Dear Student,

The Office of Financial Aid has received several inquiries regarding the application of need-based scholarships to 2019-2020 academic year awards.

Need-based awards are distributed based on information retrieved from a student’s verified FAFSA.

We recognize that many students are still in the verification process. Verification is a process mandated by the U.S. Department of Education, where students who are selected are required to provide the Department of Education with additional information before they can qualify for financial aid. Once a student is selected, Howard University is unable to disburse a financial aid award to a student’s account with the Office of the Bursar until they are cleared by the Department of Education.

We are working to ease this process by further automating it. Not all students are in the verification process. Additional information about this process will be communicated to you. 

As is in prior years, we will update each student’s financial aid package with need-based scholarship information, as soon as the FAFSA data becomes available to us.

Students whose financial circumstances have improved, as evidenced by a change in the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on their FAFSA may see an adjustment to their need-based scholarships.

If you have already completed your FAFSA, and you are not in verification, and you still have not received a need-based scholarship, please note that we are processing your need-based scholarship, and you will see an update to your financial aid package soon.

Students whose financial aid packages are incomplete prior to the July 24th payment deadline due to extended financial aid processing times, will not be assessed a late payment fee.

Thank you so much for your patience as we continue to serve you.

Excellence in Truth and Service,

The Office of Financial Aid