Student Financial Services | Frequently Asked Questions

A. Review our step-by-step guide. Please also note that our FAFSA Title IV School Code (for use in Step 6) is 002846. Our undergrad TAP Code is 0925.

Q. How do I accept my awards on my.newpaltz.edu?

A. Navigation Tips for Accepting Aid on my.newpaltz.edu) View our Navigation Instruction Sheet

1) Sign on to my.newpaltz.edu and navigate to the Financial Aid page:
Student/Money/My Financial Aid

2) Click on Accept/Decline your financial aid awards

3) Select the Award Year and click Submit

4) Click on the Accept Award Offer tab

5) Click either Accept Full Amount All Awards to accept all awards, or click Submit Decision if you are accepting partial awards

Q. I want to move off-campus. How will this affect my financial aid?

A. If you specified ON CAMPUS on your FAFSA you do not need to change that answer to OFF CAMPUS since both answers incorporate living expenses into the school budget. A student will be offered the same aid package whether they live on or off-campus. If you live off-campus then your bill will be significantly less each semester since the college won't charge you for room and board. (Please refer to your room/board charges on your invoice from a previous semester). If your aid exceeds your bill, the excess funds will be refunded to you to help pay for off-campus expenses. You can use that refund to pay your landlord, to buy food, etc. Just remember that refunds don't get issued until after the fall or spring semester starts per the following schedule:

→Federal student and parent loan monies will disburse starting between the second to third week of the fall and spring semester.

→Pell grants are disbursed around the third week of the fall and spring semester.

→NYS TAP grants are typically disbursed after the mid-point of the fall and spring semester.

→Summer aid typically disburses in July

Students can get refunds direct deposited by setting up a payment profile (e-refund) within their My Student Account on my.newpaltz. Otherwise, students who live off campus will have their exchange checks mailed to them. Please know that any refunds from a Parent PLUS Loan will not be directed deposited into the student's checking account. Instead, PLUS exchange checks always get mailed to the parent's permanent address.

Refunds are issued by The Office of Student Accounts. More info can be found on their website: EXCHANGE CHECKS

Learn more about the steps if you are Expecting a Refund?

Learn more about BankMobile financial aid refund disbursements here.

Q. Can non-matriculated students receive federal financial aid?

A. No. Financial aid recipients must be matriculated to receive federal financial aid including federal loans. Non-matriculated students may be able to access an alternative or private student loan.

Q. I'm trying to accept my aid on my.newpaltz.edu but I am experiencing problems logging in.

A. You can contact the student help desk by phone at (845) 257-3597 or by email at helpdesk@newpaltz.edu.

Q. Why is my accepted aid not showing as a deferral on my semester invoice from Student Accounts?

A. After you accept your aid online it typically takes one business day for the awards to show as a credit. If you have waited a day and it's still not showing then...

→ Are you enrolled part-time? Aid eligibility is based on being full-time unless you specify otherwise. Submit a Part-Time Enrollment Form to the Office of Student Financial Services and we will make any necessary adjustments to your package. Once your package is adjusted to part-time then it will show as a credit.

→ Is it late in the semester? If you just accepted a loan very late in the semester then it will not show as a credit until the money has been disbursed to the school. To avoid this, make sure to file your FAFSA by our priority FAFSA priority deadline (March 1st prior to the start of the academic year)!

Q. Why is Student Accounts emailing me to "Make Payment and Acknowledge your Semester Charges" when I have financial aid to cover my invoice?

A. Student Accounts is emailing you because you need to accept financial responsibility by "accepting" your semester charges. Many people confuse accepting your financial responsibility with accepting your aid. However, accepting your financial responsibility and accepting your aid are two different things. Even if you have already accepted your Financial Aid you'll still need to accept your semester charges on your invoice. You must accept your charges EVERY semester you attend, regardless of your financial aid awards. After you register for your semester classes, follow these steps for your financial responsibility acknowledgement.

If you have any other questions about accepting your financial responsibility, please contact the Office of Student Accounts via email at stuacct@newpaltz.edu or by phone at 845 257-3150.

Q. My FAFSA was selected for verification. What do I need to do?

A. For complete information view the "Verification" section of our website on the left side of the page under "Resources" and "How to Apply" for complete information. Please know that any requested documents will be posted online at my.newpaltz.edu - My Financial Aid - Eligibility.

Q. How do I get a Federal student loan and sign my MPN (Master Promissory Note)?

A. You must file the FAFSA and accept the award letter notification at my.newpaltz.edu.

You are also required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and entrance counseling (first-time borrowers only) on the Federal website: StudentAid.gov. Login using your FAFSA FSA ID.

-Complete a loan agreement (MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE) for Subsidized/Unsubsidized loan. (Direct Loan promissory notes are valid for 10 yrs.)

-If you are a first-time borrower at New Paltz then also complete loan ENTRANCE COUNSELING on that site as well. If you have questions about entrance counseling please call 845-257-3250.

Q. How does my parent apply for a Federal parent loan?

A. Visit our PLUS LOAN page for complete information.

Q. I plan to study abroad. How does this affect my financial aid?

A. You can get financial aid if you are studying abroad for summer, fall or spring through New Paltz or another 4-yr. SUNY college. If you plan to study during a short period such as winter, or through another non-SUNY school or a community college-- then check with the aid office to see if you qualify.

If you're in an eligible program aid amounts do not typically increase when studying abroad (when compared to a normal semester). Visit our new Study Abroad page for details on how your aid will get processed. Know that for summer programs you need to be enrolled in at least 6 credits to get loans.

Q. I have questions about my semester bill/invoice. Whom do I contact?

A. You can view your semester bill/invoice online at my.newpaltz.edu - My Student Account. After you register for your semester classes, follow these steps for your financial responsibility acknowledgement. For questions, please contact the Office of Student Accounts by phone at (845) 257-3150, by fax at (845) 257-3495 or by e-mail at stuacct@newpaltz.edu.

Q. When will I get any money? Can my refund be direct deposited?

A. If a student's finalized financial aid exceeds their charges, Student Accounts will issue a refund for the amount of the overpayment. Refunds get issued right after the award disburses per the following schedule:

→Federal student and parent loan monies will disburse starting the second week of the fall and spring semester.

→Pell grants are disbursed around the third week of the fall or spring semester.

→NYS TAP grants are typically disbursed after the mid-point of the fall and spring semester.

→Summer aid typically disburses in July.

Students can get refunds direct deposited by setting up a payment profile (e-refund) within their My Student Account on my.newpaltz. Otherwise, students who live off campus will have their exchange checks mailed to them and on-campus students will receive notification to sign for their checks at the Office of Student Accounts. Please know that any refunds from a Parent PLUS Loan will not be directed deposited into the student's checking account. Instead, PLUS exchange checks always get mailed to the parent's permanent address.

Refunds are issued by The Office of Student Accounts.

Learn more about the steps if you are Expecting a Refund?

Q. I need a part-time job. What's available?

A. If you have been awarded Work Study, please see the SUNY NP Work Study site.

For a list of on-campus, non-Work Study employment opportunities please visit the Student Assistant Page on the Payroll website.

For a list of off-campus job opportunities, log onto the SUNY NP JOBX site to search for off-campus jobs 24/7 on the web.

Q. Does New Paltz offer a Time-Payment Plan?

A. The Office of Student Accounts offers the New Paltz Payment Plan. Parents can also visit the Parent Page for more helpful info!

Q. What is the cost of attendance at New Paltz?

A. View our costs here: COST OF ATTENDANCE

Q. What is an FSA ID and how do I create one?

A. Students, parents, and borrowers are required to use an FSA ID, made up of a username and password, to access certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID is used to confirm your identity when accessing your financial aid information and electronically signing your federal student aid documents. Click here for more FSA ID information.

Q. Can we accept mailed photocopies of citizenship and immigration documents to prove citizenship status?

A. If requested, students must provide and present, in person, the original citizenship documentation to the Office of Student Financial Services supporting your claim to be a U.S. citizen or national (e.g., birth certificate, passport, Certificate of Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization, etc.) or to be an eligible noncitizen (e.g., Permanent Resident Card I-551, Resident Alien Card I-551, Arrival Departure Record I-94, etc.). We can then photocopy the documentation for purposes of confirming the student’s eligibility for Title IV financial aid purposes. Mailed, faxed, or e-mailed copies are not able to be accepted.

If a student is unable to present this in person, a Citizenship Documentation Affidavit can be completed in the presence of a notary. Instructions are on the form.