Financial Aid Package

 Understanding your Financial Aid

Financial aid awards are based on financial need, availability of funds, and the student's Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is calculated from the information submitted through FAFSA. Financial need is determined by the following formula: 

Cost of Attendance - Student Aid Index - Other Financial Assistance = Financial Need.

Cost of Attendance (Link) 

    • The cost of attendance is used to calculate financial need and an estimate of a student's educational expenses for an academic year.  Actual costs vary from student to student.
    • Includes tuition, fees, indirect costs, and living expenses.  Tuition and fees are billed by the university.
    • Cost of attendance and awards are based on the traditional fall/spring academic year.
    • The total amount of aid a student can receive may not exceed his/her cost of attendance.  This includes all scholarships, loans, and external funding.

Financial Aid Awards

    • Pharmacy students must complete the GCOP financial aid process to receive federal aid.
    • Any commitment of federal or state funds is tentative and contingent upon subsequent congressional, state appropriation and actual receipt of the funds by East Tennessee State University.
    • Original award packages assume full-time enrollment.
    • Students will be notified of their award package via an award notification. 
    • Students accept, reduce, or decline awards through GoldLink.  Printed award letters are available upon request.
    • Financial aid awards are divided evenly between fall and spring semesters. The award package indicates how each award will be divided.
    • Scholarships will be divided equally between terms unless otherwise indicated by the donor. Most scholarships from outside sources will show "Miscellaneous Scholarship".
    • Students are required to notify the financial aid office of any other scholarships, loans, or other assistance received from sources outside the university. 
    • Students have the right to accept or reject any portion of their award. When the award is accepted and electronic authorization of aid is given, the students have given their permission for accepted awards to be disbursed and credited to the students’ account at ETSU.
    • The Office of Financial Aid reserves the right on behalf of federal, state and university policy to review, modify, and/or cancel an award at any time because of changes in enrollment, academic status; or the recipient's failure to observe basic student eligibility requirements.
    • Financial aid awards for less than full-time enrollment will be pro-rated according to the refund policy of the university published in the current catalog, student handbook, and federal/state law.  
    • Federal direct student loans will automatically be adjusted should the sum of awarded scholarships exceed the student’s cost of attendance. Student loans are adjusted in the following order: GradPlus first, Unsubsidized second.
    • When the student completes the award letter and all other required documents, the Office of the Bursar is notified by the Office of Financial Aid of the available funds to be credited to the student’s account.

Award Letter/Notification

In accordance with ETSU’s Go Green Initiatives, award letters are no longer mailed to students. Once your FAFSA has been processed, you will receive an offer notification, via ETSU email, directing you to GoldLink to review and accept financial aid offers. Printed award letters are available to all students upon request.

    1. Sign into GoldLink.
    2. Click on “My Financial Aid Info” tab.
    3. Click on “Your Account & Awards”.
    4. Click on “Award for Aid Year View/Accept”.
    5. Select Aid Year.
    6. Click on “Accept Award Offer” tab.
    7. Accept full, partial, or decline awards on this page according to the instructions.

Disbursements

    • Disbursement of awards for a term is made by crediting the student's account.
    • Fall disbursements begin in August during the first week of classes.  Spring disbursements begin in January during the first week of classes.
    • Funds received electronically will be posted to the student account within three business days in the order that they are received.
    • If the student account shows a credit balance, the Bursar’s Office will issue a direct deposit within 14 days of the credit balance occurring.
    • Students have the right to cancel all or a portion of their federal student loan disbursement and have the loan proceeds returned to the Department of Education by the Office of Financial Aid.  A written request via email to the financial aid office is required.

View COP General Financial Aid Policies and Practices 

View your Student Loan Borrower Rights and Responsibilities

Consumer Information

Federal student consumer information regulations of the United States Department of Education require universities to provide students access to certain information to which they are entitled as consumers; including financial aid disclosure requirements:

  • Institutional & Financial Aid
  • Student Financial Assistance
  • Non-Loan Related Disclosure Requirements
  • Education Loan Disclosure Requirements