Aid from the federal student aid programs will be paid to you through your school. The school will notify you of your aid package. Your aid awards will likely be disbursed each payment period (semester, quarter, trimester, etc.) Typically, your school will first use the aid to pay tuition and fee charges and room and board, if provided by the school. Any remainder will be paid to you for your other education-related expenses.

To meet your financial need, each school you list on the FAFSA will send you a notice of the types and amounts of aid you're eligible for. Financial need is the difference between your school's cost of attendance (including living expenses), as calculated by your school, and your EFC.

The amount of your financial aid award will be affected by whether you're a full-time or part-time student and whether you attend school for a full academic year or less.

If you believe that you have special circumstances that should be taken into account in determining your financial need, contact the financial aid administrator at the school awarding your aid. Special circumstances might include unusual medical or dental expenses or a significant change in income from one year to the next. Please note that the financial aid administrator's decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.