Student Financial Services To-Do List
Student Financial Services Checklist
Use this page as guide to completing your financial steps at Jacksonville University, and to help stay prepared for each semester. Steps for confirming your financial aid package, reviewing and paying your bill, and more are available here.
1. Complete the FAFSA
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in the financial aid process. This is the only way to qualify for federal student financial aid such as the Pell Grant, Direct Federal Loans, and Federal Work Study. Complete the FAFSA online and remember that an FSA ID is necessary to access and sign this application. If you are considered a Dependent Student while filing, your parent will also need an FSA ID.
JU’s school code is 001495.
2. Review and Take Action on your Financial Aid
Awards Package
After JU has received your FAFSA, an awards package will be created that will include all of the financial aid that you are eligible for at the time. Review your awards carefully and ask questions when you feel unsure.
On your Self-Service page is an additional helpful checklist--be sure to go through and complete all items on this checklist, including submitting all required documents and taking action your financial aid awards. Do not complete documents that are not listed in your requirements or have not been sent to you by your counselor.
Some of your awards may already reflect as "Accepted" like JU Scholarship funds. You will not need to take action on these awards. If an award is reflected as "Pending" you may be missing required documents or have not taken action, and should confirm your checklist is completed. Otherwise, please reach out to your financial aid counselor for more information.
It is encouraged to take action on all of your financial aid awards. If you do not wish to borrow your Federal Direct Loans as offered from your FAFSA, you should decline them. You can change this decision later by reaching out to your financial aid counselor via your JU email.
NOTE: Only accepted financial aid can be used to defer tuition costs.
Required Documents
All students who wish to borrow their Direct Federal Loans (Subsidized or Unsubsidized) must complete two documents as required by the Department of Education. Students must log into their Federal Student Aid (FSA) Account to complete these documents. If JU is selected to receive the information, it will be sent automatically. However, students completing these documents after classes have begun are encouraged to reach out to their financial aid counselor once completed.
- Entrance Counseling - Entrance counseling ensures you understand the terms and conditions of your loan
and your rights and responsibilities. You'll learn what a loan is, how interest works,
your options for repayment, and how to avoid delinquency and default. This should take around 30 minutes to complete.
- Master Promissory Note - The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan(s). This should take around 10 minutes to complete.
Most students should only need to complete these items once, unless they transfer schools, as these documents have a 10 year expiration. Be mindful you are completing the right document for the type of student you are!
Your Federal Direct Loans, if accepted, will not be disbursed until these two documents are completed and on file. These loans will appear as pending until they are officially disbursed after the add/drop period.
Entrance Counseling Master Promissory Note
3. Plan for Payment
After all financial aid is applied, you should review your remaining balance and choose one of the available payment options. For additional information about any of these options, please visit our Payment Options page.
Direct Payment Options
Pay In Full - You can pay your balance in full any time from your Self-Service Portal, or in person at Student Financial Services.
Tuition Payment Plan - You can sign up for up to a six-month payment plan prior to the start of the semester, which can help break up your semester balance into more manageable payments. You will need to sign up for a new payment plan every semester.
Additional Loan Options
Private Loans - Students and families can look into private lenders for educational loans to support in covering their expenses. Elmselect.com is a good starting resource to compare lenders, but families are welcome to look into lenders who may not be listed on this site.
Private lenders determine their own interest rates and perform credit checks to determine your eligibility. Dependent students often need a co-signer to qualify. Private loans can often be used up to your cost of attendance, covering all qualified educational expenses.
Parent PLUS Loans - Parents of dependent students can apply for a Parent PLUS Loan at studentaid.gov. The interest rate for this loan is determined each year by the Department of Education. Parent PLUS Loans can be borrowed for up to a maximum of $20,000 per year, per dependent student, up to an aggregate limit of $65,000 total.
Families may need to use more than a Parent PLUS Loan alone if this maximum does not cover their balance in full, and can use any of the other payment options available in conjunction with this loan to help.
If you have borrowed Parent PLUS Loans in the past, new restrictions and guidelines take effect on July 1, 2026. Please view this page of our website for more information about these changes, and determine how this may impact you when borrowing Parent PLUS Loans.
4. Get Ready to Start!
Once you have set up your plans for payment for the semester, you are ready for the start of the semester! Be sure to frequently check your email, keep a close eye on your student account balance, and don't hesitate to reach out to Student Financial Services if you have any questions. Email us at sfs@ju.edu, or call us at (904)-256-7080.
Also make sure you have completed any other requirements waiting for you--be that from Housing as an on-campus student, or Admissions for your first semester here at JU.
Additional Things to Watch For
Scholarships and Sponsorships
You should notify your counselor of any outside scholarships, or tuition sponsorships, that you anticipate receiving each year. Sending the information you have been provided directly to your counselor is a great way to ensure all needed information is available and help keep your account as up to date as possible.
Florida Prepaid or Other 529 Plans
Florida Pre-Paid is a 529 college savings plan that Jacksonville University does accept to help with the costs of tuition, room, and meal plans. Your parents will need to contact Florida Pre-Paid once it is decided you are going to be attending Jacksonville University and using the plan. You can visit the website for additional information.
JU also accepts other 529 plans. You can contact your plan administrator to find out information on your plan and how it works. Please reach out to Student Accounts at sfs@ju.edu for questions regarding these resources.
VA Benefits
VA Students should reach out to Mike Mitchell (mmitche26@ju.edu) for questions about how to use their benefits.
Florida Resident Students
If you are a dependent student and your parents are Florida residents you may be eligible for certain grants or scholarships that are offered because of your Florida resident status.
Bright Futures - If you have met the qualifications for Bright Futures, you should apply for the scholarship by submitting the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) no later than August 31 after high school graduation. You can check with your High School guidance counselor to get additional information on the Bright Futures program. JU accepts both the Florida Academic Scholars and Medallion Scholars awards.
EASE - You may also be eligible for the Effective Access To Student Education Program Grant, formerly known as the Florida Residency Access Grant. Requirements include full-time enrollment in a first bachelor's degree undergraduate program, a Florida resident for at least one year, and a U.S citizen or eligible noncitizen.
If you provided your parent's information on the FAFSA you would need to prove they are Florida residents. If you are independent then you would need to provide your proof of Florida residency. The list of acceptable documents for proof of Florida residency can be found on this form. The documentation provided must be dated a year prior to your enrollment start date.
If you do not complete a FAFSA but meet the requirements you may still be eligible, but you will have to fill out an additional form that will show up in your Self-Service portal.
Authorized User Access
Students can grant someone permission to view their account summary and make payments on their balance through the Self-Service portal. Adding an authorized user can be done directly in Self-Service by the student under the "User Options" section.
FERPA and Parent Access
Federal law protects student education records. After a student has been matriculated at the university, their information is privatized to only themselves. Students must complete a FERPA authorization form through my.ju.edu, under Starfish access. Students should provide the names of their parents or guardians, as well as contact information, to help identify those who they wish to have access to their information.
Student Health Insurance
Full-time traditional undergraduate students will be automatically enrolled in a Student Health Insurance plan each Fall, and will see this item reflected on their bill. Students must complete a waiver annually if they have comparable coverage. Emails are sent to all registered students with instructions for completing the waiver, and to notify when the waiver is available.