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Apply for Financial Aid

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Steps in obtaining Financial Aid are similar for Undergraduate and Graduate Students. Whether you are a new or returning student, you must apply annually for Financial Aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

New Undergraduate students who file their FAFSA by February 15 of each year (April 15 for the 2024-2025 academic year) may be eligible to receive the $1,500 FAFSA Incentive Award.

All Merit scholarships and merit-based aid do not require a FAFSA submission.

Applying for Financial Aid is similar for most students, whether you are a Freshman, Transfer or Graduate student. However, there are some differences that you should be aware of, depending on whether you are a future or current student.

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International Students

If you are an international student, you are not eligible for Federal or state financial aid programs however, you may qualify for one of the many merit scholarships offered at Pace University. You should also visit our Alternative Financing Options and Third Party Scholarships pages for more financial aid opportunities you may qualify to apply for.

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Important Dates and Deadlines

Timing is just as important in Financial Aid as it can be in other aspects of your daily life. So save these important dates when it comes to Financial Aid!

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Application Procedures

  • To apply for financial aid from the Federal Government, New York State or Pace University, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can apply online starting October 1st each year.

    You and your parents (if applicable) must electronically sign the FAFSA online using your unique FSA ID. If you and/or your parents do not have an FSA ID you can create one at the Federal Student Aid website.

    For priority consideration, you should file the FAFSA no later than April 15 for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year and November 15 for all other years, as some awards are made to qualifying applicants on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please note, that you can continue to file your FAFSA after this date.

    Students admitted to Pace University for the Spring semester should file the FAFSA no later than December 1st for priority consideration.

    When you complete the FAFSA you will need to list one of the following Pace University campus codes:

    PLEASE ONLY LIST ONE PACE UNIVERSITY CODE ON YOUR FAFSA:

    • New York City campus: 002791
    • Pleasantville campus: 002792
    • White Plains campus: 002727
  • To complete your application for New York State aid (New York residents only), complete the Express TAP Application (ETA) online. (You will be provided with a link to the ETA from the FAFSA website after you finish filing your FAFSA.)

    Legal New York residents who did not submit the online TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) application after completing the FAFSA and who wish to be considered for New York State aid should visit the New York State HESC website for more information and to complete the New York State TAP application.

  • To apply for the Direct Parent PLUS loan, you and your parent must complete the electronic application linked to your Pace Portal. Our electronic application, and PDF version for those who wish to print and complete the application, can also be found on the Forms and Applications page of the Financial Aid website. Applicants must pass a credit check through the Department of Education to be approved for this loan.

    For Parent Borrowers:
    Steps to Finalizing Your Parent PLUS Loan

    1. Complete the Electronic or PDF Parent PLUS Loan Application.
      • For PDF submissions: please use our Document Submission Form to securely submit your completed Parent PLUS Loan Application
    2. If credit approved:
      • Parent Borrowers must complete the PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Parents using their unique FSA ID at StudentAid.gov.
    3. If credit denied:
      • Parent Borrowers can appeal their credit denial at StudentAid.gov
        • PLUS MPN for Parents and PLUS Credit Counseling must be completed once credit-approved with appeal approval.
      • Parent Borrowers can seek a credit worthy cosigner and have them submit the Endorser Addendum at StudentAid.gov
        • PLUS MPN for Parents and PLUS Credit Counseling must be completed once credit-approved with a co-signer.
      • or Students can receive an additional Unsubsidized Stafford loan as per the application.
  • To apply for the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, you must complete the Graduate PLUS Loan application. Our electronic application, and PDF version for those who wish to print and complete the application, can also be found on the Forms and Applications page of the Financial Aid website. Applicants must pass a credit check through the Department of Education to be approved for this loan.

    Steps to Finalizing Your Graduate PLUS Loan

    1. Complete the Electronic or PDF Graduate PLUS Loan Application.
      • For PDF submissions: please use our Document Submission Form to securely submit your completed Graduate PLUS Loan Application
    2. If credit approved:
      • Borrowers must complete the PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Students using their unique FSA ID at StudentAid.gov.
    3. If credit denied:
      • Borrowers can appeal their credit denial at StudentAid.gov
        • PLUS MPN for Students and PLUS Credit Counseling must be completed once credit-approved with appeal approval.
      • Borrowers can seek a credit worthy cosigner and have them submit the Endorser Addendum at StudentAid.gov
        • PLUS MPN for Students and PLUS Credit Counseling must be completed once credit-approved with a co-signer.
  • Apply for Endowed Scholarships from Pace University (Continuing and Resuming students only).

  • To apply for Alternative Loans from private lenders, apply on your lender's website and provide your lender with any requested documentation. For more information please visit the Alternative Financing page of the Financial Aid website.

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Steps after Applying for Financial Aid

Once you have completed your FAFSA for the year and submitted any additional applications for aid, there are some steps you should take in order to secure the best possible financial aid package from Pace University.

The steps below apply to both Undergraduate and Graduate students who are newly admitted or currently enrolled.

  1. Upon receipt, read and review your Financial Aid Award notification email and all other information sent to you from the Pace University Financial Aid Office.
  2. Log in to your Pace Portal to check your:
    1. Financial Aid status (to check for any holds or additional requirements)
    2. Aid Eligibility
    3. Accept or Decline your Financial Aid awards

      Note: Simply accepting your aid does not confirm your bill payment. Be sure to follow up with the Student Accounts Office about your Financial Aid disbursements to your bill.
  3. Notify the Financial Aid Office of any changes to your enrollment or living arrangements while attending Pace University.
  4. Keep up to date with and be sure you maintain aid eligibility and renewal requirements.

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Accept Your Financial Aid

    1. Go to Pace Portal
    2. Log in with your Pace Portal username and password.
      • If you are a new student and do not have your username or password, review the ITS New Student Checklist for step-by-step instructions to activate your Pace student account.
    3. After logging in, click on the “Students” tab.
    4. Scroll down on the left and select the “Financial Aid System” link.
    5. Click on the "Award Offer" tab to:
      • Review important information financial aid information and your aid offers for the current aid year.
      • Accept/decline your aid offers.

    If you have access issues, try changing your browser. If issues persist, email the Pace University Help Desk.

  • Obtaining your Scholarship Agreement form

    1. Follow steps 1-5 of the Accepting your Financial Aid instructions, listed above.
    2. Review your "Home" tab to review your financial aid status and list of Student Requirements.
    3. Review the "Unsatisfied Requirements" section on your "Home" tab.
    4. Click the link for your Scholarship Award Agreement Form.
      • Sign in again using your Pace Portal username and password.
      • Your Award Agreement will open up. Review the terms and conditions of your Scholarship.
      • Electronically sign and submit your agreement form.
      • Click the PDF link on the confirmation page to save a signed copy for your records.

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What to do after you have accepted your Financial Aid

Certain types of Financial Aid require additional steps after you have accepted them.

See below for our list of Financial Aid Next Steps:

    1. Follow steps 1-5 of the Accepting your Financial Aid instructions, listed above.
    2. Review your "Home" tab to review your financial aid status and list of Student Requirements.
    3. Review the "Unsatisfied Requirements" section on your "Home" tab.
    4. Click the link for your Scholarship Award Agreement Form.
      • Sign in again using your Pace Portal username and password.
      • Your Award Agreement will open up. Review the terms and conditions of your Scholarship.
      • Electronically sign and submit your agreement form.
      • Click the PDF link on the confirmation page to save a signed copy for your records.
    5. Most Pace University scholarships require the completion of a separate Scholarship Award Agreement form.

    Students must maintain all the terms and conditions of their award agreement form to qualify for renewal of the award each year.

  • If you decide to accept Federal Work Study as part of your Financial Aid award, you will be eligible to become a Student Employee. Student employees are very important to the University. They assist in almost every office/department of the University.

    A work study experience will allow you the opportunity to become a productive member of the University community and earn money, while developing important job skills.

    A work study job is not guaranteed. Please apply for open positions through the Pace Human Resource Office. If you become employed, you will be paid directly by check twice a month for the hours worked during the previous pay period.

  • If you are accepting a Federal Direct Loan for the first time, you must complete the required Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note by logging into StudentAid.gov using your unique FSA ID.

    If you have previously accepted any Federal Direct Loans and do not maintain continuous Fall/Spring minimum enrollment (drop below 6 credit (half-time) enrollment), or are about to graduate, you must complete Exit Counseling at StudentAid.gov.

    NSDLS
    You can check the status of any Federal Direct Loans or grants you were awarded by logging into your NSLDS account. You will need the FSA ID you created to sign your FAFSA in order to sign into NSLDS.

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Information From The Pace University Financial Aid Office

The Financial Aid Office will communicate with students through the Pace email and Pace Portal. Be sure to activate and check your email regularly.

When contacting the office, be sure to have available: student name and the University ID number (nine digit numbers beginning with U--). Be sure to include this information in all written correspondence, voice mail, or email as well.

Communications with parents will be shared if the student has signed an Authorization to Disclose Information Education Records Form. (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act "FERPA"). Some of the offices that can share information with parents once a FERPA Authorization has been signed are:

  • Dean of Students - housing
  • Student Accounts – billing and account balances
  • Registrar - grades
  • Financial Aid – status of awards

For more information, or to complete the FERPA form, please visit our FERPA policy page.

Note: the Financial Aid Office will not share parent tax information with the student.

Contact Us

For additional information or inquiries about your Financial Aid, email the Financial Aid Office, call (877) 672-1830 (toll-free), or (212) 346-1930 (toll).

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