Financial Aid

First Floor, Sorenson Language and Communication Center

Website: https://gallaudet.edu/financial-aid/

Overview

The Financial Aid Office administers federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs to assist eligible students with financing their educational expenses. Financial aid is available to degree-seeking undergraduate students who meet applicable federal, state, and institutional eligibility requirements.

Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid each academic year by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid eligibility is determined based on federal regulations, institutional policies, and the availability of funding.

Determining Financial Need

Eligibility for need-based financial aid is generally determined using the following formula:

Cost of Attendance (COA)
minus (-) Student Aid Index (SAI)
minus (-) Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA), including outside scholarships, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) benefits, and other educational resources
equals (=) Remaining Financial Need

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is calculated from information reported on the FAFSA and may consider taxable and nontaxable income, assets, household size, and other factors established by federal law.

Students receiving Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) educational benefits should notify the Financial Aid Office so all sources of educational assistance can be coordinated appropriately.

Students should review their financial aid offer in Workday together with their student account (eBill) to understand their financial aid eligibility, how aid is applied to educational charges, and any remaining balance they may be responsible for paying.

Educational Costs

Financial aid is intended to assist with educational expenses associated with attending Gallaudet University. The Cost of Attendance (COA) includes estimated expenses such as:

Tuition and mandatory fees
Housing and food
Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment
Transportation
Personal and miscellaneous expenses

Cost of Attendance budgets are established annually and may vary based on enrollment status, housing arrangements, academic program, and other individual circumstances.

Current Cost of Attendance information is available on the Financial Aid website.

Application Process

New Students:

Students may apply for financial aid after applying for admission to Gallaudet University. Financial aid eligibility is determined after admission and completion of all required financial aid applications and documentation.

Students seeking need-based financial aid must complete the FAFSA for the applicable academic year.

Merit scholarships are awarded by the Admissions Office during the admissions process. Renewal and continued eligibility are administered by the Financial Aid Office in accordance with the terms and conditions of each scholarship.

Returning Students:

Currently enrolled students must complete the FAFSA each academic year to be considered for need-based financial aid.

Students are responsible for reviewing financial aid notifications, requests for additional documentation, and award revisions through Workday and their Gallaudet University email account.

Application Deadlines

Students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA and all requested documentation as early as possible each academic year.

Institutional financial aid and certain campus-based federal aid programs are awarded based on eligibility and availability of funds. Because funding for some programs is limited, students are encouraged to complete all financial aid requirements by published priority deadlines.

Applications submitted after priority deadlines will continue to be reviewed for federal financial aid eligibility, provided all required documentation is received before the applicable enrollment period ends.

Financial Aid Eligibility

To be considered for federal Title IV financial aid programs, undergraduate students generally must:

Be admitted to and enrolled in an eligible degree-seeking program at Gallaudet University;
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, as defined by federal regulations;
Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward completion of their degree;
Complete all required financial aid applications and documentation;
Not owe an overpayment on a federal grant;
Not be in default on a federal student loan; and
Meet all additional federal Title IV eligibility requirements.

Continued eligibility for financial aid requires students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as described in the University's Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.

Except for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, and most private educational loans, federal financial aid programs are awarded based on demonstrated financial need.

Eligibility for University and Federal Aid Programs:

Enrollment status may affect financial aid eligibility. Certain federal and institutional programs require students to be enrolled at least half-time, while others may be available to students enrolled less than half-time.

Federal Pell Grant eligibility is determined using enrollment intensity, as established by federal regulations. Students enrolled less than full-time may receive prorated Pell Grant awards based on their enrollment level.

Program	UG	U.S.	INT'L	F/T	H/T	P/T	REPAY	GIFT	DEG
Pell Grant	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔
FSEOG	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔			✔	✔
Federal Work-Study (FWS)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔			✔	✔
Need-Based Aid	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔
Merit-Based Aid (GU)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔			✔	✔
Merit-Based Aid (Endowed/Donor)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔
Federal Student Loans	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		✔		✔
Parent PLUS Loans	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		✔		✔
Private Loans	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		✔

* Federal Pell Grant awards for students enrolled less than half-time are determined based on federal enrollment intensity regulations.

Abbreviation	Meaning
UG	Undergraduate Student
U.S.	U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen
INT'L	International Student
F/T	Full-time (12+ credits)
H/T	At least 6 credit hours
P/T	Less than 6 credit hours
REPAY	Loan, must be repaid
GIFT	Does not require repayment
DEG	Must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program
SPEC	Non-degree or not eligible for aid