< Back to Apply for Federal Financial Aid
STEP 1: Apply for Admission to Barton
STEP 2: Create a Federal Student Aid Account at studentaid.gov. The FSA ID can be used for many actions including, but not limited to:
- E-signing the FAFSA
- Completing Loan Requirements such as Loan Entrance/Exit Counseling and Master Promissory Notes.
STEP 3: The student completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the web. Complete the FAFSA on the web at www.studentaid.gov.
- Include Barton's school code on your FAFSA. Our school code is 004608.
- An application filed electronically will take approximately two weeks to be processed. The Federal Processor will send the information to the Financial Aid Office electronically in the form of an ISIR. When an ISIR is returned to the office by the Federal Processor, the student will receive a one page abbreviated SAR in the form of an Information Acknowledgment from the Federal Processor.
- Application for federal aid cannot be made until after October 1st prior to the award year and cannot be made any later than June 30th of the award year. (Example: For the 2023-24 school year, a student may apply from October 1, 2022 until June 30, 2024.)
- FAFSA will send the student a confirmation email with an estimation of the student's eligibility. Barton will later send the student an email regarding the next step once the application is received.
STEP 4: The student must submit all requested documents to the Financial Aid Office. Once our office has received your processed FAFSA students can view their financial aid status on their MyBarton Portal. If your FAFSA is selected for Verification the Financial Aid Office will contact the student requesting additional documentation. Any or all of the following documents may be requested:
- Independent or Dependent Verification Worksheet
- Tax Return Transcript(s) / Signed 1040(s) for tax year used on the FAFSA
- W-2 Forms (student and/or parent's, spouse)
- Copy of student's Social Security card
- Documentation verifying student's independent status
- Cured Default documentation
- Bankruptcy Documentation
- Copy of student's birth certificate
- INS documentation
- Proof of U.S. citizenship
- Professional judgment application
- Any other document deemed necessary by the FAO
Priority deadlines for all requested documents to reach the Financial Aid Office are July 1st for the Fall semester, November 1st for the Spring semester and April 1st for the summer session. The Financial Aid Office cannot guarantee a file will be processed and disbursed after priority deadlines are passed.
STEP 5: The Financial Aid Office will award the student's federal aid and then notify the student via the student's Cougar email that the award can be viewed by accessing their MyBarton Portal.
Pell grants are awarded based on full-time enrollment. The actual Pell grant paid to the student is based on the student's actual enrollment and attendance. See Disbursement Policies and Procedures.
There are additional steps that need to be done to accept a student loan and to have it certified. See Student Loan Information.
STEP 6: After the student's aid has been applied to his or her account, a refund will be issued via the students preferred format in which they have set up via the Student Financial Center within their MyBarton Portal. Students will not receive a refund if there is an unpaid balance on their account. If a student is eligible for a refund, they can set it up to payout as a direct deposit within their Student Financial Center. Otherwise refunds will default to paper checks mailed to the address listed in their Student Financial Center.