Scholarships & Financial Aid

Verification

Verification is an audit of the financial aid application information.  Many student files are selected by the Federal Processor in the process of applying for aid. Some files are randomly selected while others are selected because of appearing to be error prone.  If the student’s file is selected, requested documentation should be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid at MSM immediately because of specified deadline date requirements.  We normally ask that the documents be provided within two weeks of being selected for verification.

This process does not mean that you are in trouble if questions answered were wrong on the original application.  It just means that The Office of Financial Aid needs to correct the information. Changes made do have the possibility of effecting the types and/or amounts of aid you might receive.

Notification of Requirement

Not all students are required to complete verification. Only submit the requested items on this page if you have been notified of the need to complete verification.  You will be notified of this requirement from the Office of Financial Aid through an official email communication.  Once you receive this email it is important to complete the requested steps as soon as possible.

Documents Needed

A Verification Worksheet is required to be completed by all students selected for verification.

• Dependent Verification Worksheet
• Independent Verification Worksheet

The second item required of all students is to verify their (and parent’s if applicable)prior year’s tax data.  This can be achieved in one of two ways.

• Use the IRS’s Data Retrieval Tool through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Video instructions can be found here
• Submit a copy of your Tax Return Transcript*
  • Online instant PDF
    • This will give you an instant PDF of your Tax Return Transcript that you can then save or print and submit to the office of financial aid.
    • Copies, scans, and faxes are all acceptable forms of submission
  • Online request to be mailed
    • Once completed a paper copy of your tax return transcript will be mailed to you in 5-10 business days
  • Phone Request (800-908-9946)
    • Once completed a paper copy of your tax return transcript will be mailed to you in 5-10 business days

* This is a request for a tax return transcript not your filed tax return (i.e. 1040,1040A, or 1040EZ).  We are not able to accept your 1040 as an acceptable document for verification purposes

When is my parent’s information needed?

If you answer no to all of the below questions than your parents data and tax information is required.  If you can answer no, but are unable to provide parental information please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

• Will you be 24 prior to January 1 of the coming year?
• As of today, are you married?
• At the beginning of the upcoming school year will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program?
• Are you currently serving on active duty or a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
• Do you have a child or other dependent that you provide more than half of their financial support?

Process

Once all required items have been received the Office of Financial Aid will review and make changes, if necessary, to the student’s financial aid information.  This process is typically completed within two weeks of items being received.

New students will typically have a preliminary financial aid notification letter prior to verification being completed.  If changes are made to the types or amounts of aid received the student will be notified of the changes through receipt of an undated financial aid notification letter.

Returning students will not receive a financial aid notification letter until this process has been completed.

Consequences of not complying

If the required documentation is not provided to the Office of Financial Aid before the necessary deadline, MSM will not be able to apply any financial aid to your billing account.