Office of Financial Aid

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Graduate Business: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Cost of Attendance (COA) and how is it established?
Cost of Attendance is an estimate of the total amount it will cost you to go to school for an academic period. It includes tuition and fees that will be charged to your student account, books and supplies, and very moderate living expenses based on figures for the Atlanta area. The standard academic year includes nine months of living expenses.
Is it possible to get an adjustment to the Cost of Attendance?
Students are encouraged to look for ways to cut their monthly expenses to make it possible to live within the budget as set by the Emory University Office of Financial Aid. A student may have his/her cost of attendance adjusted for the following items with appropriate documentation: cost of a computer (not to exceed $2500), childcare expense if the student is a single parent or if spouse is employed, cost of dental insurance (student only), out-of-pocket medical, vision, and dental expenses incurred by the student during the period of enrollment, automobile insurance and repairs incurred during the period of enrollment for the student's car. A student wanting an adjustment for any of these items must put the request in writing and provide adequate documentation. For a copy of the Request for Budget Adjustment form, contact the Financial Aid Office. The cost of attendance cannot be increased to cover the cost of consumer debt.
What are my rights and responsibilities as a student?
You have the right to know:
  • The cost of attendance.
  • The refund policy for students who withdraw.
  • What financial assistance is available from federal, state, and institutional sources.
  • Procedures and deadlines for submitting applications for financial aid.
  • How financial aid recipients are selected.
  • How your eligibility was determined, including all resources the aid office considered available to you.
  • An explanation of each type of award you receive and how and when funds will be disbursed to you.
  • For any student loan you receive: the interest rate, total amount you must repay, when your repayment begins, the length of your repayment period, and the cancellation or deferment provisions of your loan.
  • For any Federal Work-Study job: a description of the job, the hours you must work, the rate of pay, and how and when you will be paid.
  • The satisfactory academic progress policy.
  • How to appeal a decision by the Office of Financial Aid concerning your aid award.
  • Campus crime statistics (See Annual Security Report and Statement of Campus Security Policy)
It is your responsibility to:
  • Read directions thoroughly, complete all application forms accurately, and to comply with any deadlines.
  • Provide any supplemental information or documentation required by the Office of Financial Aid or other agency if applicable.
  • Read, understand, and keep copies of any forms you are required to sign.
  • Repay any student loans you may receive.
  • Complete an entrance interview and an exit interview if you receive federal, state, or Emory University loans while in attendance at Emory.
  • Notify the Office of Financial Aid of any change in your enrollment status or financial status (including any scholarships or grants received from outside sources). Changes of address and enrollment status must also be reported to your lender if you have a loan.
  • Satisfactorily perform the work agreed upon in a Federal Work-Study job.
  • Know and comply with all requirements for continuation of financial aid, including satisfactory academic progress requirements.
Is financial aid available for international students?
Students must be citizens or eligible non-citizens of the United States to be eligible to receive federal aid and/or need-based financial aid from Emory. For additional information please see Citizen/Eligible Non-Citizen in our glossary.
What is OPUS and how does it work?
The Online Pathway to University Students is Emory's web-based student information system by which students register for classes, check the status of their financial aid, view their student account, and update their addresses. A student must have an OPUS ID in order to access his/her information. Contact OPUS Help to get additional information relating to OPUS access.
How can I find out the status of my aid application?
You can monitor the status of your aid application through OPUS. Your To Do List will indicate any outstanding items needed by our office. We cannot determine your final eligibility for financial aid until all required documents have been submitted.
After I have completed the aid application process, how will I be notified of my aid package?
Once you have been awarded, you will be sent an email informing you that your awards may be viewed and accepted online via OPUS. Acceptance of your Stafford loans is required before the loans can be processed. When accepting a loan, be sure to accept the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan before accepting the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan and/or the Federal Grad PLUS Loan. Further instructions can be found under the Financing link for your specific career.
How will my award letter be delivered?
Your award letter will be delivered electronically on OPUS. Make sure to update your email address information under Personal Information after logging into OPUS.
My Student Aid Report (SAR) isn't accurate. Do I need to correct it?
Yes, you should review your SAR and make corrections as necessary. If you need to make corrections to the SAR, you can make them online under Make Corrections To a Processed FAFSA at FAFSA on the Web.
How do I add Emory to my Student Aid Report (SAR)?
If Emory was not listed, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 4-FED-AID. Emory's school code is 001564.
How do I get a PIN?
You can register online for a PIN (Personal Identification Number) The PIN is an electronic access code that serves as your identifier with the federal processor. The PIN allows you to apply online for federal aid, "sign" your application electronically, make corrections to your FAFSA and access your Student Aid Report (SAR).
Are the PROFILE & FAFSA required to apply for the courtesy scholarship?
No, only the courtesy application is needed.
How are the financial aid process and my aid package affected if I enroll in a dual-degree program?
As soon as you begin to consider enrolling in an integrated dual-degree program, financial aid counseling and planning is strongly advised. Admission representatives from your school as well as Financial Aid staff members are available to help explain program costs, the financial aid process, funding options, and how to apply for financial aid. You are advised to check the "How To Apply" section of the Financial Aid website for filing requirements of both programs that are part of your dual-degree track. Required documents and application deadlines are sometimes different depending on which degrees you are pursuing. In addition, your aid package may vary depending on the aid awarding policy and funding resources of the different schools you are enrolled in each term.
How will Financial Aid contact me throughout the year?
Please keep in mind our primary means of communicating with you throughout the year will be email. In addition, it is also very important that we have your correct mailing address. Email and mailing addresses can be updated and reviewed on OPUS under your Personal Information.
How do I contact the Office of Financial Aid?
Address: 200 Dowman Drive, Boisfeuillet Jones Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30322.
Phone: (404) 727-6039 Fax: (404) 727-6709
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Advisors are available to see students from 9:00am - 12:00pm and from 1:00pm - 4:00pm.
Staff may be contacted at above phone number or via email.
When will I receive a bill?
Please consult Student Financial Services for information on their billing schedule. Student Financial Services can also be reached at (404)727-6095.
May I use a credit card to pay my charges?
Please visit the Student Financial Services website for information regarding payments.
Are there banks on campus?
SunTrust and Wachovia are immediately adjacent to the main campus. The Emory Federal Credit Union and ATM machines are located on campus as well.
When will aid be credited to my student account?
Before aid will credit to your account, you must have no outstanding Financial Aid To Do items on OPUS and you must be enrolled. The law allows disbursement of funds to begin 10 days from the official start of term as decided by the University's Board of Trustees. The actual start date of courses for each program may vary from the official University calendar.
How can I obtain a copy of my 1098T and 1098E?
Student Financial Services will mail a 1098T form (tuition payments) and 1098E form (student loan interest) to all students who have paid tuition or student loan interest. For further information regarding 1098T and 1098E processing, please visit the Student Financial Services website.
What is a Stafford Loan?
The Federal Stafford Loan is a loan made by a private lender and guaranteed by a state or private agency backed by the federal government.
What is the difference between the Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan?
Subsidized Stafford - federal loan with interest paid by the government while you are in school at least half-time.
Unsubsidized Stafford - federal loan with interest accruing while you are in school. You have the option of paying the interest or deferring it until after you begin repayment.
When does repayment begin on Federal Stafford Loans?
Repayment of subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans begins six months from the date you graduate or cease to be enrolled at least half-time. These six months are called a "grace period". The subsidized portion of your loan does not accrue interest during this time. There is no penalty for early repayment.
What is a Graduate PLUS loan?
The Federal Graduate PLUS loan may be an important funding source for students who need more loan funds than the Federal Stafford Loan can provide. To qualify for a Graduate PLUS loan, you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, degree-seeking and enrolled at least half-time. The Graduate PLUS loan has a fixed interest rate of 8.5%. Lenders are required by federal regulation to charge an origination fee of 3%. The loan does require credit approval as defined by federal regulation. However, the credit criteria for the Graduate PLUS are less stringent than for private educational loans. Repayment begins 6 months after the borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. This loan may be included in the Federal Consolidation Loan.
What are private education loans?
There are a number of lenders who offer a private education loan to help students meet the remainder of the cost of attendance, not met with Federal Stafford Loan. In order to qualify, however, you must be able to pass a credit and/or debt-to-income check. These loans do not go into repayment until six to nine months after you cease to be enrolled. Interest does accrue on private education loans from the date of disbursement until the loan is paid in full. More information about lenders who offer private/alternative loans and the terms of the loans is available under Financing for your career on the Financial Aid website.
What do I need to know about private educational loans?
To receive a private educational loan, you must have a valid credit history as defined by the lender of the loan. Before applying for one of these loans, we recommend you order a credit history report, check it closely for accuracy, and resolve any erroneous information. The following agencies can provide you with a credit report:
Equifax Credit Information Services
(800) 685-1111
Experian
(888) 397-3742
TransUnion Corporation
(800) 888-4213