Frequently Asked Questions

Please complete the FAFSA on or after October 1st every year. The University of South Alabama's school code is 001057. By adding our school code to your FAFSA, you ensure that the University of South Alabama receives your FAFSA.

Below are resources you may find helpful as you complete the FAFSA.

How to Fill Out the FAFSA

How to Check the Status of my FAFSA

All financial aid students at USA must be accepted for admission before their financial aid award will be processed. Make sure all of your outstanding requirements are completed.

You can apply for financial aid anytime during the current school year as long as the school receives a valid FAFSA; however, the priority deadline for FAFSA completion is May 1st. If a student submits their FAFSA after May 1st, the student’s award may not be processed by the time school starts.

Most financial aid funds are credited to your student account after tuition, fees, and other institutional charges are deducted. Any remaining funds will be issued to you by the Office of Student Accounting via direct deposit or by check mailed to your address on record. Here are instructions to set up direct deposit. The Office of Student Accounting handles all refunds of financial aid to students. Refunds are processed within 14 business days of disbursement. You can contact the Office of Student Accounting at (251) 460-6195 or studentaccounting@southalabama.edu.

Please check to see of any of these items apply:

• Check PAWS for the following:
• Is your address correct? 
• If you enrolled in direct deposit, is your bank account information accurate?
• Do you have outstanding requirements for your financial aid file? 
• Did you complete the Entrance Counseling and MPN online at studentaid.gov?
• Are you registered?
• Is your financial aid disbursement more than your tuition, fees, and other institutional charges?
• Loans

Federal Student Aid has the most recent interest rates and origination fee information here.

Go to studentaid.gov for more information regarding loan programs.

You can find more information about the Federal Direct Student Loan program here.

For a Federal Direct unsubsidized loan to disburse, a student must complete the Entrance Counseling and MPN.

Please email Stephanie Roote, the Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid in the Whiddon College of Medicine, at sroote@southalabama.edu in order to decline one or all of your loans.

All financial aid students at USA must be accepted for admission before their financial aid award will be processed. If you haven't applied to USA, visit the Whiddon College of Medicine Office of Admissions.

A valid FAFSA has to be on file in order to review a student’s eligibility and process aid. We continually receive FAFSAs throughout the academic year. However, the priority deadline for FAFSA completion is May 1st. If a student submits their FAFSA after May 1st, the student’s award may not be processed by the time school starts.

Please view the Office of Financial Aid’s policy on Return to Title IV here.

Follow these steps to access PAWS:

1. Go to https://www.southalabama.edu/services/logins/students
2. Click on "PAWS" (log in using your JAG Number and JagNet password)
3. Click on Student Services and Financial Aid
4. Click on Financial Aid
5. Click on My Eligibility
6. Click on Student Requirements
7. Select Aid Year

Follow these steps to access PAWS:

1. Go to https://www.southalabama.edu/services/logins/students/ and select 'PAWS'
2. Log in (if prompted) using your JagNet credentials
3. Click on 'Student Services and Financial Aid'
4. Click on 'Financial Aid'
5. Click on 'My Award Information'
6. Click on 'Award By Aid Year'
7. Select Aid Year
8. Select the 'Terms and Conditions' tab.  Read all sections carefully and choose to accept or not.  If you do not accept, your federal aid WILL NOT DISBURSE.
9. Click on the 'Accept Award Offer' tab.
10. Federal financial aid funds must be accepted or declined. You may accept a partial amount by selecting 'Accept' and indicating the amount.
11. Click 'Submit Decision' at the bottom of the page.
12. After you accept your offer(s), be sure to scroll down the page to see if you have any remaining 'Unsatisfied Disbursement Requirements'.

To see what is incomplete, you will use USA's Personalized Access Web System for students (PAWS):

1. Go to https://www.southalabama.edu/services/logins/students/
2. Click on 'PAWS' and log in using your JagNet credentials
3. Click on 'Student Services and Financial Aid'
4. Click on 'Financial Aid'
5. Click on 'My Eligibility'
6. Select Aid Year
7. Read the directions for each student requirement. You must complete all of the unsatisfied requirements.

PLEASE NOTE:  It is important to review any active messages listed in your PAWS account.  Active messages can be viewed under 'My Overall Status of Financial Aid' on the Financial Aid menu in PAWS.

Follow these steps to access PAWS:

1. Go to https://www.southalabama.edu/services/logins/students
2. Click on "PAWS" (log in using your JAG Number and JagNet password)
3. Click on Personal Information
4. Select Update Address(es) and Phone(s) to verify current address or to make changes