The Financial Aid Office is responsible for processing financial aid applications and awards for students who meet the applicable eligibility requirements. Financial aid consists of scholarships, loans, and part-time employment that the institution makes available to eligible students to enable them to cover all or part of their educational costs. These aid programs come from various sources such as: federal, state, institutional, agencies and private institutions. Students are offered a combination of aid that best meets their financial need, according to their eligibility and the availability of funds.
Inter-American University of Puerto Rico uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for federal, state and institutional financial aid.
It is the policy of the University to guarantee equal opportunity in all its educational programs, services and benefits. No student shall be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, national origin, handicap, age, marital status, political affiliation, or any other classification protected by the provisions of Title IX of the Education Act Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and any other applicable state or federal law or regulation.
Federal Student Aid Estimator
How do I start the FAFSA® financial aid application process?
Obtain an FSA ID
Every applicant must have an FSA ID is a username and password combination that will be used to log into the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) online systems, sign the application electronically, correct the application, check the status of the application, or access the response.
What is an FSA ID?
The Federal Student Aid Identification (FSA ID) is a credential that you create using a username and password combination to log into the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) online systems.
The FSA ID is your legal signature and should not be created or used by anyone other than you, including your parents, children, school officials, or loan company representatives. You will use your FSA ID every year you complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and for the life of your federal student loans.
Who has to create an FSA ID?
Everyone who contributes information to the FAFSA needs an FSA ID, including parents who do not have a Social Security number.
- Students - The student is the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) applicant and will need his or her own FSA ID.
- Parent or legal guardian - are the taxpayers on the FAFSA. In most cases, the student will need to declare personal information about his or her parents. Therefore, a parent or legal guardian should create their own FSA ID.
- If you are an independent student, you will not need your parent or legal guardian to create an FSA ID. If the student is married, your spouse will need to create his or her own FASA ID.
Depending on how they file income tax returns, they are required to create their FSA ID:
- PERSONS FILING JOINT PAYROLLS
- Dependent student:
- The student and one of their parents. This applies to marital status: married, remarried and unmarried but both biological parents live together.
- Independent student:
- The student and spouse (if married).
- Dependent student:
- PERSONS FILING SEPARATE RETURNS
- Dependent student
- The student and each of the parents. This applies to parents with marital status: married, remarried and unmarried but both biological parents live together.
- Independent student:
- Student and spouse (if married).
- Dependent student
- PERSONS FILING INDIVIDUAL TAX RETURNS AS INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS
- Dependent student:
- The student and one of their parents. This applies to parents with marital status: separated, divorced, capitulated and widowed cases.
- Independent student:
- The student.
- Dependent student:
What information do I need to create an FSA ID?
You will need:
- E-mail address
- Cell phone number
- Create a user name and password
The password cannot contain your personal information such as name, social security number or date of birth. It must be between eight and thirty characters such as uppercase letters, lowercase letters and numbers.
- Personal data
Name, First Name, Middle Initial and Last Name
Date of Birth
Social Security Number
Mailing Address
- Establish five security questions and their answers.
IMPORTANT:
- When creating your FSA ID, be careful to enter your name and Social Security number (SSN) as they appear on your Social Security card.
- Correctly choose the state and zip code in the permanent address on the FSA ID.
- For students living in Puerto Rico, the correct selection is as follows:
- Country: United States;
- City: the town where you reside
- State: Puerto Rico
- Zip Code: The zip code that corresponds to your town (City)
- For students living in Puerto Rico, the correct selection is as follows:
- Each Social Security number, email address, and cell phone number can be associated with only one FSA ID. If you share an email address with another person, only one of you will be able to use that email address to create an FSA ID.
Where do I get an FSA ID?
To create an FSA ID visit: StudentAid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/account-info
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)
Options for Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
You may choose to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.®) online or by mail.
Electronic application form (fill it in at fafsa.gov)
The Federal Department of Education has a Web site where the FAFSA® can be completed online and submitted via the Internet. You can access the FAFSA® on the Web using a computer equipped with Internet access capability. The Internet address is: www.studentaid.com
By accessing FAFSA® on the Web, you can submit your information directly to the U.S. Department of Education through its Central Processing System (CPS). The CPS will process your application within 72 hours and send the response to the college(s) you indicated when you completed the FAFSA®.
Mail-in Application Form (Download PDF at fafsa.gov or request a printed PDF by calling 1-800-433-3243)
Documents needed to complete the FAFSA 2025-2026
Each person who provides information on the student's FAFSA® becomes a contributor of the application. A contributor may be a parent, stepparent, or spouse of the student. As a taxpayer, you may be asked to provide required information to help the student complete his or her FAFSA.
The student will complete the entire student section of the FAFSA® and will need the cooperation of the student's parent, stepparent or spouse (as applicable) to complete their section of the student's FAFSA®.
To facilitate the process, you should have the following information and documents available,
- The student's FSA ID (Financial Student Aid ID)
- Name and address of high school
* Answering None of the above (None of the above) makes you ineligible for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Loans and other financial aid.
- Income Tax Return for the year 2023 with all the corresponding schedules and withholding vouchers.
- W-2
- Register of alimony received
- Current cash, savings, and checking account balances
- Net value of investments, businesses, and farm
Taxpayer information:
- First and last name
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- E-mail address
Enclosure Codes
| Campus | Code |
| Aguadilla | 003939 |
| Arecibo | 005026 |
| Barranquitas | 005027 |
| Bayamón | 005028 |
| Fajardo | 010763 |
| Guayama | 010764 |
| Metro | 003940 |
| Ponce | 005029 |
| San German | 042542 |
| Law | G42509 |
| Optometry | G42510 |
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FAFSA Guides
General eligibility requirements for federal financial assistance
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible foreign national.
- Have a valid Social Security number.
- Be a regular student enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Sign a statement of educational purpose indicating that the grants received will be used only to cover costs related to their studies.
- Be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for a loan.
- Have financial need.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- If you are selected for verification by the federal government when you complete the FAFSA, submit
the required documents on time. - Not be a debtor of the Title IV Programs, nor have arrears in federal student loans.
- In order to receive a Federated Pell Grant, you must not have exhausted six years of this grant or its equivalent (Lifetime eligibility Used- LEU).
Financial aid application process
The following is an overview of what is usually involved in the process of applying for financial aid:
FAFSA submission: Students and their families should begin by completing the FAFSA. You must include on the FAFSA the campus code of the campus where you are going to study. This ensures that the Financial Aid Office receives the application. The Inter-American University campus codes are as follows:
Campus
Code
Aguadilla
003939
Arecibo
005026
Barranquitas
005027
Bayamón
005028
Fajardo
010763
Guayama
010764
Metro
003940
Ponce
005029
San German
042542
Law
G42509
Optometry
G42510
Deadlines: It is important to be aware of financial aid offer deadlines. Filing the FAFSA by May 31 may increase your chances of receiving certain types of financial aid, as some funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Review by the Financial Aid Office: Once the FAFSA is processed and the information is received, the college's financial aid office reviews it. This review helps determine the student's need for financial aid and eligibility for various types of aid, including scholarships, loans, and work-study programs.
Offer of financial assistance: After review, the University creates a financial aid package for the student. This package may include a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study opportunities. The amount and type of aid offered may vary depending on the student's financial need, academic merit and available funds.
Financial Assistance Notification: Students receive notification of their financial aid offer. This notification generally arrives via the email address assigned to the student by the academic unit. Students can view their financial aid offer through the student portal. Interweb. The offer of aid details all elements of financial aid awarded to the student.
Acceptance of assistanceStudents must accept (or decline) the financial aid offered. Scholarships are considered accepted. For loans, the student must accept or decline and additional steps may be required, such as completing loan counseling and signing a master promissory note (MPN).
Verification process: Some students may be selected for verification. This process requires providing additional financial documentation to verify the accuracy of the information reported on the FAFSA. Prompt response to any verification request is crucial to avoid delays in the disbursement of financial aid. This verification may result in correction of the FAFSA to include all information necessary to determine financial aid eligibility. If the result of the correction changes the student's eligibility, the student will receive a revised financial aid offer.
Maintenance of eligibility: To receive and continue to receive financial aid, students must meet certain academic standards, known as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). These standards generally include maintaining a minimum GPA and completing a certain percentage of courses attempted. The Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard policy is posted on the university's website.
Renewal: Financial aid does not automatically renew each year. Students must reapply for the FAFSA each year to continue receiving financial aid.
Special circumstances: If a student or their family experiences a significant change in financial circumstances, they can complete the application at the following link Request for Professional Judgment - Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico and accompany it with documents that support these circumstances. The financial aid office will discuss possible adjustments to your financial aid offer.
Unusual circumstancesIf a dependent student faces conditions that warrant a Financial Aid Director to update the dependency status based on a unique situation, he/she can complete the application at the following link Request for Professional Judgment - Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico . This is known as a dependency override. Some examples include: being a victim of human trafficking, possible parental abandonment, and student or parent incarceration. This process may require an interview with the Director of Financial Aid and the submission of supporting documentation.