Students who have received need-based aid previously and would like to apply for renewal should follow the process outlined below. Students who did not apply for aid their first year and would like to apply in subsequent years should contact the Office of Financial Assistance at 508-793-7478.
Students must complete the application process to receive need-based financial aid. Filing your financial aid forms with the appropriate processing centers by the priority deadlines listed will ensure that you are considered for all financial aid programs.
Financial aid eligibility is based upon the previous year’s income. For example, students applying for the 2008-2009 academic year will list income information for 2007.
1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
This form is required of all students applying for need-based financial aid. The FAFSA form is available January 1. Clark University’s federal school code is 002139; be sure to include this number on the FAFSA to ensure that we receive the form.
While you may file the FAFSA by completing the paper version and mailing it to the federal processing agency, filing online at www.fafsa.ed.gov provides faster processing. When completing the FAFSA online you and your parent will each need a pin number to sign the FAFSA electronically; if you do not have your pin from last year you may visit www.pin.ed.gov and request it be emailed to you. If possible, the FAFSA form should be submitted with actual federal income tax information.
Clark’s deadline for submission of the FAFSA is April 18. However, your FAFSA may need to be filed prior to April 18 in order to qualify for some state scholarships
2. Clark Application for Financial AidThis form is required for all returning students applying for renewal of their need-based financial aid. The Office of Financial Assistance will mail a copy of the Clark Application for Financial Aid and a list of required documents to students' home addresses in December. The Clark Application for Financial Aid is also available online. The Clark Application may be mailed to the Office of Financial Assistance, 950 Main St, Worcester, MA 01610 or faxed to: 508-793-8802.
The deadline for submission for the Clark Application for Financial Aid is
April 18.
3. Student and parent federal tax return and W2 forms
In order to verify eligibility for aid, Clark University requires W2 forms and signed copies of student and parent federal tax returns (including all schedules filed with the returns) for all families applying for need-based assistance. The tax returns should be for the previous year, for example, a family applying for aid for the 2008-2009 academic year must submit the forms from 2007.
The tax return requirement will be waived for students who indicate they were not required to file a tax return on both the FAFSA and the Clark Application for Financial Aid. Students who worked but were not required to file a tax return should still submit their W2 forms. Parents who did not file tax returns should contact the Office of Financial Assistance to determine if additional documentation is required.
If your parents are divorced or separated, provide the tax return and W2 forms for your custodial parent. If your custodial parent is remarried, you must also provide tax returns and W2 forms for your stepparent, even if they filed separate returns.
The deadline for submission of tax returns is April 18.
4. Additional Forms
Depending upon a family’s financial situation and the information provided on the FAFSA and Clark Application Forms, Clark University may request additional forms or documentation. These requests will be made in writing to the student. Financial aid applications will not be considered complete and will not be reviewed for aid eligibility until all items requested have been received by the Office of Financial Assistance.
Returning students who file the FAFSA and submit required documents by the April 18 deadline will receive their award letters in mid-June. The first award letter of the year will be mailed to the student’s home address. Notification of changes to the award will be sent to the student’s Clark email address.
Students for whom additional information is requested or who complete after the deadline will be awarded in the order applications were completed and should allow approximately two weeks after completion of a file for receipt of an award letter.
All returning students will receive a Stafford Loan Processing Form with their award letters. Students need to complete and send this form back to the Office of Financial Assistance.