Villa Maria College Financial Aid

Financial Aid?
Financial aid is money in the form of loan, grants and employment that is available to help pay the cost of attending Villa Maria College. Financial aid comes from the federal government, which is the largest provider of aid, as well as state governments, schools and a variety of other public and private sources.

We don't want financial issues to keep any admitted student from attending Villa Maria College. That's why we strive to create individualized financial aid packages for you and your family that will meet your needs and enable you to get the most of your college education.

Help Along the Way

Learning to navigate the financial aid system can be a daunting task. That's why we have trained professionals on hand to assist you every step of the way. Our Admissions Staff and Financial Aid Officers are available to assist you and your family with the financial aid application process and to ensure that you understand the necessary paperwork and deadlines required in order for you to receive the best financial aid package available.

If you want to begin exploring your financial aid options and get an early start on the financial aid process, FAFSA4caster is for you! By using FAFSA4caster, you and your family will receive an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid.

Financial Aid Checklist

Federal Code for Villa Maria College: 002896
TAP Code (Associate Degree): 2158
TAP Code (Bachelor Degree): 2188

The Financial Aid office is willing to help you with the financial aid application process. Please contact us if you have any questions or need assistance with the FAFSA. Our number is (716) 961-1850.

Step 1:	Apply for a PIN (Personal Identification Number) at www.pin.ed.gov. Your PIN number acts as your signature of which you will use throughout your entire college education. Your parents can also apply for a PIN number to sign the FAFSA and the Master Promissory Note for PLUS loans. You will receive your PIN via email (if you provided an email address) within 1-3 business days or via mail within 7-10 business days if you did not provide an email address. Next, you will activate your PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.
Step 2:	Gather the following documents in order to file your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): (of the student and/or parents/spouse) -social security card -drivers license - W2 forms - Federal Income Tax Return -current bank statements -untaxed income records
Step 3:	File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Be careful that you are inputting the correct information from your tax return forms (i.e. using the correct line number). Important: print out the signature page for yourself/parent/spouse if you or they do not have a PIN. Then sign and return it to the address on the signature page.
Step 4:	When you submit your FAFSA, you will also be able to complete HESC's (Higher Education Services Corporation) TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) application online. You will find the link to the online TAP application on the FAFSA Submission Confirmation page. If you have not applied for TAP with your FAFSA, wait 3 days and go online to www.tapweb.org and complete the application. If there is an error on the TAP application, you will receive a TAP form in the mail from NY State. Please review, sign and return it in the enclosed envelope or you can go online to www.tapweb.org to make the necessary corrections. Dependents students' parents must sign the form.
Step 5:	After successfully submitting your FAFSA electronically, the Department of Education will process your application and send you a Student Aid Report (SAR). Your SAR will have your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). This is a preliminary estimate based on the information you provided on your application. The EFC is used to determine your family contribution and financial need.
Step 6:	If your FAFSA is selected for verification (they are randomly selected by the Department of Education), you will be notified by the Financial Aid Office as to what you need to do to complete the verification process.
Step 7:	After reviewing your Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), the Financial Aid office will prepare an award letter that will list all the aid available to you. This will be mailed to you. Once you receive it, please sign and comply with all other instructions ASAP.
Step 8:	If you qualify for Federal Student Loans you will have to go online to www.hesc.com with your PIN to sign your Master Promissory Notes. For further information on how to do this, please contact the Financial Aid office.