Parent Information

• All students are encouraged to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov. Applications should be completed as close to February 15 of each year as possible. 
• Residents of New York state should also submit an application for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) while completing the FAFSA. For more information, you can visit www.hesc.ny.gov. 
• Please note that financial aid is not finalized until all requested documents have been received. First-year students are notified of outstanding requirements on their financial aid notification letter (which is mailed beginning March 15 and on a rolling basis thereafter). Continuing students are notified via their Hofstra email account. Missing documentation notifications are sent via email to all students on a monthly basis once they have registered. 

• There is no separate application for Hofstra scholarships.  
• Students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships upon the submission of their application. All merit-based scholarship notifications are sent with the student’s acceptance letter.
• To be considered for need-based assistance, new students must complete and submit the FAFSA. 
• Scholarship awards are based on eligibility and the availability of funds. 
• Get more information about the types of institutional aid available for first-year students
• For more information about the types of institutional aid available for transfer students

• You can find a listing of various loans that you or your student may be eligible for on your student’s financial aid award notification. These loans are based on criteria such as anticipated year in college, housing status, and estimated financial need.
• The listing of loans on the financial aid notification does not obligate your student to borrow from these programs, but are suggestions to assist with the cost of education expenses. 
• In addition to the loans listed on your student’s financial aid notification, there is a Parent PLUS Direct Loan option available to credit-worthy parents of dependent students. Find out more about Parent PLUS Direct Loan option.

To be eligible for and maintain financial aid, students and parents should be aware of certain requirements. As a parent, please familiarize yourself with the following renewal criteria to ensure your student maintains eligibility:

• Institutional Aid
• Federal Aid (grants and loans)
• New York State Aid

At Hofstra, we understand that a quality education is an investment in your student's future. If after applying for financial aid and receiving your award package, you believe that you still do not have the necessary resources to meet the costs of tuition and housing, you still have other options. To learn more, click on the links below, and don't forget – if you have questions or need help or advice, give us a call at 516-463-8000 or contact your student's SFS counselor

• Applying for a "PLUS Loan"
• Alternative/Private Loans

• If after applying for financial aid, your family's financial situation changes, such as a loss of income or separation/divorce, you and your student may complete a Request for Re-Evaluation Form from Hofstra's Student Financial Services Office and submit documentation as listed on the form to verify your circumstance. The form can be downloaded at hofstra.edu/sfsforms. If you have any questions regarding re-evaluation, please contact your student's SFS counselor.

• Authorization to Pay Your Student's Account: Your student has the option to designate you as an "authorized user" of their student account. This allows parents to pay bills and receive student account updates directly. For step-by-step instructions, please see hofstra.edu/sfshowto.
• Hofstra has several financial aid alternatives, including an interest-free payment plan. Students and families are able to divide their total outstanding balance, after financial aid, into easy-to-manage monthly installments. You may choose from an annual plan or a semester-based plan. Please visit hofstra.edu/paymentoptions for more details.
• Our Locked-In Tuition Plan is another option to make Hofstra more affordable. This program offers you and your family a secure and predictable way to finance your student's education. With a four-year locked-in rate for tuition, you and your family will pay the same tuition rate for all four consecutive undergraduate years at Hofstra University.
• Protect your investment. The Tuition Refund Plan (TRP), through A.W.G. Dewar Inc. insurance company, is an optional tuition insurance program made available through Hofstra that will protect your investment and help minimize financial loss should your student need to withdraw from classes due to illness or accident. Additional information about this plan, including current rates, may be located at hofstra.edu/tuitioninsurance. 

• my,hofstra.edu
  It is vital that students regularly check their Pride email account. The Hofstra portal is the primary avenue the University uses to communicate with your students. It is available 24/7 so that students can monitor their University records, including financial aid award information.
• Under Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) guidelines, Hofstra University may not release confidential information to persons other than the student without written permission from the student or in accordance with specified procedures set forth in the FERPA Guidelines. All colleges in the United States must comply with FERPA -- a federal law that requires colleges and universities to protect the confidentiality of student and education records.
  • After paying the enrollment deposit, your student is given access to a secure web-based portal that provides information about their financial aid packages, student account, and class registration. While your student has access to this information at all times, you may not. However, your student can grant you this right through the Hofstra portal by completing a FERPA Authorization Form. For step-by-step instructions, visit hofstra.edu/sfshowto. We urge you to discuss FERPA with your student. Open communication is the best way to ensure that your student has a positive experience at Hofstra and that their student account is kept current.
• Refund Schedules and Deadlines. Make sure you are familiar with Hofstra’s schedules and deadlines and know where to find necessary dates. 
  • Refund schedule
  • Deadlines
• Find us on social media. Student Financial Services posts updates and important deadlines on our Facebook page and on our Twitter account. Like or follow us to stay informed.
• Subscribe to Family Link E-Newsletter. The Parent and Family Programs Office e-newsletter often includes financial and registration news.