Getting Started – The Financial Aid Process

This is a simple flow chart to give you an idea of the overall financial aid process. Use this as a guide to determine what your next steps should be. Don’t forget to look at our other pages for more detailed information regarding financial aid.

1. Apply for financial aid by March 1 of every year for the following school year. Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete the application.
2. Within 5 – 10 business days, the financial aid office should have your results. Call 575-439-3710 to check on the status of your file.
3. Bring any required documentation in order to complete your file.
4. Within 5 – 10 business days, these should be processed. You can check the status by calling us or going to the financial aid page at http://my.nmsu.edu.
5. Once the processing is done, your file is reviewed and completed. Within 4 – 8 business days, you can see your awards at the financial aid page of http://my.nmsu.edu, or by visiting our office.
6. Aid will pay out at the start of the semester, or within a few business days of the awards being posted, if the semester has already started. You can check with us to see when the financial aid pays out.
7. Financial aid will credit to your student account, and is processed by Accounts Receivable at the Las Cruces campus. If there are funds left over after your charges have been taken out, a check will be cut to you, or the funds will be directly deposited into your bank account. You can sign up for direct deposit at the financial aid page of http://my.nmsu.edu.
8. If you opt for a paper check, it is usually at our Business Office within 2 business days. If it is not here within 4 business days, call our Business Office at 575-439-3603 so they can assist you in tracking it down.
9. If you request a loan, and it is your first one, you must select a lender at the financial aid page of http://my.nmsu.edu, and complete debt management and a master promissory note at http://fa.nmsu.edu/loans.
10. If you are receiving a scholarship, be sure to bring us the award letter as soon as you receive it. We will bill for scholarships about 3 weeks into classes, and they usually pay within 2 weeks after that.
11. If you want to request work-study funding, you must call us or stop by our office to be put on the list. Check back within 5 business days to see if you are eligible.

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