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Financial Aid Offer

Understanding Your Financial Aid Offer

Your financial aid offer lets you know what kind of financial aid you are eligible to receive. You will receive an email when your financial aid offer is ready to view in Campus Logic. If you are an incoming first year or transfer undergraduate student, you will also receive one in the mail. 

If you have questions about your financial aid or have special circumstances you’d like considered, you can contact a Financial Aid Advisor by calling 302.857.6250 or by email faid [at] desu.edu

Offers for the 2022-23 academic year will begin in February.

Common Financial Aid Terms and Definitions

Classification - Your year in school based on the number of semester hours you have earned.

Cost of Attendance - The estimated cost of attendance to Delaware State University for one school year. This can include:

  • Tuition and Fees - amount charged by Delaware State University for classes and other campus facilities and services.
  • Housing and Meals
    • On-campus - amount charged by Delaware State University for living in a residence hall and buying a meal plan.
    • Off-campus - average cost of rent, utilities, and food for the Dover Delaware area.
  • Books and Supplies - average cost based on enrollment hours.
  • Personal Expenses - includes, but is not limited to, clothing, personal items, entertainment, etc.
  • Transportation - travel to and from classes and trips home during breaks.

Credit-Based Loan - A type of financial aid that must be repaid with interest and requires the borrower to be approved based on a credit check. A co-signer (endorser) may be required. This includes the Federal Direct PLUS Loan and private (alternative) loans.

Enrollment Hours - The number of semester hours you will register for each semester.

Estimated Amount Due - The amount due to your University Bill after grants and scholarships have been applied to your University Bill.

Estimated Charges - The amount to be billed for Tuition and Fees (and Housing and Meals if you will live on-campus).

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) - A measure of how much you and your family can pay toward your education for one school year as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - The first step to apply for federal financial aid.

Financial Need - Your Cost of Attendance minus your Expected Family Contribution. Some types of financial aid, such as grants and scholarships, are need-based. 

Grant - A type of financial aid usually offered based on financial need from federal, state, University of Iowa, and private sources that does not need to be repaid.

Housing Plans - Where you said you’ll be living during the school year on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

  • On-campus
  • Off-campus
  • With a parent or relative

Loan Fees - A small percentage of the total student or parent loan that is subtracted before the loan is disbursed.

Other Estimated Expenses - Estimated costs that you may have that are not charged to your University Bill. This can include:

  • Off-campus Housing and Meals - average cost of rent, utilities, and food for the Dover Delaware area.
  • Books and Supplies - average cost based on enrollment hours.
  • Personal Expenses - includes, but is not limited to, clothing, personal items, entertainment, etc. 
  • Transportation - travel to and from classes and trips home during breaks.

Parent Loan - A type of financial aid that your parent must repay with interest and is credit-based. Parent Loans are available through the U.S. Department of Education or private lenders. A small loan fee is subtracted before the loan disburses.

Remaining Estimated Costs - Cost of Attendance (Estimated Charges + Other Estimated Expenses) minus Grants, Scholarships, and Student Loans. Your Remaining Estimated Costs can be covered using the DSU Deferred Payment plan, employment, and/or Federal Direct PLUS/private credit-based loan options.

Residency Tuition - The tuition and fees you are charged based on your resident or non-resident status. Your residency is determined by the Office of the Registrar.

Scholarship - A type of financial aid usually offered based on merit, recognizing outstanding academic achievement and other accomplishments that does not need to be repaid. You can search for Delaware State University scholarships on the Scholarships page.

Student Loan - A type of financial aid that you must repay with interest. Student Loans are available through the U.S. Department of Education or private lenders. A small loan fee is subtracted before the loan disburses.

DSU Deferred Payment Plan - Interest-free payment plan that lets you pay your University Bill in 3 monthly installments each semester. 

University Bill - A monthly statement of charges from student accounts and is available to view in Campus Logic.

Verification - Process to confirm the information you provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is accurate. You are selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education. You can check your student email or campus logic to see what documents are required for verification.

Work-Study - A type of financial aid that is offered based on financial need and allows you to work on campus while being paid every other week. Work-Study earnings are not applied to your student account.