Apply for Financial Aid

The process of applying for financial aid to attend university can seem daunting at first, but we want to make the process easier for you and your family.

General Financial Aid Information

Manhattan University provides the maximum financial aid available to qualified students to make their attendance here financially possible. The basis of selection to receive aid is financial ability and/or need.

Meeting the complete costs of university requires a cooperative effort from several possible sources of funds: student and family, Manhattan University, state and federal government agencies and independent sources of aid. Manhattan University attempts to meet a significant portion of need for every student possible.

Here’s how it works:

  • After a student files the FAFSA, the Federal Student Aid program performs a needs analysis service that computes the expected family contribution (EFC) toward educational costs.
  • Manhattan University then determines financial need based on the total cost of attendance (COA) at the university.
  • Manhattan University deducts the EFC as determined by the FAFSA from the COA to calculate financial need.

Any special circumstances should be submitted to our office in writing by emailing finaid@manhattan.edu. A thorough review will be conducted, but additional aid is not guaranteed.

  • Eligibility

    New Students (Incoming Freshmen & Transfers)

    Students admitted to the University and demonstrating financial need will receive a financial aid assistance offer in the form of a financial aid award letter from the Admissions and Financial Aid Office.

    Most financial assistance is based on an assessment of your financial need. Need is the difference between your total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room and board, books, miscellaneous/personal expenses and transportation) and what your family can reasonably be expected to pay toward those expenses (determined by the EFC result of FAFSA). If a student's need for assistance changes from one year to the next, his/her financial aid may change.

    Continuing Manhattan University Students

    All financial aid is renewable on a yearly basis provided the student remains eligible by meeting the following conditions:

    • Files the FAFSA, and renews the FAFSA annually by the published deadline
    • Complies with any FAFSA verification requests or other requests by financial aid administrators
    • Is enrolled in a matriculated program
    • Is in good academic standing
    • Continues to demonstrate need (for need-based aid)
    • Has not defaulted on student loans
    • Course of Program Study

      Federal and state financial aid regulations allow courses which are required to complete a student’s program of study to be included when determining financial aid eligibility. Manhattan University uses two software programs to help students understand which courses apply to their program of study.

      Degree Works is Manhattan University’s degree audit program and indicates if the courses a student registers for (or completes) apply to the student’s program of study.

      Course Program of Study (CPoS) allows the financial aid office to retrieve information from each student’s degree audit prior to disbursing aid.

      For more information visit Course of Program Study.

  • How to Apply for Financial Aid

    All students who want to be considered for financial aid must submit a FAFSA (Manhattan University code: 002758) as early as possible preceding the academic year for which you wish to be considered for aid. Typically, the FAFSA is available on October 1 for the next academic year. For the 2024-25 academic year, the FAFSA opened in December. Despite delays in FAFSA processing, incoming and current students are encouraged to submit their completed application as soon as they are able.

    Submit FAFSA

    Deadlines

    New students

    Despite FAFSA delays for the 2024-25 academic year, incoming students should file as soon as possible.

    Returning students

    Despite FAFSA delays for the 2024-25 academic year, incoming students should file as soon as possible. 

    FAFSA Verification

    A certain number of FAFSA applications will be reviewed and verified by the Office of Financial Aid Administration. Learn more about the process of FAFSA Verification.

  • Notification of Awards

    After all pertinent forms and applications are completed, you will be advised of all possible awards via a financial aid award letter for freshmen and transfer students, and via email for continuing Manhattan University students. These letters are sent to incoming applicants on a rolling basis. Students already in attendance at Manhattan University will receive their award letters between late May and mid June.

    The financial aid awards on your award letter are "estimated" until full eligibility is determined. A financial aid award may be reduced or canceled. The most common reasons for an award adjustment include:

    • Changes in enrollment (change to part-time or full-time status)
    • Residency status changes (from on-campus to off-campus and vice versa)
    • Not maintaining satisfactory academic progress
    • Overawards due to receipt of additional aid and/or scholarships from other sources
    • An award may also be adjusted due to changes or inaccuracies in the information on which your award is based

    If your financial aid has been disbursed, you may be responsible for partial or full repayment of funds regardless of the reason for the adjustment.

    Students are advised to visit a Financial Aid Administration counselor to discuss any changes in family circumstances. A student should never withdraw from a class or a semester without talking with us to discuss the impact on future financial aid.