financial aid
Frequently asked questions
Brown Hall, Suite 206
105 West O Street
Russellville, AR 72801
(479) 968-0399
fa.help@atu.edu
Our Title IV school code is 001089. If you want your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) sent to us, put this number on the FAFSA.
The application date and maximum student grant amount for each round of HEERF is listed below.
Round 1 of funding:
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) 2020 - This application was open from May 13, 2020- June 30, 2020. The student maximum
amount of emergency assistance provided by this grant was:
- $750 for undergraduate students who were eligible for the Pell Grant.
- $350 for undergraduate or graduate students who were eligible for federal aid, but not the Pell Grant.
Round 2 of funding:
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) 2021- This application was open from February 25, 2021 – May 7, 2021. The student maximum
amount of emergency assistance provided by this grant was:
- $1,000 for undergraduate students with an exceptional need, such as full Pell eligibility or extraordinary financial circumstances.
- $500 for undergraduate students eligible for some Pell Grant funds, but not the entire award.
- $250 for undergraduate or graduate students who have need but are not eligible for Pell Grants.
Another application for this round was open from July 1, 2021 – July 6, 2021. The maximum amount of emergency assistance that was provided by this grant was as follows:
- $1,500 for undergraduate students with an exceptional need, such as full Pell eligibility or extraordinary financial circumstances.
- $1,000 for undergraduate students eligible for some Pell Grant funds, but not the entire award.
- $500 for undergraduate or graduate students who have need but are not eligible for Pell Grants.
Round 3 of funding:
American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) 2021 – This application was open from August 13, 2021 – November 15, 2021. The maximum
amount of emergency assistance that was provided by this grant was:
- $2,500 for undergraduate students with an exceptional need, such as full Pell eligibility or extraordinary financial circumstances.
- $1,500 for undergraduate students eligible for some Pell Grant funds, but not the entire award.
- $1,000 for undergraduate or graduate students who have need but are not eligible for Pell Grants.
Round 4 of funding:
American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) 2021 – This application was open from January 4, 2022 – March 8, 2022. The maximum amount of emergency assistance that was provided by this grant was:
- $2,500 for undergraduate students with an exceptional need, such as full Pell eligibility or extraordinary financial circumstances.
- $1,500 for undergraduate students eligible for some Pell Grant funds, but not the entire award.
- $1,000 for undergraduate or graduate students who have need but are not eligible for Pell Grants.
Round 5 of funding:
Supplemental Support Under the American Rescue Plan Act (SSARP) 2021 – This application was expected to be open from January 4, 2023 – March 14, 2023, however, funds were depleted and the application was closed on February 15, 2023. The maximum amount of emergency assistance that was provided by this grant was:
- $750 for undergraduate students with an exceptional need, such as full Pell eligibility or extraordinary financial circumstances.
- $500 for undergraduate students eligible for some Pell Grant funds, but not the entire award.
- $250 for undergraduate or graduate students who have need but are not eligible for Pell Grants.
To complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), you will need:
- Your Social Security Number
- Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
- Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
- Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
- Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
- An FSA ID to sign electronically.
If you are a dependent student, then you will also need most of the above information for your parent(s).
Arkansas Tech's Federal Student Aid SAP policy is located here: Satisfactory Academic Policy
Steps for completing a Parent PLUS loan application:
**Student must have a completed FAFSA on file to be eligible for a PLUS loan.
Go to https://studentaid.gov/plus-app/ and click on Learn More on the Parent of a Student borrower type.
A parent must log in with their FSA ID to start the application.
Complete the application as requested, making note of where the application asks for student information and borrower information. The parent is the borrower for a Parent PLUS loan.
Shortly after the application is submitted, Arkansas Tech University will receive the PLUS request and send the student an updated award notification letter.
If the PLUS loan is approved and the parent is a new borrower, a PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) will also need to be completed by the parent on the PLUS MPN website. If the parent has borrowed a PLUS loan prior to this application, a new MPN is not required.
If the PLUS loan is denied, we will be notified of the denial and will offer the student additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans if eligibility remains.
The main differences between the two loans are 1) subsidized loan eligibility is based on financial need, whereas an unsubsidized loan is not, and 2) the government pays the interest for the student on subsidized loans while the student is enrolled in school at least half-time.
Repayment is deferred for BOTH loans until six months after the student graduates or stops attending school at least half-time.
All Freshman first-time borrowers have a 30 day delay (from the 1st day of class) on the initial loan disbursement.
Also, for any grade level, if the loan is for one semester you will receive half of the loan at the beginning of the semester and the remaining half at the mid-point of the semester.
Yes, there are limits established for the federal loan program.
Dependent (per the Department of Education) undergraduate students may borrow a maximum of $31,000. Only $23,000 of this may be subsidized.
Independent (per the Department of Education) undergraduate students may borrow a maximum of $57,500. Only $23,000 of this may be subsidized.
Graduate students may borrow a maximum of $138,500 (this INCLUDES loans received as an undergraduate student). All graduate level loans are unsubsidized.
Ask yourself the following questions. Have you:
- Been officially admitted to Tech?
- Registered for the correct number of hours? (15 hours for all Tech academic scholarships)
- Filled out your FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa?
- Signed up for on-campus housing, if required, OR obtained an exemption from Residence Life?
- Turned in all required documents to Financial Aid prior to the deadline?
- August 1 for Continuing Scholarships, and
- December 1 for Freshmen Scholarships
Ask yourself the following questions. Did you:
- Meet the renewal requirements for the scholarship?
- COMPLETE your FAFSA and all required paperwork prior to the deadline?
- August 1 for Continuing Scholarships, and
- December 1 for Freshmen Scholarships
- Register for the correct number of hours? (15 hours for all Tech academic scholarships)
- Move out of campus housing and not get an exemption from Residence Life?