Financial Aid

The USC Financial Aid Office provides applications and information about need-based financial aid, departmental grants, and long-term financing options.

• Federal Direct Stafford Loan (Subsidized or Unsubsidized)
• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
• Private financing programs

Applying for Financial Aid

We strongly encourage you to apply for financial aid at the same time you apply for admission to the MSW@USC. To be considered, you must complete both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Supplemental Form, as well as satisfy all federal and university eligibility requirements. If you have any questions, please contact the USC Financial Aid Office.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

• If you are applying for the January 2012 cohort, please complete the 2011-2012 FAFSA.
• If you are applying for the May 2012 cohort, please complete the 2012-2013 FAFSA.
• USC’s Federal School Code is 001328.
• Apply as early as six weeks before the start of your earliest class or as soon as possible thereafter.

Supplemental Form

Complete the 2011-2012 Supplemental Form or the 2012-2013 Supplemental Form online by logging into My Financial Aid and Documents. You will find the Supplemental Form in the “Document Library.”

• January 2012 cohortplease complete the 2011-2012 Supplemental Form.
• May 2012 cohort please complete the 2012-2013 Supplemental Form.
• Submit the Supplemental Form as early as six weeks before the start of your earliest class or as soon as possible thereafter.

Important Notes:

• Monitor the status of your financial aid application.
• Check your email regularly for notices regarding your financial aid. Once you are admitted, be sure to activate your USC email account as soon as possible, as all notices will be sent to that address only.
• Depending on when you begin your program, you may also need to apply for financial aid for the 2011-2012 academic year in January 2011 to fund the latter part of your program.

Award Notification

Once you are admitted and the USC Financial Aid Office receives your FAFSA and Supplemental Form, your financial aid eligibility will be determined typically within 14-30 days. You will be notified via email if we require any additional information to determine your eligibility.

• The USC Financial Aid Office will notify you via email once your award information has been posted online. You will be able to access it by visiting and clicking on My Financial Aid and Documents.
• Your award notification includes the total cost of attendance of your program, which is an average used to determine your financial aid eligibility. It includes average amounts for standard expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, meals and other living expenses.

Managing Your Expected Contribution

Your Expected Contribution is the difference between your Estimated Cost of Attendance and your financial aid awards. Several financing options exist to help you manage your expenses.

• To learn more about the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan program and private educational financing programs, please visit the USC Financial Aid Office. Both types of loans are credit-based, but the terms for PLUS loans may be more favorable than those for private financing programs.

Your Next Steps

Once the USC Financial Aid Office has notified you of your financial aid eligibility, please refer to these next steps to ensure proper receipt of your financial aid funds.

Apply for a Federal Direct Stafford Loan

If you wish to borrow a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, you must complete the 2011-2012 Loan Request Statement Form (LRS) online by logging into My Financial Aid and Documents on the USC Financial Aid Office website. You will find the form in the “Document Library.”

• To receive your loan disbursement by the beginning of your first term, submit the Loan Request Statement Form no later than six weeks before the start of the term.

Apply for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

If you wish to borrow a Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, you must complete the 2011-2012 Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Request Statement Form online by visiting the USC Financial Aid Office and logging into My Financial Aid and Documents. You will find the form in the “Document Library.”

• To learn more about the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan program, please visit the USC Financial Aid Office. The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan is credit-based.
• To receive your loan disbursement by the beginning of your first term, submit the Loan Request Statement Form no later than six weeks before the start of the term.

Note: In some cases the USC Financial Aid Office may be able to increase your Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan eligibility for certain expenses, such as the purchase of a computer, childcare expenses or above-average rent. For more information, please visit the USC Financial Aid Office and click on “Applying for & Receiving Financial Aid,” then “Special Circumstances,” and “Budget Increase.”

Notify the USC Financial Aid Office of Any Enrollment Changes

If you receive additional resources or awards, or if your enrollment or housing plans change, please notify the
USC Financial Aid Office as soon as possible to have your eligibility updated.

Disbursement of Your Financial Aid

Once you have completed all Next Steps to apply for your loan(s), the USC Financial Aid Office will schedule the disbursement of your funds.

• Loans are typically disbursed in two equal installments.
• You must be enrolled in at least half-time status (4 units) to receive any financial aid.

Paying Your University Bill

Loan funds are credited to your USC student billing account. To monitor your account online, log in to OASIS or my USC and select “USCe.pay/Current Billing Balance.” More information is available at USCe.pay.

• Financial aid refunds are available to students whose financial aid disbursement exceeds their charges. Refunds are issued via direct deposit. To sign up for direct deposit, visit our Student Financial Services website.
• You can choose to leave excess funds on your student account for use in future terms.
• If your financial aid is not available for disbursement at the time your charges are due, you should contact the
  USC Financial Aid Office to request a billing deferment to avoid late fees and finance charges.

For More Information

Please contact the USC Financial Aid Office or call 213.740.1111 (Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Pacific Time) with any questions.

Click here to learn more about the MSW@USC.