SUNY Orange

Applying for Financial Aid

External links below are marked with this symbol †. Clicking on these links will take you out of the SUNY Orange Web site. The college cannot be responsible for the content on these pages, although the links on this page have been reviewed and are recommended by the staff of the Office of Financial Aid.

Students wishing to apply for financial aid, including Stafford and Plus Loans, must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) †. The FAFSA becomes available in January of each year.  New York State residents who are enrolled full- or part-time are eligible to apply for the NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) † and other New York State grants and scholarships.  Upon completion of the FAFSA, click on the state link located on the FAFSA confirmation page which will bring you to the New York State TAP application.

A note of caution: Even though the FAFSA has been submitted, the financial aid process may not yet be completed because some students are selected for a process called “verification”. 

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Verification Process

The Federal Government or a Financial Aid Office Administrator may select students, either at random or for some specific reason (see below). If you are selected for verification, you will be required to submit verification forms and all income documentation:

  • Independent students must submit signed copies of their own federal tax return and W-2's
  • Dependent students must submit signed copies of parent’s federal taxes and W-2’s, as well as documentation of other income from Workers' Compensation, Unemployment Benefits, etc.

Once you have been selected for verification, your financial aid cannot be processed until all of the verification requirements have been met.  To see if you have been selected for verification, go to Access Your Personal Financial Aid Information and follow the Financial Aid Status link to review student requirements for verification and review.  The Financial Aid Checklist will help guide you through our procedures so that your awards will be processed seamlessly.

In some cases, a student may be singled out for verification for one of the following reasons:

  • Student made errors on the FAFSA
  • Student submits income information that seems inconsistent with family size and poverty-level guidelines
  • Student’s residency or citizenship status is unclear
  • Male student has not filed with Selective Service
  • Student under 24 years of age claims independent status
  • Conflicting data on FAFSA or information that has been submitted to the college.

(NOTE: Please be sure each paper submitted is a one-sided copy.)

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Other Financial Aid Requirements

In order to receive Federal Financial Aid, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Must qualify to be admitted into college by supplying valid high-school transcripts or a GED or by meeting the college’s Ability to Benefit standard.
  • Must be enrolled in a degree program.  Note: Federal and State laws require that the courses you take must apply to your degree program.
  • Must have submitted their Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) documentation to Health Services.
  • Must maintain a good attendance record.  Excessive absence form school may cause students to have their financial aid reduced or eliminated.
  • Must maintain Federal and State Satisfactory Academic Progress

See: Dangers of Losing Your Financial Aid

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Returning, Transfer and Continuing Students

Returning, transferring, and continuing students must review their academic status in relation to both Federal and State Satisfactory Academic Progress.  Failure to meet the requirements for Grade Point Average or Pursuit of Program will disqualify student for financial aid.  To review your Satisfactory Academic Progress information, follow the Access Your Personal Financial Aid Information link and select Financial Aid Status.

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Target Dates

Target dates are not deadlines.  Target dates ensure that the financial aid funds you are eligible to receive will be in your account for tuition deferment before the payment-due date.  After these target dates, applications for financial aid and loans can still be processed, but you may have to arrange for alternative means of payment, such as using your own funds or participating in the Tuition Payment Plan, until your financial aid processing is completed.

All necessary documents--the Electronic Student Aid Report (which is the answer to the FAFSA), immunization records, declaration of a major, high-school transcripts, admissions applications, etc.—need to be on file in the appropriate offices for financial aid processing by the target date.

Also, if you have been selected for verification, you will be asked to submit to the Financial Aid Office your documentation (such as the verification worksheet, 1040 tax returns, W-2’s, information on other untaxed income, etc.) before the target date. 

Target Date for Pell Grants

  • Fall Enrollees: July 1st
  • Spring Enrollees: December 1st

Target Date for Direct Loans

  • Fall Enrollees: July 1st
  • Spring Enrollees: December 1st

Target Date for Campus-Based Aid [Including Perkins Loans, Federal Work-Study (FWS), Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)]

  • Fall Enrollees: April 15th

For information on the Payment Plan for the balance of your tuition, visit the Bursar’s office or go to: sunyorange.edu/bursar

Middletown

SUNY Orange
Office of Financial Aid
115 South Street 
3rd floor
Middletown NY 10940

Telephone: 
845-341-4190

Office Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8am to 5pm
Wed Evening: to 8pm

Newburgh

SUNY Orange
Office of Financial Aid
One Washington Ctr
Newburgh NY 12550

Telephone: 
845-562-2454

Office Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8am to 5pm
Tue Evening:to 8 pm