Policies & FAQ

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form is the single most important financial aid gateway. It asks you questions about the student’s (and, if you are under the age of 24, the student’s parents’) income and savings to estimate how much aid the student needs. Your FAFSA information is used to award federal grants, state grants, and numerous scholarships from colleges, foundations, and companies.

Visit fafsa.gov (or get the “My Student Aid” app) to complete the 2022-23 FAFSA. You will need your FSA ID and Password. If you or your parent have not yet created an FSA ID, you will need to visit fsaid.ed.gov before starting the FAFSA. You will also need you and your parents (if dependent student) 2020 tax information. The FAFSA opens October 1^st of each year.

PBA does not have a specific deadline to complete the FAFSA, however, the Financial Aid office encourages students to fill is out as soon as they are able to, in order for their file to be complete within a timely manner for the next academic year. Bills are due August 1^st of each academic year, so students MUST have all documents completed with our office in order for financial aid to be applied.

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) allows students and parents who filed a U.S tax return with the IRS to access the IRS tax return information needed to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and transfer the data directly into their FAFSA form.

A) For 2022-2023 applicants filing an initial or renewal FAFSA application or making a correction are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool if you meet all of the following criteria:

1. Must have valid SSN
2. Must have filed a 2020 federal tax return
3. Must have unchanged marital status since December 31, 2020

B) The following list represents those who cannot use the IRS Data Retrieval tool for 2022-2023:

1. Parents who filed their federal tax returns using a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or completed the FAFSA using all zeroes for SSN
2. Any student or parent with a marital status date of January 1, 2020 or later
3. Any student or parent who indicates they have not already filed a tax return or will not file a tax return
4. Any student or parent who is married but file separate federal income tax returns (e.g., married filing separately or head of household)
5. Parents who are unmarried but living together and parents have an informal separation but continue to file a joint federal income tax return (e.g., married filing jointly).
6. Any student or parent who have filed foreign income tax returns instead of or in addition to a U.S. federal income tax return

If eligible, you may be able to import your tax info automatically from the IRS into your FAFSA form using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT).

A subsidized loan, the borrower is not responsible for the interest on the loan while in school, grace period or in deferment status. An unsubsidized loan in one in which the borrower is responsible for interest regardless of the loan status. An unsubsidized loan will start to accrue interest while the borrower is in school.

You will be required to complete Loan Entrance Counseling (a tool to ensure you understand your obligation to repay the loan) and sign a loan contract called a Master Promissory Note (an agreement to the terms of the loan).

The Financial Aid Office will first apply your loan funds to your school account to pay for tuition, fees, room and board, and other school charges. If any additional loan funds remain, they will be returned to you. All loan funds must be used for your education expenses.

Your loan servicer is assigned at random once your loan is disbursed. Your loan servicer will provide regular updates on the status of your Direct Loan, and any additional Direct Loans that you receive.

After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you will have a six-month grace period before you are required to begin repayment. During this period, you’ll receive repayment information from your loan servicer, and you’ll be notified of your first payment due date. Payments are usually due monthly.

Learn more about managing your loans

View the list of preferred lenders that we have compiled on FASTChoice! This list is created by a board of professionals, comprised of competitive lenders, and reviewed biannually. Lenders are added, or removed, based on criteria about historical data collected and information provided about specific loan products. You may also use a lender that is not on the list.

Yes! PBA offers a variety of merit-based scholarships for academic excellence and talent in athletics, dance, music and theater. Use the Net Price Calculator to determine your scholarship amount! For more information about other institutional aid visit our Scholarships & Grants page.

You will need to access your financial aid portal to view your current, and pass, financial aid offers. Visit my.pba.edu to access your financial aid portal. You will need your myPBA login credentials to enter the site.

Yes! Visit the Outside Scholarships page to learn more about how to apply, where to apply, and other local community scholarship foundations.

You will pay your bill on your Student Account Center located on my.pba.edu. All one-time or monthly payments will be made here.

Yes! PBA has partnered with NelNet Campus Commerce to offer up to 5-month payment plans. You may enroll in the payment plan of your choice on your NelNet Campus Commerce account. You will need PBA network credentials to access your account. If you have additional questions you may contact the Student Accounts Office at 561-803-2152 or emailing Student_Accounts@pba.edu.

Please refer to your enrollment checklist for health insurance waiver.

Disbursement of financial aid occurs according to federally mandated regulations. Students are expected to receive their refunds approximately 3 to 4 weeks after the end of “Add/Drop” period. If you are enrolled in courses in multiple subterms, the amount of your first refund will be effected by your enrollment. You can view the expected refund dates on your myPBA account.

All student account refunds will be issued via direct deposit to your bank account or a physical check. If you do not select a payment method, the default option will be a check mailed to the legal home address on file; however, please note that physical checks take longer to process. The fastest way to receive your funds is to select Direct Deposit.

To select a refunding preference, log into your Student Account Center account and click the “Refund” tab.

You will apply for the EASE Grant on your Financial Aid Portal. You can access your portal via myPBA.

Must earn a minimum 2.0 GPA and earn the equivalent of 12 credit hours each semester an award was received during the academic year (Credit hours earned during the previous summer may be counted toward the total number of credit hours required).

PBA does not accept the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship because we are not a vocational university. PBA does accept the Florida Bright Futures Academic and Medallion Scholarship.

1. The Bright Futures Scholarship will be paid at a set rate each academic year. The current rates are as follows:
2. Bright Futures Academic Scholarship – $211 per credit hour. Renewable for up to 120 credit hours.
3. Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship – $158 per credit hour. Renewable for up to 120 credit hours.

1. Bright Futures Academic Scholarship – Earn 24 credits hours per semester and maintain a 3.0 GPA
2. Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship – Earn 24 credits hours per semester and maintain a 2.75 GPA

After successfully completing the FAFSA and confirming your eligibility, you can search for jobs on PBA Handshake.

The amount of money you can earn depends on several factors including your FAFSA results and your department’s budget. You will have a certain amount of eligibility based upon the results of the FAFSA and this amount is determined by the Financial Aid Office. Additionally, your department will have a specific budget to abide by and will assign you your hours accordingly. Your department can not exceed your eligibility as determined by the FAFSA. Keep in mind, your maximum eligibility may be larger than your department’s budget. Pay rates are on our Work Study page.

You will be paid on the 5th working day of each month. You may choose to receive direct deposit or a traditional check. All the hours you worked must be logged into the University’s Time Clock tracking system.

You must register for and maintain an enrollment status of half-time (6 credits) or greater to be eligible for the FWS program. If, for any reason, your course load falls below half-time, you can no longer participate in the program and must stop working immediately.

FWS earnings are considered taxable income by both federal and state governments however, FWS earnings are not included in the calculation of your eligibility for financial aid. Additionally, the state of Florida does not have a state income tax.

If a student has been approved for a reduced course load, the Office of Disability Services will email financial aid letting us know that a student is approved for to take this reduced course load and continue to receive institutional aid and the EASE grant. However, the student’s institutional aid and EASE grant must be prorated per semester based off the course load the student is taking.

1. Students enrolled in 3-5 hours can receive 25% of their institutional aid and EASE grant.
2. Students enrolled in 6-8 hours can receive 50% of their institutional aid and EASE grant.
3. Students enrolled in 9-11 hours can receive 75% of their institutional aid and EASE grant.

Yes! All official college transcripts must be submitted directly to Palm Beach Atlantic University from every institution previously attended before registration for the subsequent term begins. This includes institutions where courses were attempted and credit was not earned (failing grades or withdrawals). If the transcripts are not submitted, financial aid and class registration will be frozen. We will make an effort to encourage official transcripts prior to the student enrolling for their respective term.

If you have questions or concerns about your transfer coursework, please contact the Academic GPS Office. This office will be creating first year schedules, managing transcripts including evaluation of transfer credit and supporting faculty with advising and degree planning. Our goal is to improve the student experience by educating students on catalog and degree requirements and the importance of staying on track for degree completion. Academic GPS will also be able to assist in resolving registration and scheduling issues.

Academic GPS is located in Hood Hall and is part of the Registrar Office’s team.  Their email is Academic_GPS@pba.edu.