Financial Aid FAQs
               
	
   
       What is Lewis  University’s school code?
                  Lewis  University’s school code is 001707
              How do I check the status of my  financial aid application?
                Once you have completed your FAFSA, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from  the Department of Education that your FAFSA has been processed. Lewis  University usually receives your FAFSA within 2-4 business days from the time  your FAFSA has been processed. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ will also send an email that  your FAFSA has been received. We  encourage students to check their myLewis for any additional documents that may  be needed in order to process your aid. 
                  
                  
                Do I need to complete a FAFSA every  year? 
                  Yes. Returning students must complete a FAFSA every year. In order to ensure  you meet all federal, state and institutional deadlines, your FAFSA should be  completed as soon after October 1 as possible. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ has a priority  processing deadline of December 1 for all returning students.
                 Can I take a  leave of absence from Lewis without losing my financial aid?
                  Students are allowed to stop-out for up to two years and keep their academic  scholarship eligibility, provided they do not attend another university during  that time. For all other aid types, a student must be enrolled at least  part-time to be eligible.
                 Will my  financial aid cover summer school programs?
                  Students who are enrolled in graduate or adult accelerated programs will be  awarded automatically with their financial aid being distributed equally  between the fall, spring and summer semesters. For traditional undergraduate  students, summer aid eligibility is based on remaining aid eligibility not used  in the fall and spring semesters.
                 Will my  financial aid cover study abroad programs?
                  Financial aid is available for some study abroad programs. Please check with  the Office of Financial Aid Services for additional information.
                 If my  parents are divorced or separated, whose financial information would I use on  my FAFSA?
                  If your parents are divorced or separated, use the financial information of the  parent that provides more than 50% of your support during the academic year. In  the case that both parents provide 50% of your support, you must use the parent  who has the higher income for the tax year being reported.
                 Why does my  sibling's financial aid eligibility differ so much from mine?
                  If you and your sibling attend different schools, the difference between the  costs of attending each school could explain this. If you both attend Lewis  University, the difference between each person's earnings and assets during the  last calendar year as well as grade level may affect eligibility.
                 Do you offer  aid packages for veterans?
                  Lewis is proud to be distinguished as a GI Jobs Military-Friendly University  and a perennial member of the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program.  Learn more about our .
                 If I become  a commuter student next semester, will that affect my financial aid?
                  Any decrease in your total cost of attendance could affect your aid eligibility  and increase your need for additional loans. If a change in your commuting  status does occur, you must inform the Office of Financial Aid Services right  away.
                 I  have a credit balance on my account. How do I request a refund?
                  Credit Balance Refunds are automatically sent to students based on how they  answer the Title IV Authorization questions when they accept their financial aid  award offer.  If students authorize the  refund to be released it will be processed through the Business Office. Refund  requests will be processed within 14 working days from the date the credit  balance occurs.
                 I  have been selected for verification - what does this mean?
                  The Department of Education may randomly choose students FAFSA data to be  verified for accuracy. If you have been selected for verification,  before we can continue processing your financial aid application, we will  require: 
                
                  - Signed and completed Verification form
 
                  - Signed Student's Federal Tax form
 
                  - Signed Parent(s) Federal Tax form (dependent student)
 
              
              Click here for  information on how to request a federal tax transcript.
                 I  would like to speak to a counselor in person. How can I make an appointment?
              You can come into or call the Office of Financial Aid Services on the 1st floor  of the LRC building at (815) 836-5263, Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm  and request to speak with a counselor or make an appointment. Appointments can  also be made through e-mail at finaid@lewisu.edu.
               How  do I know the amount granted is the amount disbursed for my Direct Loan?
              Students can track their indebtedness by reviewing their loan disbursements on  the  website.  Students can see what was borrowed each academic year. This is a good way to  ensure that the awarded and actual loan amounts are the same. 
                 How much am I eligible to borrow as a graduate student?
                  Graduate students are eligible to borrow up to $20,500 in Federal Direct Loan  funds each academic year. An academic year at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ comprise of  fall, spring and summer semesters. Should a student begin mid-year the academic  year is whatever semester(s) remain. 
  
  I was awarded for fall, spring and summer semesters, but I  plan to graduate at the end of fall term.
                  Contact the Office of Financial Aid Services at finaid@lewisu.edu to request that your Financial Aid  Award Offer be revised based on your enrollment.
  
  Can I change my loan amount?
              Loan amounts can be changed at the time the Financial Aid Award Offer is  accepted in myLewis portal. Please keep  in mind that Federal Direct Loans can only be adjusted down since Lewis  University awards students up to their loan eligibility based on need and class  level. Loan adjustment requests after accepting or declining the original loans  can be made by emailing finaid@lewisu.edu.
                 When are financial aid funds applied to students account?
              Financial aid funds are applied to students’ accounts at the beginning of each  semester as long as the Financial Aid Offer has been accepted in myLewis and  all Direct Loan paperwork has been completed. 
                 Why has my MAP Grant not been  applied to my student account?
              The Illinois  MAP Grant is not disbursed to student’s accounts until Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ  receives payment from the State of Illinois Comptroller’s Office. Fall payment usually occurs in November and  Spring payment in April.
                 Why  are my loans at an "Offered" status?
              Loan funds are offered to students as part of their Financial Aid Award  Offer. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ is an active  confirmation school which means the Direct Loans must be accepted by the  student before we can process them for disbursement.
                 Why have my Direct Loans not  disbursed?
              In order to  receive Federal Direct Loans you must have accepted the loans as part of your  Financial Aid Award Offer and completed the Master Promissory Note and Entrance  Counseling at .
               Where can I find a Federal  Work-study job on-campus?
              Visit the  myLewis portal in Student Resources and click on the Handshake ICON. This portlet lists all Federal Work-study  student positions.
                 Where can I find additional  scholarship opportunities?
              You can find  additional Endowed and Annual Scholarships here. 
                Can my parents borrow a loan to  assist me with my education?
              Yes, there  is a Parent PLUS Loan that parents can borrow on behalf of a dependent  student. The application can be found at  .
               Are there additional Educational  Loans that I can borrow?
              Yes, Lewis  University has an interactive website that outlines Lenders that have Private  Loan Products for you to research. They  can be found at this link. 
              I am not a US Citizen, are there  opportunities for non US citizens?
              If you are an Illinois Resident you can visit to  determine eligibility to complete the RISE Act Application. You can find more  information .
              
              
 
 
Share ➤