Financial Aid Awarding - Classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025

The below information has been gathered and organized to help you through the aches and pains of financial aid awarding and acceptance. Please follow the steps below to ensure that you have done everything necessary to determine your financial aid need.

Please note

The information on this page is only relevant to the classes of 2023, 2024, & 2025.

Webpage Topics

  • Create a personal budget
  • Loan options
  • Viewing and accepting your financial aid
  • Calculate your Federal Graduate PLUS Loan application
  • New ONLINE Federal Graduate PLUS Loan application process
  • Disbursement and refund schedule

Create a Personal Budget

To help you evaluate your  financial circumstances and potential borrowing use the Access Group Loan Calculator. The Calculator will also assist you with knowing how your repayment schedule will look based on your current student loans. The calculator will assist with keeping your borrowing to a minimum. Give it a try! 

https://www.accesslex.org/student-loan-calculator#/

Loan Options

Federal loans are offered to students through completion of the FAFSA.  The Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan is offered as part of your Award Summary; however, students who wish to obtain a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan must complete an online application (the new application process is explained in detail "New ONLINE Federal Graduate PLUS Loan Application Process" section). You can view the differences in these loan options below:

  • Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan

    • Maximum Award:  $47,167
    • Interest Rate:  6.08%
    • Origination Fee:  1.068%
  • Federal Graduate PLUS Loan    
    • Maximum Award:  COA - (ALL other awards) = PLUS application limit
    • Interest Rate:  7.08%
    • Origination Fee:  4.272%

University Loans are offered to eligible students through completion of the FAFSA with parental information.  If a student is eligible for a University loan, it will be awarded as part of his/her Award Summary. University loans do not have origination fees like federal loans, so the amount you are awarded and accept is the amount that you receive. You can view the differences in these loan options below:

  • Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL)

    • Interest Rate:  5%
  • OSU Loan in Dentistry
    • Interest Rate:  7%
  • Snyder Memorial Loan
    • Interest Rate:  7%

Viewing and Accepting Your Financial Aid

Financial aid offers are communicated through the Award Summary section of your Student Center. To view your awards, follow the below navigation path:

  • Visit buckeyelink.osu.edu and sign into your Student Center.
  • Scroll down to the "Finances" section and click on "View Financial Aid."
  • On the next page, select the 2023 aid year.
  • Finally, select the "Award Summary" tab on the next page.

There are four possible awards: Scholarships, University loans, Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan, and the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan. Each award has a different process for acceptance. Please follow the below steps to accept your desired awards:

Scholarships

  • Scholarships cannot be accepted online.

    • Three types of scholarships:

      • College of Dentistry Awards

        • To accept, must submit acceptance form and thank you letter to Susannah Turner.
        • The award is then accepted on your behalf.
      • University Awards
        • Automatically accepted on your behalf.  No additional paperwork is required.
      • External Awards
        • Automatically accepted on your behalf.  No additional paperwork is required.

Loans

  • University loans cannot be accepted online.

    • From the Award Summary, click on the name of the loan.  This is a link that will populate a self-certification form in a new window.
    • Print page 2 of the self-certification form, complete, and submit to through the Docum.
    • Within 2-3 days of submitting the self-certification form, a promissory note will populate on your financial aid to do list.  Must complete this and allow 5-7 business days for the to do list to update.
  • Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan
    • Acceptance is online through your Award Summary.
    • Click on the green "Accept/Decline" button.
    • Enter the amount you wish to accept and click "Submit."
    • On the "Accept/Decline" screen, confirm you acceptance by clicking "Yes."
    • Last, click the green "OK" button on the final page.
  • Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
    • The Federal Graduate PLUS Loan cannot be accepted online.  It requires a separate application.
    • First, determine your Federal Graduate PLUS Loan application amount (in the next section).
    • Second, complete the online application.  A step-by-step tutorial is below for your assistance.

New ONLINE Federal Graduate PLUS Loan Application Process

Now that you have completed your personal budget, reviewed your loan options, and calculated your Federal Graduate PLUS Loan application amount, complete your online application.

Points to consider

  • Length of each semester

    • How long does the refund have to last?
    • Do you need to hold on to some of the funds from one semester to help fund living expenses for the following semester?
  • Summer refund is typically more than autumn and spring refunds
    • Less months in summer term than other semesters
    • Fees are lower
    • Student health insurance isn't charged until autumn and spring
  • Budget monthly and allocate money appropriately
    • Know how much you have to spend each month and stick to it

Summer Term-THESE DATES ARE ESTIMATED/SUBJECT TO CHANGE

  • Financial Aid Disbursement: TBD
  • Fee Payment Deadline: TBD
  • First Day of Classes: TBD

Autumn Semester

  • Autumn Semester-THESE DATES ARE ESTIMATED/SUBJECT TO CHANGE
  • Financial Aid Disbursement: TBD
  • Fee Payment Deadline: TBD
  • First Day of Classes: TBD

Spring Semester

  • Financial Aid Disbursement: TBD
  • Fee Payment Deadline: TBD
  • First Day of Classes: TBD
  • Direct Deposit Timeline: TBD

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I accept my loans for just summer semester and then accept additional loans later?
It is recommended that you accept loans for the entire year to ensure that they keep the current interest rates, shown above.  Interest rates are anticipated to increase on July 1, but if you have loans that span from summer 2020 through spring 2021, they will not be subject to the interest rate increase.

Why can't I accept my university loan (Health Professions Student Loan, OSU Loan in Dentistry, Snyder Memorial Loan) online?
University loans are accepted through completion of a self-certification form.  Please print them form from your Award Summary, complete page 2, and submit it to Alyssa McLellan via email attachment  or in person.

How do I complete my university loan self-certification form?
Section 2: Cost of Attendance and Estimated Financial Assistance

Follow the below instructions to complete this section:

  • Line A, "Student's cost of attendance..." - When viewing your Award Summary through Buckeye Link, click on the tab to the left titled "SFA Status."  The second table on this page is titled "Cost of Education" and your estimated cost of attendance is shown in the first box.  Enter this number for Line A.
  • Line B, "Estimated financial assistance..." - Add all of your financial aid except for this particular loan and write the sum on this line.  Please include any Federal Graduate PLUS Loan money for which you have applied and have been approved.
  • Line C, "Difference between amounts A and B." - Simply subtract Line B from Line A and enter that amount here.

Section 3: Applicant Information
Follow the below instructions to complete this section:

  • Full Name and Address of School - OSU College of Dentistry, 305 W. 12th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210
  • Applicant OSU ID - This is the shorter number on your BuckID.  If this line is not on your self-certification form, please include your OSU ID at the bottom of page two underneath your signature.
  • Email Address - Enter your OSU email address, please.
  • Period of Enrollment - Please enter 5/4/2022 to 5/1/2023

Why wasn't Student Health Insurance charged on my summer statement of account?
Student Health Insurance is only charged twice a year: autumn and spring.  Rates for the 2020-2021 year have not yet been determined.  Please continue to check shi.osu.edu for further information and updates.

Why wasn't I awarded a university loan?
Students are only considered for university loans if they entered parental information on the FAFSA by February 1.  Entering information doesn't guarantee a university loan, though.  If you forgot to enter parental information on the FAFSA, you can still do so in order to be considered for university loans for autumn and spring.  If you choose to add parental information, please email Financial Aid so we can have your updated FAFSA entered into the system.

Have a question that you think should be included with the rest of the FAQs?
Email Financial Aid to have it added!

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