Receiving Your Aid
Students at Parkside receive more than $31 million in financial aid annually. Here are your next steps to receiving your aid.
ACCEPT OR DECLINE YOUR AID
You’ll receive notification from the Financial Aid Office when your financial aid award is ready for your review. All new students will receive a paper award letter by postal mail along with an emailed copy to your Ranger mail. All returning students receive a copy by RangerMail; paper copies can be requested if needed for insurance purposes.
Once you know your award is ready, you’ll want to navigate to SOLAR. Go to the Finances area, Click Accept/Decline Awards and select the Aid Year.
Awards are generally for the entire year and will be split equally between fall and spring semesters. If you want to reduce a loan or work study award, click “Accept” and enter the amount needed in the box (whole numbers only).
After accepting and/or declining the various aid options offered, click SUBMIT and then YES and OK. If you want to accept an award for one semester only, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
COMPLETE YOUR DIRECT LOAN REQUIREMENTS
All Federal Direct Loan require additional loan documentation. Students or parents who plan to borrow loans must complete loan requirements by logging on to StudentLoans.gov. An FSA ID is required to log in to the site.
First time borrowers MUST complete the following steps. After borrowing, these items remain valid for 10 years and do not need to be completed again.
Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling
This interactive counseling session provides useful tips and tools to help you develop a budget for managing your educational expenses and helps you to understand your Direct Loan responsibilities. The session will take 25-35 minutes to complete.
Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note
This loan document must be submitted in order to receive your loans. Once a disbursement is made, the Master Promissory Note is valid for 10 years.
The parent must log on to studentloans.gov, NOT THE STUDENT.
Select Request a Direct PLUS Loan followed by Parent PLUS. In this step, your parent can select the amount they wish to borrow, and a credit check will be performed. Results of the credit check will be shown immediately.
If your parent is approved, complete a Parent PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note to finish the process.
NOTE: If your parent is denied for the PLUS loan, there are additional options. You may be offered an additional unsubsidized loan, or if your parent wishes to be the borrower, they can either obtain an endorser or appeal the credit decision.
PAYING YOUR BILL
Disbursement
The Financial Aid Office runs a process called disbursement in order to release federal and state financial aid to students’ accounts. Disbursement occurs on the 2nd day of class each semester (fall and spring). You can monitor your aid disbursements on SOLAR under “Account Summary”.
Please Note that not all aid may disburse at the same time, and could be delayed depending on timing of your FAFSA, awarding, and completion of loan requirements. Completing all paperwork, including the FAFSA, as early as possible is the best way to ensure that your bill is paid in a timely fashion.
If your aid is not enough to pay your full balance, multiple payment options are available including payment plans, or you can explore other loan options.
Refunding
If your financial aid exceeds the balance due on your account, a refund will be generated by the close of business on the 12th day of class. You should make sure that you have selected a refund choice to ensure your refund is issued in your preferred method.
Private Scholarship, Loan, and Other Outside Aid Disbursements
Many times, funds from private scholarships and/or loans will come straight to the University. If you are expecting private scholarships or other outside aid (private loans, tribal assistance, etc.), you’ll want to make sure that the University receives the money. You can view any aid posted to your account in SOLAR under Account Activity. Please contact the awarding organization if your funds have not arrived or have not been disbursed to your account.
Financial Aid
Office: 262-595-2574
Fax: 262-595-2216
finaid@uwp.edu
The Commons
Wyllie Hall D1
900 Wood Road
Kenosha, WI 53144