Office of Student Financial Aid

Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions

Applying for Financial Aid

SHOULD I USE THE IRS DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL WHEN FILLING OUT THE FAFSA?

It’s not a requirement and not every tax filer is eligible. But we strongly recommend that you use it. If you do, you won’t need to locate your tax return and enter in all those numbers yourself. And it may reduce the chance the Office of Student Financial Aid will need additional documentation.

WHAT IF I FILED MY FAFSA UNDER THE WRONG SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER?

File a new FAFSA with the correct legal data, including name, birthday and Social Security number.

WHAT IF I FILLED OUT THE FAFSA INCORRECTLY. HOW DO I FIX IT?

Contact Rocket Solution Central. Staff can help you correct your FAFSA.

I NEED HELP COMPLETING MY FAFSA. WHERE CAN I GET HELP?

Rocket Solution Central staff can help you.

I SUBMITTED MY FAFSA, BUT HAVEN’T HEARD FROM YOUR OFFICE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If you’re a new, incoming student, don’t worry. We’ll begin processing your FAFSA after you’ve been fully admitted to your program.

Confirm that you sent the FAFSA to the correct school with our School Code: 003131.

Academic year financial aid offers typically begin going out in early March and continue throughout the year.

THERE IS NO PLACE TO INDICATE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH AS LOSS OF INCOME, ON THE FAFSA. CAN I REQUEST A REEVALUATION?

Yes. Complete the Special Circumstances Application to request a review of your financial aid eligibility if:

  • The information you reported on your FAFSA does not reflect your current financial situation
  • If the information on your FAFSA doesn’t reflect an unusual circumstance that significantly changed your family’s income

HOW DO I GET FINANCIAL AID FOR SUMMER SEMESTERS?

Most financial aid can be used for summer semesters, but you need to submit a summer aid application. Learn more about summer aid eligibility.

I HAVE ACCEPTED ALL OF MY STUDENT LOANS, BUT AM STILL FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO PAY MY BILL. WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Our staff at Rocket Solution Central can review your account and let you know what financial aid options may be available to you.

Learn More about Scholarships

CAN I USE MY UTOLEDO SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE SUMMER AND/OR TO STUDY ABROAD?

If you attend full time during the summer, you can request to use your UToledo merit scholarship during summer semester by completing the Summer Aid Application. Learn more about summer aid eligibility and how to apply.

Contact Rocket Solution Central to discuss whether your scholarships are able to be used for study abroad.

CAN MY SCHOLARSHIPS BE USED TO PAY FOR HOUSING AT HONORS ACADEMIC VILLAGE?

These types of scholarships may be used for Honors Academic Village:

  • University scholarships
  • Donor scholarships
  • Refundable outside, non-UToledo scholarships

Nonrefundable outside, non-UToledo scholarships are subject to the terms and conditions in their award letters.

I’M THE DEPENDENT OF A UTOLEDO EMPLOYEE. CAN I RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS IN ADDITION TO THE TUITION WAIVER?

Yes, you can!

Most UToledo scholarships are nonrefundable but can be applied to charges on your student account that are not covered by the waiver, including:

  • Miscellaneous instructional fees
  • Health insurance
  • Meal plans
  • University housing charges

Any unspent, nonrefundable aid is removed from your account after the add/drop period for that term.

If the scholarship is refundable, the funds are first applied to any unpaid balance. A refund is issued to you if there is excess aid after the balance is paid. You can receive the refund through direct deposit, transfer of funds to your Rocket card or by a mailed check. To set up direct deposit or a transfer of funds to your Rocket card:
Go to myUT → Student Tab → My Account → Direct Deposit Authorization or Transfer Excess Financial Aid to Rocket Card

Additional Information is Being Requested

HOW WILL I KNOW IF YOU NEED ME TO SEND MORE DOCUMENTS?

The Office of Student Financial Aid will notify you first by letter, and then by Rocket email if any documents are required before we are able to process your FAFSA.

You also can check if additional documentation is required in myUT:
Go to myUT → Student Tab → My Financial Aid → My Financial Aid Dashboard

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING VERIFICATION DOCUMENTS?

We encourage you to submit them within 30 days of notification.

SHOULD I SEND IN DOCUMENTATION, EVEN IF YOUR OFFICE HASN’T REQUESTED IT?

No! Do not submit any documents to our office that are not specifically requested. Submitting unsolicited documents could delay your financial aid offer.

Understanding My Financial Aid

DO I HAVE TO ACCEPT ALL THE AID THAT’S OFFERED TO ME?

Scholarships are automatically accepted for you. They’re a no-brainer.

When it comes to loans and work-study, you do have a choice.

  • You can choose to accept or decline work-study.
  • You can choose to accept or decline all of your loans. Or you can accept a portion of the loans offered to you, reducing the amount you borrow.

You accept your loans and work-study in myUT:
Go to myUT → Student Tab → My Financial Aid → My Financial Aid Dashboard → Award Offer

Gift aid such as grants and scholarships are automatically accepted for you. Loans and Federal Work Study funds can be accepted through your myUT portal. You do not need to accept the entire amount.

Will dropping or withdrawing from classes affect my eligibility for aid?

It could. You need to be aware of all the terms and conditions for the aid you receive. All federal aid has attendance, participation and enrollment requirements. If you don’t fulfill the requirements, your aid might be reduced. Or we may be required to return a portion of the funds originally credited to your account to the federal government and collect the amount of the returned funds from you.

Learn more about how enrollment decisions can affect your aid.

I’LL PROBABLY HAVE TO TAKE OUT STUDENT LOANS TO HELP PAY FOR COLLEGE. HOW MUCH SHOULD I BORROW SO THAT I KNOW I CAN AFFORD TO PAY IT BACK?

If you need to take out student loans, you should borrow only what your future income will allow you to repay. As an estimate, try not to accumulate more student-loan debt than you expect to earn as a starting annual salary after you graduate.

There are plenty of tools available to help you budget and manage your debt.

I DIDN’T RECEIVE A FEDERAL WORK-STUDY OFFER IN MY ORIGINAL AID PACKAGE. IS IT STILL POSSIBLE FOR ME TO GET A WORK-STUDY JOB?

Yes, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. Contact Rocket Solution Central. They can review your eligibility and work with the Office of Student Financial Aid to add work-study to your aid offer or put you one a wait list as work-study funds become available throughout the year. Funds are limited, so contact RSC as soon as possible.

WHY ISN’T MY NATIONAL GUARD SCHOLARSHIP COVERING ALL OF MY TUITION AND GENERAL FEES?

Ohio National Guard typically covers 100% of tuition and general fees. If the National Guard scholarship office has indicated you are eligible to file for Federal Tuition Assistance, you are required to use that benefit before your National Guard scholarships.

Your National Guard scholarships may be reduced until it is determined that you:

  • Have used all of your Federal Tuition Assistance eligibility for the calendar year
  • You are not really eligible for Federal Tuition Assistance or
  • You file for Chapter 1606 benefits. If you file for Chapter 1606 benefits, contact our Military Service Center (Rocket Hall Room 1350; 419.530.1392). Staff will notify the financial aid office to verify that you have filed and are eligible for the full Ohio National Guard scholarship.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE TEACH GRANT?

There is no application for TEACH. But you must file a FAFSA. The financial aid office identifies eligible students and sends an email to your Rocket email address. The first awardees are notified in late July.

Learn more about eligibility for TEACH grants.

WHEN WILL MY OHIO WAR ORPHANS SCHOLARSHIP BE ADDED TO MY ACCOUNT?

The Ohio War Orphans Committee meets annually at the end of July to determine scholarship amounts. If you are attending full-time during summer semester, your award will not be put into your account until the amount is determined and communicated to us.

I HAVE A DC TAG AWARD, BUT IT IS NOT ON MY ACCOUNT YET. IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO DO?

You are required to turn in your award letter before DC TAG will be applied to your account. You will receive the DC TAG award letter via email through the DCOneAPP system. Print a copy of the award letter and return to:

The University of Toledo
Mail Stop 314
2801 W. Bancroft St.
Toledo, OH 43606-3390

WHEN WILL MY CHOOSE OHIO FIRST SCHOLARSHIP BE APPLIED TO MY ACCOUNT?

There are two Choose Ohio First scholarships awarded through The University of Toledo. Names of scholarship recipients are sent to the Office of Student Financial Aid by the departments that award the scholarships. Contact the department that processed your award if you have questions. If the department sent recipients’ names to the financial aid office, allow 5 to 7 days for processing.

WHAT IS SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT MY FEDERAL STUDENT AID?

You must meet minimum academic standards ― or show what the Financial Aid office calls Satisfactory Academic Progress ― to qualify for and keep federal and state aid. (Your scholarships have their own terms and conditions, which also may include academic requirements.)

Your academic progress will be reviewed annually after grades are posted at the end of the spring semester. You must meet all three of these requirements:

  1. Stay on pace to graduate.
  2. Maintain a minimum required grade point average.
  3. Finish your degree in a required timeframe.

Learn more about Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

IF MY FINANCIAL AID IS SUSPENDED DUE TO UNSATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS, HOW CAN I GET IT BACK?

If extenuating circumstances prevent you from maintaining satisfactory academic progress, in most cases you can appeal for reinstatement of federal financial aid on a term-by-term basis.

Contact RSC to learn more about what you need to do to appeal the loss of your aid.

How Will I Receive My Aid?

When will my aid appear and/or pay on my account?

Financial aid funds are disbursed — or paid — to your UToledo account in the first week of each semester as long as you have:

  • Responded to all requests for information from the Office of Student Financial Aid. Check your requirements in myUT:
    Go to myUT → Student Tab → My Financial Aid → My Financial Aid Dashboard
  • Accepted your aid in myUT:
    Go to myUT → Student Tab → My Financial Aid → My Financial Aid Dashboard → Award Offer
  • Completed entrance counseling and signed the promissory note for accepted loans, if required.
  • Enrolled (and will attend) at least half-time for loan disbursement and full-time for full grant disbursement.
  • Reviewed your eligibility status to make sure that you have made Satisfactory Academic Progress:
    Go to myUT → Student Tab → My Financial Aid → My Financial Aid Dashboard

Any term that offers courses with staggered start dates (e.g., summer) may cause disbursement to be held until the start of the course that brings you to an eligible number of credit hours to receive your loan or grant.

Have Questions?

Ask Rocket Solution Central.

Rocket Solution Central — or RSC — is your one-stop answer shop for financial aid questions.

Call 419.530.8700
Monday - Wednesday and Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Thursday 10 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Visit 1200 Rocket Hall
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

No need to wait in line. Register through Rocket Q ahead of time or when you arrive. You'll receive wait-time updates and be notified when it's your turn.

Register by texting "University of Toledo" to 419.419.3430 or by entering your information online.

Financial Wellness

We could all use some help managing our money ― whether you’re a high school student, undergraduate or upperclassman ready to graduate.

UToledo's financial wellness team offers workshops, presentations and tools to help you improve your money management skills. You can even schedule an appointment with our counselor to discuss your personal financial plan.

  • How to pay for college
  • Managing student loans
  • Making a budget
  • And more
Financial Wellness Services
Last Updated: 10/9/23