Returning student financial aid award notifications are sent via email beginning in late February and can be viewed on the student Portal/VSC Web Services.
If the award is an estimate, then additional information is needed for verification. Please log onto the Portal/VSC Web Services, select Student, under Financial Aid you will need to select Financial Aid Document Status. This will allow you to view the items needed to complete verification.
Enrolled students should follow-up to make sure you have submitted all documentation and check online that your account has been paid in full.
Deadline for Castleton Returning Student Scholarship application to be submitted to the Financial Aid Office, see Scholarships for Returning Students for the exact deadline for a given academic year.
April
Submit your FAFSA by April 1 to be considered an on-time applicant.
Graduating students with Federal loans are required to attend Loan Exit Counseling session to obtain information on rights and responsibilities for Federal Loan borrowers. If you cannot attend the group session, you can complete the counseling online at studentloans.gov for Federal Direct or Stafford Loans and ECSI for Perkins.
April 15 - Preferred completion date for summer financial aid
May
Reminders will be sent out to graduates who missed group Loan Exit counseling sessions to complete it online at studentloans.gov or ECSI.
Castleton Returning Student Scholarship recipients will be notified mid-May by email.
June
State grant agencies begin award notification.
First-time Direct Loan borrowers must complete Direct Loan Student Loan Entrance Counseling and a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note at studentloans.gov.
July
If a parent is borrowing a PLUS Loan, remember to apply for a new PLUS Loan every year at studentloans.gov. We begin originating PLUS Loans for returning students in early July and for new students after they have registered for classes.
August
We begin originating/processing private loans early August for disbursement in early September.
September
After the drop/add period, the fall semester posting of aid begins provided your financial aid file and loan paperwork are complete.
Enrolled students should follow-up to make sure you have submitted all documentation and check online that your account has been paid in full.
October
FAFSA applications for the upcoming academic year may be submitted to the Federal Processor beginning October 1.
Financial Aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis and students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. We consider anyone who applies by April 1 to be an on-time applicant.
Please opt to use the IRS Data Retrieval process when IRS related financial information is requested on the form for both student and parent(s).
REMEMBER: Check your campus email and campus mailboxes regularly to receive timely communication from the administration on billing, financial aid, and academic information.
November
Begin awarding Spring admitted students for the upcoming spring semester.
New student financial aid award notifications are sent via email beginning in late November and can be viewed on the student Portal/VSC Web Services.
If the award is an estimate, then additional information is needed for verification. Please log onto the Portal/VSC Web Services, select Student, under Financial Aid you will need to select Financial Aid Document Status. This will allow you to view the items needed to complete verification.
December
December graduates should complete Online Exit Counseling at studentloans.gov for Federal Loans and ECSI for Perkins Loans.
*Please keep in mind that these dates are subject to change.