How do I...

View my Financial Aid Awards

To view all financial aid requirements, eligibility and updates, students should visit their Banner Self Service portal.

After logging into Banner, a link for Student Financial Aid can be found on the left menu bar.  Please be sure you're referencing the correct academic year by using the drop down option at the top of the screen. 

Access My Financial Aid

* Please note, the financial aid packaging process for continuing students generally takes place in early June for the next academic year. 

File my FAFSA

Information on filing your FAFSA can be found on STUDENTAID.GOV/FAFSA.

Complete Entrance Counseling

To complete your Entrance Counseling Session:

• Visit https://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling
• Click on the "LOG IN TO START" button and follow the prompts 

Please be sure that you also complete your Loan Agreement (MPN): 

• Visit studentaid.gov/mpn
• Click on the "LOG IN TO START" button next to the loan type that you need (Subsidized/Unsubsidized, PLUS for Graduate/Professional Students, or PLUS for Parents)

Complete Loan Agreement (MPN)

To complete your Loan Agreement (MPN): 

• Visit studentaid.gov/mpn
• Click on the "LOG IN TO START" button next to the loan type that you need (Subsidized/Unsubsidized, PLUS for Graduate/Professional Students, or PLUS for Parents) 

Complete Verification Process

A student’s FAFSA may be selected for an accuracy review process called Verification by the US Department of Education or through institutional selection. When selected for Verification, RMU is required to review the FAFSA for accuracy and make necessary corrections.

Why was my FAFSA selected for Verification? 

There are a variety of reasons why a FAFSA may be selected, however, more often than not, it’s simply a random selection made by the US Department of Education. Approximately 30% of filed FAFSAs will be randomly selected. Other reasons may include incomplete FAFSA data, conflicting information presented to the Financial Aid Office, and/or estimated information used while completing the FAFSA.

How will I be notified if my FAFSA was selected? 

First time, traditional students will receive notice of verification selection in their financial aid package.  Continuing and non-traditional students will be sent a notification email to their RMU account with detailed instructions. Reminders will be sent periodically if no response is made.

How do I complete Verification? 

If you have been selected for Verification, the following steps will need to be completed.

• Complete and return a Verification Worksheet as specified by the Financial Aid Office.
• Utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA for all Federal tax filers.  Click here for instructions.  Data retrieval must be completed for both the student and the parent (if dependent).  Please be sure the FAFSA is fully re-submitted after this step.
  • If you are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you will need to send a SIGNED Federal 1040 Tax Return copy with the Verification Worksheet.
• Non tax filers will need to submit W2's.  

What is the deadline to complete Verification? 

It is recommended that students apply for aid and complete Verification requirements in a timely manner, ideally prior to the start of the term. Verification requirements should be submitted within 14 days of the request from the Financial Aid Office or one week prior to the end of the term of enrollment, whichever comes first. Students who do not submit verification requirements within the timeframe specified may forfeit all or a portion of Federal aid eligibility for that term or academic year.

If a student receives a disbursement of Federal aid, prior to the completion of Verification, and the student does not adhere to the timeframe listed above for completion, the disbursement of aid will be treated as an Overaward.

*Federal PELL Grant recipients may have the opportunity to complete the verification process up to 120 days after the last day of the student's enrollment or the annual deadline established by the US Department of Education.

What happens after I submit Verification requirements? 

After all requirements have been submitted, the Financial Aid Office will review and compare submitted documents to the previously submitted FAFSA. If errors are found, corrections will be made to the FAFSA. Corrections may impact aid eligibility.

• You should allow up to 14 days for the review process, potentially more if corrections are necessary.
• Please note, aid disbursements will be held from the student’s account until Verification is complete. To avoid an unintended balance or late fee, it is important that Verification is completed as quickly as possible.

Students can review financial aid updates through their Sentry Secured Services account - RMU Financial Aid Online. An email notification will be generated once the financial aid package is available for view or if there has been a change to previously packaged financial aid.

Complete Exit Counseling

  To complete your Exit Counseling Session:

• Visit studentaid.gov/exitcounseling
• Click on the "LOG IN TO START" button and follow the prompts  

Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool

When filing the FAFSA, all eligible students and parents should utilize the IRS Data Retrieval option.  The retrieval option will allow Federal tax return information to be pulled directly from the IRS to your FAFSA.  If this option was not utilized when initially filing your FAFSA, you may be asked to re-visit the FAFSA website and use the retrieval option for both yourself and a parent (if dependent). Below are instructions on how to complete the process.

• Visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
• Login using your FSA User ID or your name, SSN and birth date
• Click "Make FAFSA Corrections"
• Click the "Financial Information" tab near the top of the screen
• Select "Already Completed"  from the drop down box, indicating that you have already filed your Federal taxes
• You will then be presented with a series of questions to determine  your eligibility for the retrieval option.  The majority of students and parents will be eligible, however if you or your parent is not, please refer to the information below.
• If eligible, you will be prompted to enter your FSA ID to proceed to the IRS website for retrieval.
• On the IRS website, enter all requested information and submit
• At this point, your IRS information will display on the page.
• Click "Transfer Now"
• Using the links provided, return to the FAFSA website
• Go to the "Sign & Submit" tab along the top of the screen.
• Agree to the terms and click "Submit my FAFSA now".       

Why am I not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool?

Reasons someone may not be able to use the data retrieval tool include:

• Your filing status is “Married, Filing Separately”
• Your filing status is “Head of Household”
• You had a change in marital status last year
• You filed an amended return 
• You filed a foreign tax return

What do I do if I was selected for a process called Verification and was not eligible for to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool?

A portion of FAFSA filers will be selected for an accuracy review process called Verification.  If your FAFSA was selected and you cannot use the retrieval option, you must provide a copy of your and/or parent's SIGNED Federal 1040 tax return.

Complete the Parent PLUS Application

To complete the application:

• Visit https://studentaid.gov/ - sign in, using FSA ID that you used to sign the FAFSA. Please Note: Parent must use his/her own FSA ID to apply for the Parent Plus loan. (If you were not the parent that signed the FAFSA and you do not already have a FSA ID under your own name, you can create one using the link in the upper right hand box)
• Choose the “Apply for a Direct PLUS Loan” link- then choose the 2nd option- “Direct PLUS Loan Application for Parents”
• Complete requested demographic and loan information as requested on each screen.
• Fill in amount you plan to borrow or choose the max eligible option (please keep in mind there will be a 4.264% fees deducted from the amount you borrow).
• Authorize credit check, and electronically sign the Plus Loan.

Contact the Financial Aid Office

The Financial Aid Office is here to assist prospective freshman, transfer, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students understand their options in financing their education. We have dedicated financial aid counselors that are here for you throughout your time at RMU. Even after you graduate, we are still here to help you with any of your loan repayment questions.

Walk-ins are accepted to the Financial Aid Office, without appointment, during normal business hours.  

Location: 4th Floor of Nicholson
Walk In Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM.  
Phone: 412-397-6250
Fax: 412-397-6499
General Email: finaid@rmu.edu
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For additional information or assistance, please contact your assigned Financial Aid Counselor.

Students with the last name starting with:

• A - G
  Chris Schmidt
  schmidt@rmu.edu
  412-397-6256
• H - O
  412-397-6259
  finaid@rmu.edu
• P - Z
  Dawn Geregach
  geregachd@rmu.edu
  412-397-6258
  Book A Virtual Or Phone Meeting

• Additional Contacts

  Janet Lawson
  Loan Program Administrator
  412-397-6254

  Jacquelyn Fraas
  Associate Director
  412-397-6253

  Stephanie Hendershot
  Senior Director
  412-397-6251

  Sarah Hurley
  Assistant Director, Financial Aid and Debt Management
  412-397-6255