February 1.
• Federal Pell Grant is based on income information and the SAI received from the FAFSA.

Financial aid award letters will be made to new students by mail around the end of February if their application is complete and all required documents have been received and reviewed. The aid offer letter will list and explain the aid available for the following school year, and may include tentative awards which will be so indicated. Aid offers for current students will also be available on their Joe'SS around the middle of March. They will receive an email reminder when their new aid is available to view.

Financial aid eligibility is determined in part by a student’s enrollment level. Most scholarships and some grants require you to enroll full-time. All federal (Direct) student loans require you to enroll at least half-time. To determine your enrollment level, please view the Registrar’s website regarding hours and enrollment levels. If you will not be a full-time student, please contact our office to learn how your aid may be affected.

Pell Grant awards in a given semester are based on your enrollment intensity which is calculated by dividing the number of hours enrolled by 12 (full time enrollment).  For instance, if a student is enrolled in 11 hours, they will receive roughly 92% of the maximum Pell award for that semester (11/12=91.67%).

To receive federal financial aid, you must be eligible to enroll in an academic program that leads to a degree or certificate program associated with a degree program and must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress per federal financial aid guidelines and Missouri University of Science and Technology policy.

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