Terms and Conditions

1. The University at Buffalo participates in Federal, State and Institutional financial aid programs. Financial aid, both need-based and non-need-based, offered include: Federal Pell Grant; Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant; Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant; Federal Direct Loans; Federal Direct PLUS Loans; Federal Work-Study, Health Profession Loans; Nursing Loans; NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Grant; NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Grant; NYS Scholarships; State University Supplemental Tuition Award (SUSTA) Grant; Educational Opportunity Program (EOP); Economically Disadvantaged First Professional Study (EDPS) Program; Institutional Scholarships; and SUNY Tuition Credit.
2. To be considered for federal and campus-based financial aid, students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1st each year. Residents of New York State who wish to apply for NYS financial aid must complete a FAFSA, a NYS TAP Grant application, and any award specific supplemental documents that are required by the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Admissions applications received by the published deadline will automatically be reviewed for merit scholarships. Students seeking awards through UB Academic departments or through other organizations that fund awards through the University must contact the source to determine application requirements.
3. The University at Buffalo offers courses during a non-standard summer “header” term. To use a portion of financial aid eligibility during the summer term, a Summer Aid Application must be submitted by the published summer deadline. Annual award limits are not extended to accommodate enrollment in additional terms. Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Cost of Attendance (COA) will be adjusted to actual enrollment as required by the federal government.
4. The University at Buffalo offers a three-week winter session which is combined with the standard spring term to determine eligibility for federal financial aid awards. Enrollment in winter courses is not considered in the determination of spring eligibility for NY State awards.
5. Initial financial aid eligibility will be determined by meeting all general federal and/or state eligibility requirements. UB’s Financial Aid Packaging Notification will reflect the aid the student may be eligible for based upon the results of the general eligibility review. Students must meet all aid-specific eligibility requirements at the beginning of each term to maintain eligibility for each award.
6. Students seeking federal financial aid must meet all conditions of the University’s Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. A SAP review will be conducted for each student at the University after each term, excluding winter. Students who fail to meet one or more of the SAP standards will receive one warning period, during which financial aid eligibility will be granted. Eligibility will be lost if the student fails to meet standards at the end of the warning period. A student may reestablish eligibility by taking necessary academic actions to meet all SAP standards, or by successfully appealing the SAP decision.
7. Student and parent borrowers of Federal Direct Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Health Profession Loans and/or Nursing Loans must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN), and, with the exception of Perkins Loans, Entrance Counseling to obtain the loan funds. The MPN provides the terms and conditions for the loan, along with borrower rights and responsibilities. The MPN and Entrance Counseling for all Federal Direct Loans are available to students electronically at Studentaid.gov or at slsc.albany.edu for Federal Perkins Loan borrowers. Borrowers are required to complete Exit Counseling when the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours). Exit Counseling is available electronically at StudentAid.gov or slsc.albany.edu. Paper versions of the MPN, Entrance and Exit Counseling are available at the Financial Aid Office upon request.
8. The University at Buffalo is required to complete a verification process each year. In the event that information provided on the FAFSA has been found to be inaccurate, the Financial Aid Office will correct the FAFSA. Federal financial aid will not be disbursed to the student’s account until the verification process has been completed. Verification documents must be received by the published deadlines.
9. Students are considered for financial aid based upon their individual eligibility. More desirable awards, such as grants and scholarships, will be considered before less desirable awards such as loans. Campus-based aid will be awarded to students meeting the criteria identified by the University while funds are available.
10. The University at Buffalo adheres to the awarding regulations dictated by the funding source. Eligible students’ EFC, COA, enrollment level, academic program, and other financial assistance received will be considered prior to awarding financial aid funds. Campus-based aid award amounts are determined by financial need, FAFSA received date, the amount of other aid received, and the availability of campus based funds.
11. The Federal Work-Study program is an employment program in which students must obtain qualified Work-Study employment to earn the funds awarded. Students interested in Work-Study must request to be considered on their FAFSA, and submit their FAFSA prior to March 1st during the academic year they wish the funds to be applied. Students are responsible for finding employment and completing all documentation requirements by the deadlines published on their Work-Study Appointment form. Federal Work-Study funds are wages paid to the student via bi-weekly paycheck and will not be applied to their University student account. Failure to find employment and/or submit all new hire paperwork to UB Human Resources by the published deadline will forfeit the award for the academic year.
12. Students participating in a SUNY Study Abroad program must submit official transcripts by the published deadline. Students who do not submit transcripts by the deadline will be treated as an unofficial withdrawal which may result in the loss of financial aid funds for that term.
13. Federal, state and institutional financial aid funds, with the exception of Federal Work-Study, will be disbursed directly to students’ University at Buffalo student accounts beginning on the published date for each term. In the event that a student’s financial aid exceeds the charges on the student’s account, a refund will be issued by Student Accounts.
14. Financial aid recipients who drop, resign, withdraw or discontinue courses within a term will be subject to the Federal Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculation process. The student will be financially responsible to repay any Title IV financial aid funds received in excess of the maximum eligibility calculated.

Information is subject to change without notice due to changes in federal, state and/or institutional rules and regulations. Students must complete a FAFSA every year. Students must be making satisfactory academic progress to continue to receive financial aid.