Enrollment and Graduation
To graduate in 4 years, students should complete at least 15 credits per semester.
Undergraduate students enrolled in Day college classes are packaged at full-time enrollment status or twelve credit hours. All students must register for at least six credits each semester to be considered for aid.
Your student's bill and aid will remain the same whether they are enrolled in twelve or fifteen credit hours. They can save the cost of a full year if they complete their degree within four years.
Financial Aid Awards
With few exceptions, all awards are split evenly between the major terms: half in Fall and half in Spring.
Students are offered loans as part of their financial aid award. They must accept or decline their loan(s). Loans will not appear as "Anticipated Aid" on your student's account balance in TouchNet unless they have been accepted.
Students who are awarded Federal Work-Study have had it accepted on their behalf. However, they may decline their work-study award.
Please visit How To: Adjust My Financial Aid In Navigator for information on adjusting financial aid. Be sure they are viewing the current aid year to make adjustments.
If your family has additional financial needs, please visit our Financial Aid page to learn about additional funding sources, including Parent PLUS loans, private education loans, and interest-free payment plans.
Pending Financial Aid Tasks
Students who have incomplete financial aid items in their To-Do List in Navigator, they will receive an ESTIMATED aid package. The To-Do List is under the Tasks tile in Navigator. Students must complete all items on their To-Do List before their financial aid awards are finalized and the aid disbursed to their account.
Students who receive a federal Direct Loan for the first time at Salem State, must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Loan Entrance Counseling at studentaid.gov. Please note that only your student can legally complete these tasks. These items will be posted on their To-Do List after they attend orientation.
Changes to Financial Circumstances
If your family's financial circumstances have changed since the tax return used to complete the FAFSA, your student may file a Financial Aid Appeal to have their aid reconsidered. Please visit How Do I File A Financial Aid Appeal? for more information.
Account and Bill Information
We strongly recommend that students add their parent(s) as Authorized Users to their TouchNet account. Authorized Users can view account activity, the current bill, anticipated aid, and anticipated refunds.
For information on tuition and fees, billing, and payment options, please visit the following:
- Understanding Tuition and Fees
- Tuition and Fees
- How To: View My Bill
- How To: Understand My Bill
- Pay Your Bill
- Student Accounts FAQs
- Tuition Insurance
- Refund Policy
- Parent Guide
Refunds
When financial aid funds are disbursed, any outstanding balances owed to the university are paid first. If there are any excess funds after the balance has been paid, the Student Accounts Office will generate and send a refund.
Refunds are deposited directly into the student's checking or savings account if a direct deposit account is set up. If no direct deposit is set up, a physical check will be mailed to the student's permanent address on file with Salem State within two weeks of the loan disbursement. For more information on setting up direct deposit, please visit How To Set Up Direct Deposit/eRefund.
FERPA
Students must have a completed FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) waiver on file before the Financial Aid Office can speak with a parent regarding their student's financial aid. Students may elect to grant a parent or other individual access to some or all of their education records. For more information on completing a FERPA waiver, please visit Complete or Update Your FERPA Release/Waiver.
You can find more information for parents and families on our Parent Resource Guide.