Financial Aid

How to Apply for Academic Year 2023-2024

The Three Step Application Process

  1. File your 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. School Code 002014 must be included or added to an existing FAFSA for LSUHSC-NO to receive the results.

  2. Complete your Master Promissory Note (MPN) at https://studentaid.gov/app/launchMpn.action.The Federal ID and Password required are the same as those you use to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Select “LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER - NEW ORLEANS” from the school selection pull-down. DO NOT select “LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER - SCH. OF DENTISTRY” even if you are a student at the School of Dentistry.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Students who borrowed Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized loans within the preceding nine academic years  do not need to complete a new online master promissory note. Many borrowers will obtain sufficient funding through the Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized program. Some may need to seek additional funding through the Graduate PLUS, Undergraduate PLUS (for parents of dependent undergraduates), or private alternative loans.  PLUS borrowers must complete the PLUS loan request for each academic year they seek funding, and must complete a PLUS master promissory note if they are seeking PLUS funding for the first time or have not borrowed PLUS in the preceeding nine academic years.  However, if your existing MPN was filed over nine years ago file new MPN because they have a 10 year expiration.

  3. Complete the Federal Direct Loan online entrance counseling session at https://studentaid.gov/app/counselingInstructions.action?counselingType=entrance.

A Detailed Description of the Application Process

STEP 1 ► Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Complete the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students must complete a FAFSA for each academic year they seek aid. The Department of Education and the Financial Aid Office highly recommend filing the FAFSA on the web at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.  Please note that the Summer Term for all but our post-doctoral dental specialty students is attached to the prior academic year.  Therefore, if you are admitted to and seeking aid for Summer Term (and not a dental post-doctoral specialty student) your must also complete the 2022-23 FAFSA for Summer '23 aid.

  • File the FAFSA early to facilitate prompt processing of aid for the Fall semester.

  • Study all directions and complete all FAFSA worksheets. Many items are not self-evident.

  • List the LSUHSC New Orleans Federal School Code, 002014, in Step Six of the FAFSA.

  • Undergraduates (Associate/Bachelor's degree seekers) must follow the FAFSA to determine if parent data is required. Students in LSUHSC Masters and Doctoral programs are graduate/professional level and do not have to include parent data on the FAFSA to qualify for U.S. Department of Education federal aid.

    However, applicants for Health Professions Loan (DDS) must include parent data.

  • Using the IRS Tax Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) when filing your FAFSA electronically will simplify filing, avoid data entry errors, and could reduce documentation required if your application is selected for Verification. This service is available for most federal tax filers. 

  • Feel free to bring your FAFSA in for review with your financial aid counselor, but submit your electronic or paper form to the federal processing center.

Student Aid Report - The Student Aid Report (SAR) lists the results of the FAFSA filing. Contact the financial aid office immediately if:

  • There are errors in your report

  • Your SAR includes the letter “C” next to the EFC figure, or

  • LSUHSC-NO is not identified as a data recipient.

Verification - If the SAR indicates an aid applicant is selected for verification, the application file will not be complete for processing until the financial aid office receives a completed Verification Worksheet and all required Federal Income Tax Transcripts (or IRS form documenting non-filing status if applicable) and other verification documentation required by the student financial aid office. Select the required Worksheet at the links below based on notification you will receive from the Student Financial Aid Office:

V1 Dependent Worksheets                  V1 Independent Worksheet

V4 Dependent Worksheet              V4 Independent Worksheet

V5 Dependent Worksheets                 V5 Independent Worksheets
 

Step 2 ► The Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)

The Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) covers multiple academic years. Note: minimum level enrollment for Subsidized/Unsubsidized is five credits graduate, six credits undergraduate, in a regular semester.  Because Federal Direct Loan MPN expire 10 years from initiation, complete new MPN if your existing MPN was initiated over nine years form the start of your 2023-24 academic year.

Step 3 ► Federal Entrance Counseling

Complete the Federal Entrance Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/app/counselingInstructions.action?counselingType=entrance.