Financial Aid - How To's

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID:

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for federal Grants, Student Loans, and Work Study funding.

TO START THE PROCESS:

2. After Idaho State University (ISU) has received your FAFSA, we need to confirm your housing plans for the upcoming academic year in order to proceed with your financial aid.

Instructions:

1. Navigate to the Housing Plans section in your student portal.
2. Log in using your ISU credentials (the same username and password you use to access MyISU and your ISU email).
3. Select the appropriate school year for which you are submitting your housing plans.
4. A page will appear where you will indicate your housing plans for the selected school year. Once completed, click SUBMIT.

Please note: It is crucial that you respond promptly to this request. Delays may result in a delay in receiving your financial aid offer.

For questions or if you need to update your housing plans, please contact the ISU Financial Aid Office at (208) 282-2756 or via email at finaidem@isu.edu.

SATISFYING FINANCIAL AID REQUIREMENTS:

3. Choose the My Financial Aid Card in My ISU, then select the appropriate year.

1. 1.  If you are required to submit documents on the Home tab that appears, you will see one or more unsatisfied requirements. Submit requested forms and supporting documentation by fax, mail, electronic web drop box, or in-person to the ISU Financial Aid Office. Fax and address information is shown at the top of each requested form. DO NOT submit documents via email.
   2. Requests will be updated to satisfied when documents have been received.  Entrance Counseling and Promissory Notes for student loans will continue to show unsatisfied until ISU originates your loan at which time ISU will receive confirmation of your having completed these requirements (usually within 3-5 days of your having accepted the loan). 
   3. Respond to the Financial Aid (Title IV) Authorization Questions (see "To Accept and Authorize Your Financial Aid Award" instructions below) on the Home tab and be sure to click "submit".

TO ACCEPT AND AUTHORIZE YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARD:

4. In MyISU - My Financial Aid card, click on the My Financial Aid link and select the appropriate year.  Follow the instructions on each of the tabs that appear on your screen, working from left to right. On the Home tab, verify the year in the upper right corner matches the FAFSA year, then answer the two (2) required questions. Finish by clicking Submit. Within 24 hours, the Financial Aid (Title IV) Authorization and the Prior Year Financial Aid (Title IV) Authorization requirements will show as satisfied. This process is required once per academic year.

STUDENT LOAN REQUIREMENTS: 

5. (Complete Step 5 only if you are accepting a student loan for the first time at ISU--good for 10 years) Complete the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note online.

FINANCIAL AID DISBURSEMENT:

6. The ISU Cashier's Office will process accepted and authorized financial aid (and scholarships) no earlier than 10 days prior to the fall and spring semester start dates and 5 days prior to a student's earliest summer start date. In the Online Fee Payment card, see your tuition and fee balance under "Account Detail by Term". The balance will be updated to reflect payments and other changes. To view your account and to set up a Payment Plan or eRefund (Direct Deposit), click on "Proceed to TouchNet."

REGARDING SCHOLARSHIPS:

Only a select few scholarship awards can be actively accepted in MyISU. Some will require the submission of a paper acceptance form, while others can be accepted in the Bengal Online Scholarship System (BOSS). Check your ISU email award notification or scholarship award letter for instructions on accepting your scholarship(s).  To view scholarship(s), go to the My Financial Aid card in MyISU and click on My Financial Aid, select the appropriate year, and then click the Award Offer tab.

QUESTIONS?

Email the following ISU offices for additional information:

Financial Aid Office  or  call  (208) 282-2756

Scholarship Office  or  call  (208) 282-3315

Cashier's Office   or call  (208) 282-2900