Financial aid can be a complex process for students and parents. Typically, many questions come up, such as: Will I get enough money to pay for college? What forms do I need to fill out? Do you have to pay back FAFSA money? The short answer to that last question is, it depends. Keep on reading to learn about the types of financial aid that you do and don’t need to pay back!
Also see: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool
Financial aid that doesn’t need to be paid back
The good news for many students is that much of the money you are awarded through the FAFSA does not need to be paid back. This includes need-based financial aid grants that are awarded by individual colleges, as well as federal and state grants like the Pell Grant or Federal SEOG Grants.
All of this grant money is free money for you to use on your education. Usually, the only stipulation is that you may need to maintain a specific number of credit hours and GPA to remain eligible for your need-based grants.
As a reminder, there are some scholarships that require the FAFSA to be completed to receive them, so always fill out that FAFSA even if you think you won’t qualify for federal funds!
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Financial aid that needs to be paid back
All federal student loans fall into the category of financial aid that needs to be repaid. Federal student loans fit into the following categories:
- Stafford Direct student loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized)
- PLUS loans or Parent Loans
- Federal Perkins Loans
With the exception of the Perkins Loans which were phased out in 2017, these are all types of student loans that you might see in your financial aid award letter.
Student loan repayment can vary according to your loan terms and repayment plan. You can learn more about the various repayment options to decide which repayment option will make the most sense for you and your situation.
It is also worth mentioning that some students may be eligible for student loan forgiveness. Loan forgiveness, or “cancellation,” may be granted in certain situations including if you are disabled and are unable to work or if you teach or go into public service and make 120 payments.
Also see: All about public service loan forgiveness
Remember, you don’t have to take out all financial aid offered to you
One of the big misconceptions is that students need to take out all of the financial aid that is offered to them. This is not true and ultimately you can decide to take advantage of specific financial aid options (or not).
Obviously, you will want to accept all of the free money awarded to you. However, it may not always make sense to take out all of the student loans offered to you. You should always do the math and calculate the amount of money in student loans that you absolutely need to take out. When evaluating this, you should be looking at the student loan interest rate, as well as the specific terms of the student loans.
Remember, winning outside scholarships and merit scholarships will allow you to take out less money in student loans, which is always a good thing!
Read more: How much student loan debt is too much?
Key Takeaways
Learn more: How does withdrawing from a class affect financial aid?
Frequently asked questions about paying back financial aid
Failing a class does not force you to pay back your FAFSA financial aid. However, it could put you at risk for losing eligibility to renew it next semester. If you do not make Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, your federal financial aid is at risk of being suspended. You are at higher risk for losing future eligibility if the failed class is crucial to your intended major. If you fail a class, do you have to pay back your FAFSA financial aid?
If, after your financial aid is applied, you have paid an amount that is higher than your tuition and fees, you will not lose that money. The school will refund it to you or you can apply it to your next semester’s bill. You do not have to pay back your federal aid if you accidentally overpaid your tuition. If you have leftover credits after financial aid is applied, do you have to pay it back at the end of the semester?
Unfortunately, not paying back loans that you received through the FAFSA is really not an option. Not only will unpaid loans hurt your credit and future borrowing abilities, but the government can also slowly collect on your loans by taking from your paycheck, tax refunds, and any other government payments you may receive (this is known as wage garnishment).If paying back your loans after school is a serious concern, seriously think taking them out in the first place. Starting at a community college might be a better option for you. What happens if you don’t pay back the FAFSA?
