4. CougarNet
• siue.edu/cougarnet
• Web access to your personal records!
• Check the status of your application for
admission
• Check on the availability of classes
• View your bill and find out how much you
owe
• View financial aid documents
requested/received
• View and print Award Statement
• Check on your financial aid awards
• Update your local, billing, and email
addresses
• And so much more!
• Login often!
siue.edu
5. What is verification, and
was I selected?
Why do I have to be verified?
What is the Selective Service
requirement?
How do I know I am verified?
How long will it take to get
out of this process?
siue.edu
6. Verification: What’s needed?
1. Institutional Verification Form (IVF) 2013-14
• siue.edu/financialaid
2. Parent’s 2012 federal Tax Return Transcript
• irs.gov; IRS Data Retrieval Tool in the FAFSA; (800) 908-9946; or visit your
local IRS office
3. Parent(s) W2(s) for 2012
4. Student’s 2012 federal Tax Return Transcript
• irs.gov; IRS Data Retrieval Tool in the FAFSA; (800) 908-9946; or visit your
local IRS office
• Student’s W2(s) for 2012
siue.edu
8. Once inside the FAFSA, go to the financial section of the application on www.fafsa.gov.
Click on the link to make a correction. Once inside, go to the financial section.
1. Enter your PIN* and click Link To IRS
• You will not be asked to enter your PIN if you entered a PIN to begin your FAFSA.
2. Your FAFSA will be saved and you will be transferred to the IRS website. On the IRS website,
enter the requested information.
3. Once the IRS has validated your identification, your IRS tax information will display. You can
either transfer your information from the IRS, or choose to return to FAFSA on the Web from the
IRS website. If you do not transfer your information or choose not to return from the IRS
website, you will have to login to open your saved FAFSA.
4. If you transfer your IRS tax information, questions that are populated with tax information will
be marked with “Transferred from the IRS.”
Questions? Call: 1-800-433-3243
siue.edu
How the Student IRS Data Retrieval Tool Works
9. Verification:
Checking Missing Documents
1. Go to CougarNet at siue.edu/cougarnet
2. Click “Enter CougarNet with your e-ID” (1st option) or
“Enter CougarNet with your University ID” (2nd option)
3. Click “Financial Aid” (3rd option) or (3rd tab)
4. Click “Eligibility” (2nd option)
5. Click “Student Requirements” (1st tab)
6. Current Academic Year Requirements will appear
7. “Established” means the document must be turned in to our office immediately!
8. If you wish to view a year different from the current year, click on
“Select Another Year” at the bottom of the screen.
siue.edu
11. Your Award Letter
$ Cost of Attendance/Budget
$ EFC (Expected Family Contribution
Number)
$ Types of Aid
siue.edu
12. Student’s Cost of Attendance/Budget
does not equal actual costs!
Tuition and Fees
Room and Board
Personal Expenses
Books and Supplies
Transportation
siue.edu
13. Direct Costs* for Two Semesters
Illinois Resident, 15 hours
• Tuition $7,296.00
• Fees (Includes Textbook Rental Fee of $175.50) $2,370.40
• Shared room in Residence Hall $5,461.00
• Meal Plan A $3,070.00
Total Direct Costs $18,197.40
* Based on 2013-14 Costs
siue.edu
14. siue.edu
• Tuition $18,240.00
• Fees (Includes Textbook Rental Fee of $175.50) $2,370.40
• Shared room in Residence Hall $5,461.00
• Meal Plan A $3,070.00
Total Direct Costs $29,144.40
* Based on 2013-14 Costs
Direct Costs* for Two Semesters
Out-of-State Resident, 15 hours
15. Expected Family Contribution number is
used to determine how much, if any,
need-based/gift aid a student can receive.
EFC can range from $0 – $99,999.
What is an EFC?
siue.edu
16. Examples of Need-Based Aid
• Grants (Pell, MAP, SEOG, etc.)
• Federal Student Employment
• Scholarships
• Subsidized Loan
siue.edu
17. Types of Loans
• Stafford Loans
• Federal Plus Loans
• Alternative Loans
Loans are considered financial aid,
and all loans must be repaid.
siue.edu
19. Subsidized Loan
1. Need-based aid
2. Deferred payment
3. Government pays the interest, per policy
4. 6.8% Interest rate (Fixed)
siue.edu
20. Unsubsidized Loan
1. Offered to all students (based on
federal policy)
2. Interest accrues, but can be deferred
3. Deferred principal payment
4. 6.8% Interest rate (Fixed)
siue.edu
21. Federal (Parent) Plus Loan
• Loan is in the parent’s name
• Based on credit merit
• Approved: 7.9% fixed w/deferred payment option
• Denied: Offer student
additional $4,000 in
unsubsidized loan
• Must complete a FAFSA
siue.edu
22. Alternative Loans
• Loans are in the student’s name
• Based on credit merit
• Loans are deferred until student graduates
• Interest is variable, same as funding
education on a credit card
siue.edu
23. Three Steps to Receiving your
Direct Stafford Loans
1. Accept Award Letter on CougarNet.
2. Complete a Master Promissory Note
(MPN) with Direct Loans.
3. Complete Entrance Loan Counseling.
siue.edu
24. 1. Go to CougarNet at siue.edu/COUGARNET
2. Click “Enter CougarNet with your e-ID” (1st option) or
“Enter CougarNet with your University ID” (2nd option)
3. Click “Financial Aid” (3rd option) or (3rd tab)
4. Click “Award” (3rd option)
5. Click “Award for Aid Year” (1st option)
6. Click Drop-down menu
7. Select correct aid year; Click “Submit”
8. Click “Accept Award Offer” (5th tab)
9. Accept and/or decline items listed
10. Click “Submit Decision”
siue.edu
25. You will need your 4-digit PIN from your FAFSA.
siue.edu
1. Go to Direct Loans’ website www.studentloans.gov;
2. In the box “Manage My Direct Loan,”
click on green “Sign In” bar;
3. Complete the Sign In screen and click on “Sign In;”
4. In the menu on the left, under the 3rd bullet “Master
Promissory Note,” click on “Complete MPN;”
5. Click on the “Subsidized/Unsubsidized.”
26. 1. Go to Direct Loans’website, www.studentloans.gov;
2. In the box “Manage My Direct Loan,” Click on green “Sign In bar;
3. Complete the Sign In screen and click on “Sign In”;
4. In the menu on the left, under the 4th bullet “Counseling” click on
“Complete Entrance Counseling”;
5. Click on the “Complete Entrance Counseling”;
6. Under “Counseling Type” click the appropriate radio button for your
status and then click “Continue”.
siue.edu
Step #3: Complete Entrance Loan Counseling
You will need your 4-digit PIN from your FAFSA.
27. 1. Accept loan on your Award Letter on CougarNet.
2. (Parent) Sign a Master Promissory Note for the Federal
Plus Loan (www.studentloans.gov).
3. Complete Plus application (www.studentloans.gov).
Student MUST complete a FAFSA;
Parent, you will need your 4-digit federal PIN from the FAFSA.
siue.edu
Steps for Accepting Your Federal Plus Loan
28. 1. Go to Direct Loans’website, www.studentloans.gov;
2. In the box “Manage My Direct Loan,” Click on green “Sign In” bar;
3. Complete the Sign In screen and click on “Sign In”;
4. In the menu on the left, under the 3rd bullet “Master Promissory Note”; click
on “Complete MPN”;
5. Click on the “Parent PLUS”;
6. The parent must agree on the promissory note for the Department of
Education to run a credit check or the school will not receive the application.
siue.edu
How to Complete your MPN for
Your Federal Plus Loan
Student MUST complete a FAFSA;
Parent, you will need your 4-digit federal PIN from the FAFSA.
29. Privacy
We are dedicated to the protection of our
students’privacy and identity; therefore,
only certain information can be obtained
from our office without the student being
present and having proper identification.
No information will be given without the
student’s identification number.
siue.edu
31. We are here for you!
• Day one: Advisors are available from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30
p.m. for one-on-one advising in the Financial Aid
Office. This is optional.
• Day two: Upstairs in the MUC (3–4 p.m.).
This is optional.
• Small-group sessions led by financial aid advisors.
• Review of CougarNet screens and learn how the aid on
the Award Letter applies to the student’s bill.
siue.edu
32. Reminders
• A FAFSA must be completed each year.
• There are no paper award letters given.
• CougarNet and Cougar Webmail are the media by
which we communicate with our students.
• Check CougarNet at least once a week to view any
change in award or to submit any missing
requirements.
siue.edu
33. Important Contact Information
Office of Student Financial Aid
2308 Rendleman Hall
Edwardsville, IL 62026
(618) 650-3880
(618) 650-3885 (fax)
siue.edu/financialaid
finaid@siue.edu
Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)
(800) 908-9946
siue.edu
