Frequently Asked Questions about Student Financial Aid

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Contact Information

Q: WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE FINANCIAL AID OR BILLING QUESTIONS?

A: Your first point of contact is Marquette Central in person, by phone or email. You can always contact Marquette Central through this Contact Form.

Marquette Central
1250 W Wisconsin Ave
PO Box 1881, Zilber Hall, Suite 121
Milwaukee WI 53201
Phone:  (414) 288-4000
Fax:  (414) 288-1718
Email:  marquettecentral@marquette.edu

Q: WHAT IS FERPA AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT COMMUNICATION REGARDING MY STUDENT RECORDS?

A: FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Visit the U.S. Department of Education FERPA webpage for more information about FERPA, or visit Marquette University’s FERPA webpage.

To meet FERPA requirements and protect your privacy, the following is required to communicate with us about your information:

  • Student Marquette Central visits: require your Marquette I.D. card.
  • Email: We must email your Marquette email account when student-specific information is being provided.  If you email a question from another email account, our response will be sent to your Marquette email account unless we are only providing general (not student-specific) information.
  • Phone calls: require your Marquette I.D. number and your MCAN.

Q: WHAT IS MCAN AND WHY IS IT REQUIRED BEFORE I CAN TALK ABOUT MY RECORDS?

A: To comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students and their families must be able to verify their identity when contacting Marquette Central for assistance.

The Marquette Central Access Number (MCAN) is a four-digit number used in conjunction with the nine-digit Marquette ID number to help Marquette staff identify people authorized to receive information regarding a student’s account. (The MCAN is NOT associated with the online Guest Access process.)

  • Students can find the MCAN from the Profile tile on the CheckMarq Student Home.
  • A student may grant authorization for others to receive financial aid, student account, or student record information (excluding grades and schedules) by providing the MCAN and the MUID.
  • The MCAN can be changed by the student in CheckMarq at any time.
  • Students should be careful when disclosing their MCAN and/or MUID numbers to help protect personal information about their finances and academic records.

Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID

Q: WHAT IS AN FSA ID?

A: The FSA ID is comprised of a username and password and is the way you log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites, including the FAFSA.

  • Each FSA ID requires a unique email address. You may not use the same email address for multiple FSA ID accounts.
  • The security of your FSA ID is important. The FSA ID can be used to electronically sign FSA documents, access personal records, and make binding legal obligations.
  • If you are a parent and need to electronically sign your child's FAFSA, you need your own FSA ID. If you have more than one child attending college, you can use the same FSA ID to sign their applications.

Q: DOES MY FSA ID USERNAME OR PASSWORD EXPIRE?

A: Your username will not expire. Your password must be changed every 18 months.

Q: WHAT IF I FORGET MY FSA ID USERNAME OR PASSWORD?

A: Federal Student Aid login pages give the option to retrieve your username or password through your verified email address or by successfully answering your challenge questions.

Q: WHAT DO I DO IF I GET A MESSAGE SAYING MY FSA ID IS LOCKED?

A: An FSA ID is locked after three unsuccessful authentication attempts. There are two possible solutions. You can either have a secure code sent to your e-mail address or you can answer your challenge questions.

To start:

  1. Click the "Log In" link at the top of this page and select "Forgot my Password."
  2. Once you have attempted to log in, you will be taken to a page that says, "Your FSA ID is locked." You will be given two options to unlock your FSA ID: e-mail or challenge questions.

Select one of the options:

Option 1: E-mail

You can unlock your FSA ID by following these steps:

  1. Click the e-mail button.
  2. You will be taken to a page that says, "Unlock Your FSA ID – Using Email."
  3. A secure code will be sent to your e-mail address that is on record with your FSA ID.
  4. Once you receive the e-mail, within 10 minutes you must enter the secure code in the "Secure Code" box and submit. (The secure code expires after 10 minutes.)
  5. You will then be taken to a page that says, "Success!"
  6. Once your FSA ID is unlocked, you will be prompted to reset your password.

Option 2: Challenge Questions

Your other option for unlocking your FSA ID is to use your challenge questions:

  1. Click the "challenge questions" button.
  2. You will be taken to a page that says, "Unlock Your FSA ID – Using Challenge Questions."
  3. You will then be asked three of your five challenge questions.
  4. Answer all three questions and then click “Verify.”
  5. If you answer your challenge questions correctly, you will be taken to a page that says, "Success!"
  6. Once your FSA ID is unlocked, you will then be prompted to reset the password. When using this option to reset your password you will have to wait for 30 minutes after resetting before you can use the FSA ID.

Q: WHAT IF MY FSA ID WAS LOST OR STOLEN?

A: If your FSA ID is lost or stolen, you must contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 4-FED-AID, (800) 433-3243 and then update your username and password by selecting “Edit My FSA ID."

Q: CAN I CHANGE THE PERSONAL INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH MY FSA ID?

A: It is important to keep your information up to date. To notify Federal Student Aid of a change to your personal information, go to the FSA ID home page and log in, from the drop-down menu next to your name select Settings. After you make changes to your name or date of birth, Federal Student Aid will verify your information with the Social Security Administration. After this information is verified (1-3 days), you will be able to use your FSA ID to access your personal information on FSA websites.


Applying for Financial Aid: Before Filing a FAFSA

Q: WHAT IS THE NET PRICE CALCULATOR?

A: The Net Price Calculator (NPC) is an early estimation tool for determining a prospective student’s possible financial aid eligibility from a particular school. It is not a guaranteed offer. All schools are required by the federal government to have an online NPC.

Q: HOW DO I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID?

A: File the appropriate Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to each academic year by applying online at studentaid.gov/fafsa.

  • Create a username and password if you have never filed the FAFSA or don't have an FSA ID using the Federal Student Aid ID website.
  • If parent information is required on the FAFSA, both student and parent must obtain an FSA ID to electronically sign the FAFSA. The parent must use a separate email address than the student.   
  • Once you have your FSA ID(s), retain them in a secure place.

Q: WHICH TAX YEAR DO I USE FOR INCOME INFORMATION ON THE FAFSA?

A: For the 2024-25 FAFSA, report income information from your 2021 Federal Income Taxes.

For the 2024-25 FAFSA, report income information from your 2020 Federal Income Taxes.

Q: DOES MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY REQUIRE ANY APPLICATION FORMS IN ADDITION TO THE FAFSA?

A: No. Some schools require the CSS Profile or an institutional application, but Marquette University only requires the processed FAFSA to determine eligibility for financial aid. 

  • If there are questions about the information reported on the processed FAFSA, there may be a request for additional information. This request will be emailed to the student's eMarq account and posted on their CheckMarq "To-Do List." This information must be supplied before a financial aid offer can be made.

Q: WHAT ARE THERE DEADLINES FOR FILING THE FAFSA AND SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS?

A: Typically, the priority deadline for filing the FAFSA is February 1st. Due to delays caused by technical issues with the updated FAFSA Marquette will not be enforcing any priority deadlines for the 2024-25 aid year. However, we still recommend filing your FAFSA as soon as you are able. 

Q: WHEN IS THE LAST POSSIBLE DAY TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID?

A: It is possible to apply for aid anytime during the academic year. However, it is best to apply as early as possible.  

  • For the summer session, continuing students must file the FAFSA by June 30.
  • It is a federal regulation that we cannot offer financial aid after a term has ended so even if you have all your forms in before the end of the term, we may not have enough time to process your information and provide an aid offer before the last day of classes. The same is true for summer. We cannot offer you financial aid after the end of the semester or session.

Q: DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID EVERY YEAR AND IF SO,WHEN?

A: Yes. Students applying for financial aid must complete the FAFSA prior to each new academic year.

  • The 2024-25 FAFSA has been available as of December 31st, 2023. 

  • Due to delays caused by technical issues with the updated FAFSA Marquette will not be enforcing any priority deadlines for the 2024-25 aid year. However, we still recommend filing your FAFSA as soon as you are able.  

Q: WHO IS CONSIDERED AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT FOR FINANCIAL AID?

A: Schools are not anticipating receiving information from completed 2024-24 FAFSAs until mid-March. You can view the status of your form beginning in the first half of March by logging in to your StudentAid.gov account and selecting your FAFSA submission from the My Activity section of your account Dashboard. Look for an email in the first half of March to learn when your FAFSA information has been sent to your selected schools. 

If you submitted a paper FAFSA form, you can check its status after it has been processed (after online forms are processed in the first half of March). 

You will also receive a FAFSA Submission Summary for the 2024–25 award year (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025) when your FAFSA is processed. This is a summary of the FAFSA data you submitted.  


Applying for Financial Aid: After Filing a FAFSA

Q: HOW DO I KNOW MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY RECEIVED AND PROCESSED MY FAFSA?

A: Make sure you have provided the necessary FSA ID(s) for you and a parent and submit the FAFSA to the processor. Once you submit the FAFSA:

  • You will immediately receive an email confirmation from the Federal Processor. This means the FAFSA has been received by the processor. This does not mean that your FAFSA has been received and processed by Marquette University.
  • You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) at the email address supplied on your FAFSA in approximately 7-10 days. Read through the entire SAR, paying close attention to any rejects and/or issues listed in the “What You Must Do Now” section.
  • If there are no rejects or issues with your FAFSA, Marquette will receive the results automatically, usually within 3 to 5 business days.
  • If there are issues with your FAFSA, you will need to correct them before it can be processed and received by Marquette. The Federal Processor’s phone number is: (800) 4-FEDAID, (800) 433-3243 if you have any questions.

Q: HOW DO I MAKE CORRECTIONS TO MY FAFSA?

A: You will only be able to make corrections to your FAFSA once it has been initially processed. Once your FAFSA has been processed you can review the steps for making corrections online here.

Q: WHEN DO I NEED TO SUBMIT REQUESTED DOCUMENTS TO MARQUETTE?

A: Students are notified through their eMarq account of any required documentation and deadlines. Students can also view their "To Do list" on CheckMarq. From the CheckMarq Student Home, access the Tasks tile for any documents that are required.

  • Continuing students must submit requested documents within 30 days of the initial document request to be considered for all available financial aid.
  • Aid may be reduced or eliminated if requested documents are received beyond the 30 days. 

Q: WHERE DO I SUBMIT ANY REQUIRED FINANCIAL AID DOCUMENTS?

A: The fastest and most secure way to submit documents is through Document Upload in CheckMarq, found under the Financial Aid tile.  Documents can also be dropped off in Marquette Central, Zilber Hall suite 121, or mailed to:

Marquette University
Office of Student Financial Aid
PO Box 1881
Milwaukee WI 53201

  • Make sure to include student's name and MUID on all documents.
  • Documents that require a notary or original email must be mailed or dropped off at Marquette Central.

Important: E-mail is an inherently insecure communication medium. It is very important that sensitive information not be sent in e-mails, either in the e-mail subject/body or as an unsecured attachment. If email is the only way you can send us documents, please do so securely, using these instructions.

Q: WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE SPECIAL AND UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT AREN'T REFLECTED ON THE FAFSA?

A: Special and unusual circumstance appeals may include, but are not limited to, parent job loss; high out of pocket medical expenses; private elementary or secondary tuition for sibling; marital separation after the FAFSA was filed; or death of a parent.

Purchase of a second home and medical expenses covered by insurance are not considered special and unusual circumstances.

Contact Marquette Central to discuss your special and unusual circumstance after you receive your initial Financial Aid Notification (FAN) via eMarq.

All special and unusual circumstance requests are required to go through verification prior to the special and unusual circumstance review.

Q: I RECENTLY CHANGED MY NAME. WHAT IMPACT DOES THIS HAVE ON MY FINANCIAL AID?

A: As a part of the name change process, you will need to apply for a new Social Security card and driver's license with your new name. Once you have received your new documentation, do the following:

  1. File a Legal Name Change form with the Office of the Registrar.
  2. Update your FSA ID.
  3. If you have not filed your FAFSA or signed your federal loan electronic Master Promissory Note(s) (MPNs) for the current aid year, or are filing the FAFSA for the upcoming financial aid year, you will need to file under the new name after you have edited your FSA ID.

 Verification

Q: WHAT IS VERIFICATION AND WHY WAS I SELECTED FOR VERIFICATION?

A: Verification is the federal process of verifying or confirming the information provided on the FAFSA is accurate. The Student Aid Report (SAR) you receive after your FAFSA is processed will indicate if your FAFSA has been selected for verification. Roughly 30% of all FAFSAs filed are selected for verification. Marquette University is required to collect documentation to verify what has been reported on the FAFSA. The Office of Student Financial Aid will notify you of what documentation to submit to us.

Q: WHAT DO I NEED TO SUBMIT FOR VERIFICATION?

A: Verification is a process by which schools are required by federal law to collect documentation to verify the information reported on the FAFSA. Schools complete this process by requesting a variety of documents such as Federal IRS Tax Return Transcripts, verification worksheet, birth certificate, social security card, U.S. passport, etc.

Students are notified through their eMarq email account of any documents they are required to submit. You can also view your CheckMarq “To Do list" for any required verification documents.

Be sure to comply with all requests for documentation by the deadlines provided. Financial aid is offered on a first-come first-served basis. To be considered for all available financial aid, continuing students must submit requested documents within 30 day of the initial document request. Aid may be reduced and/or eliminated for applicants whose documents are received beyond the 30 days.

Q: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THE VERIFICATION PROCESS?

A: It typically takes 2-3 weeks to complete verification, after all completed documentation is received.

Q: HOW WILL I KNOW THAT THE CORRECT INFORMATION HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED WHEN I USE THE DIRECT DATA EXCHANGE?

A: The tax return information that is being transferred into the FAFSA form when you use the Direct Data Exchange is coming directly from the tax return you filed with the IRS. Marquette University will have access to the transferred information, we will follow up with you directly if we notice any issues or need additional information. The tax year transferred is based on the FAFSA filed, the 2024-25 FAFSA uses the 2022 tax information.

Q: CAN I CHANGE THE TAX RETURN INFORMATION THAT I TRANSFER INTO THE FAFSA FORM VIA THE IRS DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL?

A: No. Information you transfer via the IRS Data Retrieval Tool cannot be changed. Remember, the information transferred is coming from the federal tax return and should not need to be changed. Amended tax information will transfer from the IRS if you filed a 1040X and it was processed prior to filing the FAFSA. If your financial situation has changed contact Marquette Central to discuss a possible Special and Unusual Circumstance appeal.

Q: HOW DO I SUBMIT MY TAX INFORMATION?

A: All FAFSA contributors, even those who do not file taxes, should give consent to use the Direct Data Exchange (DDX). In situations where the DDX cannot retrieve tax information: submit a Tax Return Transcript ordered from the IRS, or submit a signed copy of their IRS form 1040 with applicable schedules. 

  • A tax return transcript can be ordered, free of charge, from the IRS online, by phone, or a paper request form. For instructions see tab #9 on the Guidelines for the Verification Process 
  • If you are unable to use the other methods submit a signed copy of your IRS form 1040 with applicable schedules. Applicable schedules include 1, 2, and 3 if filed. The 1040 must be signed, even if it was filed electronically. 

For additional information on submitting tax information see Guidelines for the Verification Process.

Q: WHAT DO I DO IF I OR MY PARENTS FILED A TAX EXTENSION?

A: You or your parents will want to submit the following to Marquette Central:

  • A copy of IRS Form 4868 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) filed with the IRS.
  • A copy of the unexpired IRS approval of an additional extension beyond the automatic six-month extension deadline, of filing time.
  • Signed statement certifying that the individual—
    • Attempted to obtain Verification of Non-Filing letter from the IRS or other tax authorities and was unable to obtain the required documentation; and
    • Has not filed a Federal IRS Income Tax Return
  • A copy of IRS Form W-2 for each source of employment income and/or a signed statement of from self-employed individual certifying the amount of the AGI and the U.S. Income Tax Paid for tax year.

Our office will need tax data after final 2022 Federal Taxes have been filed.  For more details visit: Filed a 2022 Federal IRS Tax Extension for the 2024-25 FAFSA.

Q: WHAT DO I DO IF MY PARENTS OR I AMENDED OUR TAX RETURN?

A: If you filed a 1040X and it was processed before you submit the 2024-25 FAFSA your amended information will be included on the 2024-25 FAFSA.  

If your 1040X is submitted or processed after you filed the 2024-25 FAFSA, submit the following: 

  • Signed copy of the original Federal IRS Tax Return with all applicable schedules; *and*
  • Signed copy of IRS Form 1040X, "Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return."

Or if you did not amend your IRS tax returns but are being asked to submit an amended return to our office:

  • Signed copy of Federal IRS Tax Return with all applicable schedules; *and*
  • Signed copy of Federal IRS Tax Account Transcript; *and*
  • Signed statement that you did not amend your Federal IRS Income Tax Return

See tab #8 on the Guidelines for the Verification Process page for more details.

Keep in mind that an amended return will delay access to tax information. It takes an additional 12 weeks for the tax information to be available.

 Q: WHAT DO I DO IF I OR MY PARENTS ARE A VICTIM OF IRS IDENTITY THEFT?

 

A: Tax filers who believe they are victims of identity theft may call Identity Protection Specialized Unit (IPSU)’s toll-free number, (800) 908-4490, or go to the ID theft website on irs.gov.  After the IPSU authenticates the tax filer’s identity, the tax filer can request that the IRS mail to the tax filer an alternate paper tax transcript, known as the TRDBV (Transcript Data Base View). After receiving the TRDBV the following needs to be submitted to our office:

  • A signed copy of the IRS alternate paper tax transcript (TRDBV)
  • A signed and dated statement regarding the identity theft and attesting the filer notified the IRS about the theft.

Keep in mind that identity theft will delay access to tax information. Access to this information generally occurs 8-11 weeks after the IRS has received the tax return information; however, resolution of IRS-related identity theft can take up to 180 days.

Q: WHAT DO I SUBMIT IF I DID NOT FILE A TAX RETURN?

A: If you provided consent for the Direct Data Exchange (DDX) on the 2024-25 FAFSA, and would not have filed taxes in Puerto Rico any other country, you are no longer required to submit an IRS letter of non-filing. For the Verification process: on the verification worksheet check the appropriate box that you did not file taxes and submit all 2022 W-2s and/or wage statements. 

 If you are a non-Tax filer who would file taxes in Puerto Rico or a foreign country: request submit appropriate non-filing documentation from a relevant tax authority with all 2022 wage and/or income statements. 

Q: I SUBMITTED EVERYTHING REQUESTED FOR VERIFICATION AND NOW I'M BEING ASKED FOR MORE INFORMATION. WHY IS THIS NEEDED?

A: Sometimes, when reviewing documents submitted, the Office of Student Financial Aid needs clarification of the information submitted, additional information, there is conflicting information between the FAFSA information and the verification documents, or there is conflicting information between FAFSAs filed. If one or more of these occurs the Office of Student Financial Aid asks for additional information through a Supplemental Information Request Form.

Most Supplemental Information Request Forms are sent though DocuSign and will be completed and signed digitally. Depending on the information needed, the document will be sent to the student’s eMarq account and/or the parent email from the FAFSA to be completed and signed. You may receive more than one email, depending on how much information we need, you must review and complete all requests. If a DocuSign email was lost contact Marquette Central to have it resent.

In some situations, we will mail a paper copy of the Supplemental Information Request Form to you. You will know the paper form was sent when you see the Supplemental Information Request Form on your To Do List. If you did not receive the original Supplemental Information Request, or need a duplicate, contact Marquette Central and the PDF will be sent to your eMarq account.

Q: I HAVE AN EVANS, URBAN, OR BURKE SCHOLARSHIP, WHY DO I NEED TO COMPLETE VERIFICATION TO RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIP?

A:  If a student is a recipient of the Evans, Urban, or Burke Scholarships and their FAFSA was selected for verification, the process must be completed prior to determine the student’s financial need before we can accurately offer the scholarship.


Receiving Financial Aid

Q: WHAT ARE THE MAIN STEPS FOR RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID?

A: Follow these important steps:

  • File the FAFSA as soon as you can.
  • New/Prospective students must complete the admissions process and receive notice of admission.
  • Submit any requested documentation per the instructions provided.
  • Receive an email notice of your financial aid offer at your eMarq account.
  • Accept and/or decline aid offered to you. Grants and scholarships have been accepted for you. Optional parent/student loans will require a separate application or form.
  • Use your eMarq account and CheckMarq “To Do List" to monitor what needs to be done.
  • Complete any outstanding Loan Entrance Counseling and/or electronic Master Promissory Notes (MPN) upon notification.
  • Make sure you are fully enrolled.   
  • Semester disbursement of financial aid will apply to your account no earlier than 10 days prior to the first day of classes for the term/session.
  • If financial aid exceeds student account charges, a refund will be issued to you. Set up Direct Deposit to have your refund sent directly to your bank account.

Q: WHAT ARE THE ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS I NEED TO MEET TO QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL AID?

A: Students must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify for federal loans. This means Undergraduate, Law, Dental and PA/PT students must enroll for a minimum of six credits, while all other Graduate students must enroll for a minimum of four. However, enrollment requirements may vary depending on the financial aid type you receive. To review the requirements, visit:

Q: WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY FINANCIAL AID OFFER FOR NEXT YEAR?

A: Following are approximate timelines:

  • Prospective Undergraduates: offers will start being available mid-March and will continue on a rolling basis contingent on the FAFSA receipt date. Prospective students must be admitted before a financial aid offer will be created.
  • Continuing Undergraduate, Law and Graduate Students: mid-April and offer  are created on a rolling basis contingent on the FAFSA receipt date.
    • If documentation is required, documents must be submitted to our office within 30 days of the initial request. Documents must be submitted and processed before you will receive a financial aid offer.
    • When we begin processing the information you have provided, we may have additional questions and will contact you through your eMarq account, or postal mail.
  • Dental, Graduate Dental: late-April and continues on a rolling basis contingent on the FAFSA receipt date.
    • If documentation is required, documents must be submitted to our office within 30 days of the initial request.  Documents must be received before you will receive a financial aid offer.
    • When we begin processing the information you have provided, we may have additional questions and will contact you through your eMarq account, or postal mail.

Q: WHAT TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID ARE AVAILABLE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS?

A: All students who complete the FAFSA will be considered for the following assistance. More information can be found in the Financial Aid Guide:

  • Gift Assistance, is financial aid that does not have to be repaid:
    • Marquette Scholarships - are determined by your MU Admissions Application, are based upon merit and are offered by Marquette’s Office of Admissions.
    • Federal and State Grants - are offered based upon the FAFSA by Marquette’s Student Financial Aid Office and are offered according to need.
  • Self-Help, is financial aid that is earned or must be repaid:
    • Employment- must be earned. Includes need-based (Federal Work Study) and non-need-based employment (Marquette Student Employment).
    • Loan assistance- must be repaid. Includes need-based and non-need-based loans.

Q: I PLAN TO TRANSFER TO MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY. HOW DO I RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID?

A: Aid from your other school will not transfer to Marquette University. 

  • You must apply for financial aid through Marquette University.  Go to studentaid.gov, click or tap "Login" and follow the prompts. Add Marquette University using school code 003863
  • Once you are admitted and we have received your processed FAFSA, you will either receive an email notice that your financial aid offer is available or a request for additional information via your eMarq account.

Q: IF I DECLINE ALL OR PART OF MY FINANCIAL AID OFFER AND MY CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE, CAN I ASK TO HAVE MY AID REINSTATED?

A: Contact Marquette Central to discuss reinstatement of aid. Reinstatement depends on enrollment and funding availability at the time of the request. Not all aid can be reinstated.

Q: CAN I RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID FOR SUMMER CLASSES?

  • Summer is considered part of the current academic year for financial aid purposes. We must have your current academic year processed FAFSA to consider you for summer aid. Eligibility will depend on what aid you have received in the current year and the number of credits you are enrolled in for summer.
  • The Office of Student Financial Aid will offer Title IV aid to all eligible students enrolled in summer courses.
  • Once you are registered and your FAFSA for summer has been reviewed, you will receive an email notification at your eMarq account of the results of our review.
  • The Summer Marquette Scholarship Request Form is available to download as of March 1 every year.

Q: AM I ALLOWED TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID FROM MORE THAN ONE INSTITUTION AT THE SAME TIME?

A: No. If you are enrolled at more than one college or university at the same time, you may only receive financial aid from one of the institutions, not both. If you have questions about your situation, contact Marquette Central for guidance.

Q: CAN I RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID IF I STUDY ABROAD

A: It is best to begin looking into your Study Abroad options at least a year prior to studying abroad. 

  • Start by going to Marquette's Study Abroad webpage to research the programs offered.
  • It can be helpful to attend one of the various study abroad Info Sessions and/or the autumn Study Abroad Fair offered by the Office of International Education.
  • Contact the Office of International Education (OIE) and speak with a coordinator about your options:

Holthusen Hall, Fourth Floor
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
studyabroad@marquette.edu
For appointments, please call: (414) 288-7289

  • In some cases, your aid may not apply to the program you have chosen. Once you have narrowed down your choices, contact Marquette Central to speak with an Adviser. The Adviser will be able to inform you whether your financial aid will apply to the program(s) you are considering.
  • Financial aid adjustments for study abroad are made once the Office of Student Financial Aid is notified of students attending programs prior to each semester.  You will receive a revised financial aid offer if your aid is affected by the program you are attending.

Q: HOW DO I PAY FOR MY LIVING EXPENSES SUCH AS HOUSING AND FOOD IF I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT

A: Most freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus unless living with parents, a guardian, or other family member.

  • If you are transitioning from campus housing to an apartment, student account charges will reflect tuition and fees only. 
  • Semester aid exceeding these charges will be refunded to you in the form of a check or deposited into your bank account if you have direct deposit. This refund can be used for living expenses such as housing and food, and personal expenses.

Q: WHEN WILL MY FINANCIAL AID DISBURSE?

A: There are a few things to keep in mind regarding financial aid disbursal:

  • Aid disburses no earlier than 10 days before the start of each term.
  • Most financial aid will be divided in half and disbursed directly to your student account at the start of the fall and spring terms.
  • All required documents must be received and processed before aid disburses to your account.  These may include, but are not limited to, Federal IRS Tax Return Transcripts, verification worksheets, entrance counseling and signed electronic Master Promissory Notes.

Please review the "Top 12 Reasons Why Your Financial Aid Is Not Appearing on Your Bill" to be sure that there are not any outstanding reasons that would prevent your aid from disbursing.

Q: WHY ISN'T MY FINANCIAL AID APPEARING ON MY BILL OR PAYING INTO MY STUDENT ACCOUNT?

A: To determine why financial aid may not be on your student account bill or is not disbursing to your Student account, please review the "Top 12 Reasons Why Your Financial Aid Is Not Appearing on Your Bill." 

Q: WHAT STEPS DO I NEED TO TAKE WITH MY FINANCIAL AID IF I PLAN TO TRANSFER FROM MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY?

A: Notify Marquette Central that you plan to transfer from Marquette and request to have your financial aid cancelled for the upcoming semester.  You will be sent information on Exit Counseling for all Federal Loans you borrowed either while attending Marquette or any prior colleges or universities.  For more information, see "Leaving Marquette?".

Your financial aid does not automatically transfer to your new school.  Make sure the school you are transferring to is included on your FAFSA.  Contact the new school’s Financial Aid Office to find out if they require any additional information. 

More information can be found on the Withdrawal from Marquette webpage.  

Q: WHAT FINANCIAL AID AM I ELIGIBLE FOR IF I'M AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT?

A: We would recommend working with the Office of International Education to learn more about possible financial aid as an International Student. You can find their contact information here: Contact Us // Office of International Education // Marquette University.


Student Employment

Q: HOW DO I FIND A JOB ON CAMPUS?

A: Students can search for jobs online via JobX which lists on and off-campus jobs for Marquette students. Visit Key steps for finding a job for more information.

Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEDERAL WORK STUDY AND MARQUETTE STUDENT EMPLOYMENT?

A: Federal Work Study (FWS) is a Title IV federal financial aid employment program. It is offered to students based on their demonstrated financial need using information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

Marquette Student Employment (MSE) is employment that is not federally funded.

Both programs, FWS & MSE, allow employment opportunities on campus.

Q: WORK STUDY ISN'T APPEARING ON MY BILING STATEMENT. WHY NOT?

A: Work Study is earned by working for eligible employers and earning biweekly wages based on rate of pay and hours worked up to the amount of the offer. These monies do not go directly toward paying a student account balance.

Q: I HAVE FEDERAL WORK STUDY AND DON'T PLAN TO WORK IN FALL BUT WOULD LIKE TO WORK IN SPRING. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

A: Request to have your Federal Work Study accepted for spring only in one of the following ways no later than the second week of fall semester classes:

  • Go to your CheckMarq Self-Service Account: select “Request Counselor Action”, include your work study request, and submit.
  • Email request from your eMarq email address, including MUID, to Marquette Central at: marquettecentral@marquette.edu   
  • Fax a written request, including your MUID, to: (414) 288-1718
  • Call Marquette Central at: (414) 288-4000 (be prepared to provide your MUID and MCAN)

Q: MY FEDERAL WORK STUDY WAS CANCELLED. CAN I GET IT BACK?

A: Due to limited federal funding, we are unable to reinstate Federal Work Study once it has been cancelled.

Q: WHEN DO I GET PAID FOR MY ON-CAMPUS JOB?

A: Students are paid every two weeks. Pay dates are listed on the Student Payroll Calendar.

If you expected a paycheck but it was not available, talk to your supervisor immediately. Your paycheck may be delayed until the following pay day if the salary paperwork was submitted late. Students will be paid for all hours worked.

Q: CAN MY STUDENT EMPLOYMENT PAYROLL CHECK BE DIRECT DEPOSITED?

A: Yes. In fact, Marquette University strongly recommends all students sign up for Direct Deposit. To ensure payroll is not delayed, set up Direct Deposit by August 1. You can sign up for Direct Deposit in CheckMarq.

Students signed up for Direct Deposit can view their paychecks online at MyJob (restricted to campus or Marquette VPN (Virtual Private Network)).

Note: Student employees who have not set up Direct Deposit will be required to pick up their biweekly paychecks at the Office of the Bursar, which is part of Marquette Central and is located in Zilber Hall, 1250 W Wisconsin Ave, Suite 121.

Q: IS IT POSSIBLE TO HIRE AN UNDOCUMENTED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT?

DACA/undocumented students are able to work on campus if they are able to complete the Form I-9, verifying their identity and authorization of employment. Student employees can search for part-time/seasonal jobs via JobX.  Our Student Employment website, however, also has important information.

Marquette also offers a Dreamer Resource Page and fellowships like the Inclusive Excellence Grad Fellowship and Grad School Diversity Fellowship available to undocumented graduate students. Jacki Black (jacqueline.black@marquette.edu) is Director for Hispanic Initiatives and Diversity and Inclusion Educational Programing and is the contact person.


Loans

Q: MY FINANCIAL AID OFFER INCLUDES AN "OPTIONAL LOAN (PARENT-STUDENT)" OFFER OR A "PLUS-GRAD/PROF-OPTIONAL" OFFER. HOW DO I ACCEPT IT?

A: The Optional Loan is there to inform you of the maximum loan amount that either a parent and/or student can request in either a PLUS or Alternative loan. You cannot accept the Optional Loan on CheckMarq because a separate loan application is required for the parent and student loan.

  • The optional parent loan is the Federal Parent PLUS Loan, a federal loan borrowed by the parent for their dependent student’s education.  To apply for the Parent PLUS Loan, the parent will apply online at studentaid.gov/plusapp and select “I am a Parent of a Student”.  Visit the Federal Parent PLUS Loan webpage for more details about this loan.
  • The optional graduate/professional PLUS loan is a Federal Grad/Professional PLUS Loan, a federal loan available to graduate/professional students. To apply for the Grad PLUS loan, the student will apply online at studentaid.gov/plusapp and select “I am a Graduate or Professional Student”. Visit the Grad/Professional PLUS Loan webpage for more details about this loan.
  • The optional student loan is a private alternative loan, a non-federal loan borrowed by the student through a private lending institution.  In most cases the student is required to have a credit-worthy co-signer. Visit the Alternative loan options webpage to review various alternative loan options and apply for a private loan online directly through the lender of your choice.

Q: WHAT IS ENTRANCE COUNSELING?

A: Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling helps students understand their rights and responsibilities as a federal student loan borrower. Federal regulations require students to complete an entrance counseling session prior to obtaining a Federal Direct Student Loan. 

Q: HOW DO I COMPLETE MY PROMISSORY NOTES?

A: You will need to sign separate electronic Master Promissory Notes (MPNs) for Federal Direct Loans and PLUS loan. For undergraduate and graduate Federal Direct Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and Graduate PLUS Loans, visit studentaid.gov/mpn and select your student type or that you are a parent to complete the correct MPN. 

Q: HOW DO I DECREASE OR CANCEL MY STUDENT LOAN?

A: A student loan can be decreased or cancelled in one of the following ways:

  • Go to your CheckMarq Self-Service Account: select “Request Counselor Action”, provide your loan decrease or cancellation request, and submit.
  • Email request from your eMarq email address, including MUID, to Marquette Central at: marquettecentral@marquette.edu   
  • Fax a written request, including student’s name and MUID, to: (414) 288-1718
  • Call Marquette Central at: (414) 288-4000 (be prepared to provide student’s MUID and MCAN)
  • Mail a written request, including student’s name and MUID, to:
    Marquette Central
    PO Box 1881, Zilber Hall, Suite 121
    Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881

Q: HOW DO MY PARENTS DECREASE OR CANCEL THE PARENT PLUS LOAN?

A: The request to decrease or cancel a Parent PLUS Loan must be received from the parent borrower in one of the following ways:

  • Email your request, including student’s name and MUID, to Marquette Central at: marquettecentral@marquette.edu   
  • Fax a written request, including student’s name and MUID, to: (414) 288-1718
  • Call Marquette Central at: (414) 288-4000 (be prepared to provide student’s MUID and MCAN)
  • Mail a written request, including student’s name and MUID, to:
    Marquette Central
    PO Box 1881, Zilber Hall, Suite 121
    Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881

Q: CAN I INCREASE MY STUDENT LOANS?

A: Every student's situation is different. Contact Marquette Central for guidance.

Q: I RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT MY LOAN WAS CANCELLED DUE TO CHANGE IN LOAN FEES. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

A: The Department of Education sets origination fees (i.e., processing fees) for each loan every year. If the fees for your loan are scheduled to change and you have not completed all the steps to receive your loan, Marquette is required to cancel any loan that has not paid. Loans can be reinstated but will be subject to the new origination fees. Therefore, it is important to complete all the loan steps as quickly as possible. To review the terms of a particular loan, visit the Loans webpage.


Scholarships

Q: HOW DO I APPLY FOR OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND IF I RECEIVE ONE, WHERE DO I SEND THE CHECK?

A: Begin by searching for scholarships through organizations in your local area (e.g., religious groups, Elks, Rotary Club, Jaycees), high school guidance counselor, public library, and internet scholarship search engines.  Check into whether your parent’s or guardian’s employer provides scholarships to their employees' children for college.

  • Visit the Scholarships website to learn about various scholarship opportunities.
  • Please include your name and MUID when sending private scholarship checks to:  
    Marquette University
    Marquette Central
    Attn:  Scholarship Assistant
    PO Box 1881
    Milwaukee WI 53201-1881

Q: WILL OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AFFECT MY FINANCIAL AID?

A: You are required to notify us of additional financial assistance that is not listed on your offer notification. Do not assume that your scholarship/fellowship/assistantship/VA benefit sponsor automatically informs our office of your outside aid.

  • If you have remaining need, the scholarship will go towards your unmet need first.
  • We may be required to modify your financial aid offer if you are receiving outside aid. If a financial aid adjustment occurs, an email will be sent to your eMarq account.

Q: DO I NEED TO SIGN MY PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIP CHECK?

A: Whether you need to sign the private scholarship check depends on the following:

  • If the check is made payable to You and Marquette University, then you must endorse the private scholarship check.
  • When the check is made payable to Marquette University, your endorsement on the check is not required.

If your signature is required on a scholarship check Marquette Central will send an email to your eMarq account asking you to stop by the office to endorse the check.

Q: HOW IS MY PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIP CHECK APPLIED TO MY STUDENT ACCOUNT?

A: Marquette must honor the donor’s specifications when indicated.

  • If the scholarship donor has specified how the scholarship is to be applied, Marquette must apply it accordingly.
  • If the donor has not specified how the scholarship is to be applied, it is automatically split evenly between the fall and spring semesters.

Q: WHEN WILL MY PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIP BE APPLIED TO MY FINANCIAL AID OFFER?

A: Private scholarship checks are processed daily. During the very busy months of January and August, please allow more time for processing due to of the volume of checks received.  You can view updates to your financial aid offer and your student account through CheckMarq.

Q: I RECEIVED MY SCHOLARSHIP LETTER FROM THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS. IS THIS ALL I'LL RECEIVE IN FINANCIAL AID?

A: It depends. Students who apply for financial aid may receive additional financial assistance. A Financial Aid Notification (FAN) will be sent electronically to all students via their eMarq e-mail account and will detail the financial assistance available.

Q: HOW CAN I STAY IN GOOD STANDING FOR THE PERE MARQUETTE SCHOLARSHIP?

A: This scholarship is renewable for up to 8 semesters of undergraduate study provided the recipient remains in good academic standing with his/her respective college and is enrolled as a full-time student.

Q: I AM GRADUATING A SEMESTER EARLY. CAN I RECEIVE MY FULL MARQUETTE SCHOLARSHIP IN ONE SEMESTER?

A: No. Marquette scholarships are offered on a per-semester basis. You are not able to receive two semesters of scholarship eligibility at one time.

Q: I WAS ACCEPTED INTO A PRE-DENTAL SCHOLAR OR PRE-LAW SCHOLAR PROGRAM. SINCE I'M ONLY AN UNDERGRADUATE FOR 3 YEARS, AM I ABLE TO USE MY MARQUETTE SCHOLARSHIP FOR MY GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL DEGREE?

A: You are not able to use a Marquette undergraduate scholarship when you are enrolled as a graduate or professional student. You may be eligible for new scholarships as a graduate/professional student. Please contact your college for these opportunities.

Q: CAN I RECEIVE THE PERE MARQUETTE SCHOLARSHIPS IN SUMMER?

A: Yes, students may utilize their Père Marquette Scholarship during the summer term. However, we caution students to think carefully before making this choice as the scholarship will be prorated and this will count as one of their 8 semesters of eligibility. Students will not be allowed to have their prorated scholarship reversed nor will they be eligible to use the unused portion of their scholarship later. Additional information is available on the Summer Financial Aid page.

Q: I'M WITHDRAWING FROM ONE OR SEVERAL OF MY CLASSES AFTER THE ADD/DROP PERIOD. WILL MY SCHOLARSHIPS/AID BE AFFECTED?

A: If you are withdrawing after the close of the add/drop period, you will continue to receive your full scholarship and financial aid for the current semester. If you are enrolled full-time the following semester, you will continue to receive your scholarship(s) and financial aid.

However, a component of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy requires undergraduate students to complete 67% of the cumulative credit hours attempted to remain in good standing and remain eligible for financial aid. This applies to all students who receive institutional, state and Federal Title IV and Title VII funds administered by the university.

Q: HOW MUCH OF MY PÈRE MARQUETTE OFFER WILL I RECEIVE IF I DECIDE TO USE IT DURING THE SUMMER TERM?

A: In summer, students are charged a lesser tuition rate and may receive a prorated Père Marquette, All-In Marquette College Completion Scholarship, College Competition or Dean’s Scholarship. This means, the scholarship is adjusted to a lower amount based on the lower tuition rate and number of credits enrolled in. Students should not expect to receive the same amount as they normally receive as a full-time student during the regular academic year. Likewise, if a senior is taking less than 12 credits in their final semester at Marquette, they also may receive a prorated scholarship based on the lower tuition rate. Adjusted scholarships are based on the percentage of their scholarship to tuition in that academic year.


Tax Filing and Financial Aid

Q: DO I HAVE TO REPORT ANY GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, OR FELLOWSHIPS TO THE IRS AS INCOME?

A: If you have questions about how to complete your taxes, you should consult your tax professional or refer to the IRS. Marquette University cannot provide tax advice. The IRS can be contacted below:

  • IRS Website
  • IRS Telephone Assistance Hotline: (800) 829-1040

Q: ARE FEDERAL WORK STUDY AND CO-OP INCOME TAXABLE?

A: Yes. Any money received as the result of work (i.e., Work Study, temporary employment on or off campus, some fellowships, etc.) is considered taxable income. You will be asked to file an Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate (W-4 Form) and you will receive a Wage and Tax Statement (W-2 Form) each calendar year. Your taxable earnings from Federal Work Study and work under a Cooperative Education Program (Co-Op) must be reported on your FAFSA.

Q: WHAT ARE THE CURRENT FEDERAL INCOME TAX FILING REQUIREMENTS?

A: Visit the IRS website to see Who Must File or use their interactive Do I Need to File a Tax Return? Interactive tool.