1. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) results must be RECEIVED in the Office of Student Financial Planning NO LATER THAN APRIL 1 for the following academic year for students to receive priority consideration. Any requests received after that date will be considered only if funds remain available.
2. Students must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 hours and be charged at the full-time tuition rate) to receive any University funds (including academic scholarships and grants). Please note that all Mercer awards are made for a maximum of 8 semesters.
3. University Scholarships may be funded with Endowed and/or Restricted Scholarships as necessary. University academic scholarships and grants go to tuition costs only, unless specifically earmarked up front for Room and Board (on-campus). In no case can university funds exceed Tuition, Room and Board direct charges.
4. All new students must be accepted for admission into a degree-seeking program before any financial aid can be awarded. Students who are provisionally accepted do not qualify for financial aid.
5. All first-time student loan borrowers who have been awarded a Federal Direct Student Loan must have Entrance Loan Counseling before these funds can be credited to their student account in the Mercer One Office. These counseling sessions are scheduled during orientations, by appointment during the school year, and are available online through a link on our website. Students not completing Entrance Counseling, promissory notes or verification by the appropriate deadline will forfeit loan funds.
6. All promissory notes are printed and sent to students by the Student Loan Office. All signed promissory notes should be returned to the Student Loan Office or to the Mercer One Office (Ryals Hall). Federal Direct Loan Funds will not be disbursed to the student's account until a promissory note is signed by the student and acknowledged by the Direct Loan Servicing Center. Students may contact the Student Loan Office at (478) 301-2407. Students not completing promissory notes by the appropriate deadline will forfeit loan funds.
7. Students who are awarded funds from the State of Georgia such as the Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTEG), the full-time HOPE Scholarship and/or the SEE Award must be enrolled and charged for a full-time load (at least 12 hours per semester) to receive these funds. Students must be enrolled and attending classes on this full-time basis through the 15th calendar day after the end of the Drop/Add Period of the semester to receive these funds. Students who drop below 12 hours prior to this date or withdraw from the university before completing the application process will lose their State funds. Please note that students receiving the Governor's Scholarship must be enrolled in fifteen hours through the end of each term. See our website for further information regarding HOPE Scholarship funds.
8. ONLY WHOLE LETTER GRADES WILL BE USED IN CALCULATING HOPE AND SEE (Scholarship for Engineering Education) G.P.A.'s. Plus (+) grades will be rounded down to the letter grade (e.g., a "B+" will be counted as a "B") for HOPE and SEE eligibility. THIS MEANS THAT YOUR MERCER TRANSCRIPT G.P.A. MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS YOUR HOPE OR SEE SCHOLARSHIP G.P.A. Your HOPE G.P.A. will be evaluated at the end of every Spring semester and at 30,60, and 90 attempted hours.
9. Please check with the Office of Student Financial Planning before you withdraw from a class. If you enroll for fewer hours than you originally indicated on your financial aid application, your financial aid package may be adversely affected.
10. Mercer University Payment Plan Brochures may be obtained from the Mercer One Office. You may contact that office at(478) 301-1111.
11. No federal funds will be disbursed to students selected for the Verification Process until all required forms are received and the process is complete. Also, students awarded Federal Work-Study funds may not begin working until verification is complete. Students are selected for this process by the Department of Education or by the OSFP in some cases. The process requires the Office of Student Financial Planning to verify information submitted on the FAFSA. Students not completing verification requirements by the appropriate deadline will forfeit all federal aid.
12. Students are responsible for keeping the Office of Student Financial Planning updated should any information on this application change.
13. All students who received no academic credit for the semester, but failed to officially withdraw from the University, will be considered "unofficial" withdrawals. Financial aid will be reduced by percent of completion, based on the last day of proven attendance or by the mid-term date. All charges will remain the same.

If you have any questions regarding the financial aid process, please contact our office or visit our website.