The Student Records and Financial Services Office recommends that students file for financial aid as soon as the FAFSA becomes available for the academic year they plan to enroll even if they have not yet been accepted by the school. The following calendar can be used to guide students through key steps of the financial aid process for the 2025-2026 academic year.
October
Create your Federal Student Aid account (FSA) ID. For dependent student, both the student and at least one parent each need to create an account to electronically sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. Keep your account information in a secure place.
Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to receive an early estimate of your Student Aid Index (SAI) and eligibility for Federal Student Aid. NYS residents can review information on the TAP Grant and use the TAP Award Estimator to determine Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility.
November
Review information on the FAFSA Simplification Act. This is a significant overhaul This is a significant overhaul to Federal Student Aid starting with the 2024-25 award year. This includes changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form aimed at making it easier for students and their families to apply for financial aid.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. The FAFSA form was officially released on November 21, 2024, for the 2025-2026 academic year. Alfred State's FAFSA code is 002854.
Approximately five business days after submitting the FAFSA, student who provided an email address will receive an email from the U.S. Department of Education with a link to their Student Aid Report (SAR) on the web. Review of all your answers and make sure your SAR has the correct information.
December
NYS residents can apply for the TAP Grant when the application opens on December 1st. A link to apply is provided on the FAFSA Confirmation Page once the FAFSA has been correctly submitted. You can also access the TAP Application directly. Alfred State's TAP school codes are 3005 for certificate and associate degree programs and 6005 for bachelor's degree programs. Students can check the status of their TAP application or award using My HESC Account Access. Non-citizens can apply for NYS financial aid programs through the Dream Act.
January
FAFSA review is underway!
February
Newly accepted students with a valid FAFSA on file will receive a Financial Aid Plan in the mail. Continuing/returning students will receive a postcard indicating their Financial Aid Plan is available on my.Alfredstate.edu/finances. Email notifications are also sent.
March
Apply for additional New York State scholarships and sign up for Excelsior Scholarship updates to receive an alert when the application becomes available.
Start looking for outside scholarship opportunities by working with your high school counseling office, organizations within your community, and on the web.
April
Follow the steps to process your financial aid.
Students selected for Federal Verification will be asked to provide copies of parent/student income tax returns and/or related income information to the Student Records and Financial Services Office. Respond promptly to any requests for information.
May
The Enrollment Deposit is due May 1. The deposit secures a place in the major and any scholarships a student has been awarded.
NYS residents should watch for updates on the Excelsior Scholarship and complete the application when it becomes available.
June
In some instances, an initial offer of financial aid may change due to Federal verification, changes in enrollment or housing status, or receipt of additional college or outside funding and scholarships. You will be notified of any changes to your financial aid plan via your campus email account.
Let the Student Records and Financial Services Office know about any outside scholarships, grants, or other student aid that you'll receive from private sources.
If after filing your FAFSA your family experiences a change in income or other hardship situation due to illness, loss of employment, etc., contact the Student Records and Financial Services Office. In many cases adjustments can be made to a student's financial aid plan through an Professional Judgement Request
July
Watch for your fall semester billing notice in your Alfred State email account. Contact the Student Records and Financial Services Office if you have questions regarding your bill or how to process your bill online.
If financial aid is not shown as credit on your billing statement, you may not have completed all your financial aid requirements or applications. Look up any missing processing requirements and check the status of your aid on my.Alfredstate.edu/finances.
If you have not already done so, complete your Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN). You will find Alfred State in the school listing as "Alfred State College".
If offered Federal College Work-Study as part of your financial aid plan, you will need to apply for any available jobs posted on JobLink through our Career Development Office.
August
Your fall semester bill is due. Be aware of the due date to avoid late fees and dropped classes. Contact the Student Records and Financial Services Office if you have questions regarding your bill or how to process your bill online.
Classes start. Remember your grades can affect your eligibility for federal and state financial aid.
September
To avoid any delays in the processing of your financial aid, make sure you have responded to all requests for information from the Student Records and Financial Services Office. You can check the status of your financial aid anytime at my.Alfredstate.edu/finances. If you have questions, make an appointment to see your financial aid counselor.
The Student Records and Financial Services Office will issue refunds to eligible students once the bill has been satisfied.
October
The Student Records and Financial Services Office will continue issuing refunds as aid arrives on campus.
November
Spring semester bills are available and a notification is sent to your Alfred State email account. Be aware of the due date to avoid late fees and dropped classes.