Financial aid information

Dear first-year dental student:

Welcome to Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Dentistry. All students are eligible to apply for financial assistance to help finance their professional education. If you are interested in applying for financial aid at VCU, the following information will help you through the process:

Free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) internet address

The Internet address for competing the 2023-2024 FAFSA is https://studentaid.gov/. The site opens for processing 2023-2024 data October 1st each year.  You were encouraged to complete this application by May 1 of the year you intend to enroll to allow sufficient time for processing. You may apply after May 1, however, we are not able to guarantee that your financial aid refund will be available to you during your first week of classes.

Completing the FAFSA starts the financial aid process for the school year.

Checklist once you file the FAFSA

Review the accuracy of your FAFSA data

The federal processor will send you a student aid report (SAR) or an electronic SAR acknowledgement that summarizes the information that you reported on the FAFSA and reports your expected family contribution (EFC)

You should make any necessary corrections and submit them to the VCU School of Dentistry Financial Aid Office (520 N. 12th St, Room 441 Lyons Building, Richmond, VA 23298).

Respond promptly to requests for information

If any additional information is needed to complete the processing of your financial aid application, we will send you a financial aid information request via mail.

Review your financial aid notification from VCU (Mailed after June 1)

After your financial aid application and supporting documentation have been reviewed, a financial aid package will be developed based on your financial need.

We will send you a financial aid notification (FAN) notifying you of the awards and the amounts for which you are eligible. Typically, dental students are initially awarded a total of $44,944 Federal Unsubsidized Student Loan Funds upon completing the FAFSA.

Submit any other required paperwork

After your financial aid has been packaged, you will be required to complete the following items:

1. The master promissory note (MPN) which can be found online: (studentloans.gov), under the "Manage My Direct Loan" tab, click on "Sign Master Promissory Note."
2. Entrance counseling, which can be found online: (studentloans.gov), under the "Manage My Direct Loan" tab, click on "Entrance Counseling."
3. Once notified by the university via email, complete the electronic consent and accept, deny or reduce your award offer.  Directions will be provided with the notification.

Request additional aid if needed. Review the budget that has been set by the school and the aid awarded to you, to determine if you need to borrow additional funds. You can borrow additional funds via the Graduate PLUS Loan or Alternative/Private Loans:

• Information on Federal Graduate PLUS and Private Loans: 
• Federal Graduate PLUS- Available to Graduate and Professional Students.  Loans may be requested online at www.studentloans.gov.   You may begin the process to apply for the Federal Graduate PLUS Loans by June 15th each year.
• Alternative/private Loans- can be obtained from any participating bank or lender of your choice.   We accept all lenders nationwide that participate in the Alternative/Private Student Loan Industry.

Submit a change form if you wish to reduce or decline the aid offered after you have accepted your aid online, or if you have other information (scholarship) to report, click on Financial Aid Award Change Form, located under the “Forms” tab on the VCU Office of Financial Aid website.

Direct deposit is the quickest way to receive your financial aid refund. Deposits are available within 48 hours after disbursement. Otherwise, the university prints refund checks once a week and they are mailed on Fridays of each week.

Once activated, regularly check your VCU email account

Once you are enrolled and come on board to the School of Dentistry, you will be given a VCU email account. All information regarding financial aid awards and notifications will be sent to you via your email account.

Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns regarding your financial aid awards for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Sincerely,
Karen D. Gilliam
Director of Financial Aid, School of Dentistry
520 N. 12th Street, Room 441
PO Box 980566
Richmond, VA 23298-0566
Email: kdgillia@vcu.edu