Financial Aid
Financial aid programs at USC Upstate make it easier for many students to attend school who could not do so if left entirely to their own resources. The three general categories of federally-sponsored financial aid programs offered by the University to qualified undergraduate students include loans, grants, scholarships and work-study programs.
Important FAFSA Information
NOW is the time to file your 2013-2014 FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov by our Priority Deadline of March 1, 2013!
IMPORTANT: Updates have been made to the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to include an IRS Data Retrieval Process that will allow students and parents (once they have filed their tax returns) to populate their tax return information on the FAFSA. Complete and file your 2012 Federal Tax Return with the IRS for both students and parents as soon as possible and approximately 3 weeks after you file your tax return with the IRS you can go to the FAFSA and use the IRS Data Retrieval Process by clicking 'LINK TO IRS'. Note: Married students who file separate returns or Parents of a Dependent student who file separate returns may not use the 'LINK TO IRS' retrieval.
FAFSA VERIFICATION: The Department of Education has also updated regulations for students who are selected for Verification. The Financial Aid Office can no longer accept copies of Federal Tax Returns. Students whose FAFSA has been selected for Verification MUST use the IRS Data Retrieval Process on the FAFSA or request a copy of their Federal Tax Return Transcript by calling the IRS at 1-800-908-9946. Click here for more information.
Due to instability in student loan funding markets along with the impacts of recent federal legislative changes and proposals, 
the University of South Carolina Upstate will convert from the Federal Family Education Loan Program to the Federal Direct Loan (DL) Program beginning with the Fall 2010 semester. These programs are virtually identical and with loan funding provided directly from the U.S. Treasury, the DL program provides certainty that access to student and parent loans in the future will not be a concern. For immediate Direct Loan information and what you and your family will need to do in order to borrow next year, click here. Student and parent borrowers will be provided more complete information in the very near future.
ATTENTION: New Loan Requirement!
You will now be required to ACCEPT or DECLINE your loans on Self Service Carolina if you have been awarded a Federal Direct Loan, subsidized or unsubsidized, or a Federal Perkins Loan.
You must decide if you wish to either accept or decline the loans that are offered. If you want the loans, you MUST click on the button to fully accept or fully decline your loans. If you do not accept your loans, they will not be available for you to use to pay your fees.
2013-2014 Financial Aid Award Notifications
Financial Aid Award Notifications for the 2013-2014 academic year will be sent to your USC Upstate e-mail account ONLY. You will be instructed to access Self Service Carolina to view your financial aid award information. If you need to take additional action, you will see links and red text below your awards. Click those links and follow the instructions provided.
*New students should go to the Next Steps for Enrollment webpage for information on how to access and use Self Service Carolina.
Federal Work-Study Award Cancellation Date
If you have been awarded Federal Work-Study (FWS) for the Fall 2013 semester and you have not found a job by September 30, 2013, your FWS award will be cancelled. If you are having difficulty finding a job, contact the Office of Financial Aid or the Human Resources Office for job placement assistance. If you wish to cancel your FWS award, please do so immediately by following the instructions on your award letter for declining your award or by sending a written request to our office.
Dates to Remember |
| March 1 | FAFSA Priority Deadline |
| July 15 | Loan Application Deadline |