Financial Aid Checklist

The Financial Aid Process

The following steps must be completed every year for all students who wish to apply for financial aid or for student loans.

  1. Complete the FAFSA

    Go to: studentaid.gov and use Montclair State University’s School Code: 002617

    Priority Deadline: March 1, 2026

    Sign electronically with your FSA ID (student and parent, if applicable).

    • If an NJ resident, log on to HESAA.
      • Set up an account (student only).
    • Respond to any requests for information from HESAA, if any.  Send directly to HESAA.

  2. Review Your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)

    The FSS shows what you reported on the FAFSA. An email from Federal Student Aid will tell you when it is ready to be viewed online.

    • Check for any mistakes.
    • If you made a mistake, you may log back onto FAFSA to make a correction.

    The FSS will also tell you if you were selected for federal verification: "Your application has been selected for review in a process called verification. You must submit to your school signed copies of certain financial documents."

    • Each academic year, the Financial Aid Office reviews over 3,000 applications for federal verification.
    • The Financial Aid Office uses montclair.verifymyfafsa.com to collect and process all verification documents. 
    • Your financial aid will not be credited to your account until you submit all required documents and verification is completed. 

    The New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) will select student applications for state verification as well. This process is separate from the US Dept. of Education process. NJ HESAA will send notifications to students directly via email. Students will not be able to see state verification on their NEST account. All document requests will come directly from HESAA and should be returned directly to HESAA. 

    It is possible for a student to be selected by both the U.S. Dept. of Education and HESAA.

  3. Submit Any Missing Documentation

    Log on to StudentForms to review missing forms.

    • Email reminders are sent regularly if we require any additional documentation or forms.
    • Please submit this information ASAP.

    How Long Will This Process Take?

    Students are advised to submit their documents within 30 days of notification via StudentForms. The verification process can take up to four (4) weeks depending on the time of the year.

    If additional documentation is necessary after the initial review is completed, then the processing time will be extended until the additional documents are received and reviewed.

    Please Note: If you were selected for verification, the deadline for submitting all verification documents is the before the last day of the student’s semester of enrollment. 

  4. Review Your Financial Aid

    Aid can be viewed electronically on NEST. Returning students receive their financial aid notifications after spring grades are posted in May.

    Special & Unusual Circumstances 

    While the process of determining your financial aid eligibility is basically the same for all applicants, there is some flexibility for specific circumstances. If you think you have a special circumstance, you can request a review.

    Learn more about SAI Appeals

  5. Accept, Adjust or Decline Your Student Loan(s) on NEST

    Borrowing a Stafford loan for the first time? You must also complete two steps:

    Returning Students: Check Your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Status

    • Continuing students must meet minimum SAP standards to academically qualify for financial aid.
    • Students who do not meet SAP will be contacted in June to submit an appeal. The submission deadline is strict. Appeals are reviewed by the committee in accordance with federal regulations and final decisions are returned in early August.

    Receiving Your Financial Aid

    The Student Accounts Office is responsible for crediting your financial aid to your student bill. Your financial aid is applied directly to institutional charges (tuition, fees, room and board). After the Add/Drop period has ended, excess funds will be available to you within 14 days of the date the credit balance occurs. 

    Learn more about Refunds
     

  6. Pay Your Bill

    See Payment Deadlines

    You have to pay the difference between your charges and any financial aid posted through one or more of the following:

  7. Apply for Outside Scholarships Regularly

    If you receive an outside scholarship, notify the Office of Student Accounts by following the instructions on the Outside Scholarships page.