The basic premise upon which financial aid programs are based is that the primary responsibility rests with the student and the parents to pay college expenses to the extent that the family is determined able to do so. The analysis of a family's financial strength includes consideration of current family income, assets, family size, number of children and number in college, uninsured medical and dental expenses, and any other factors which seriously alter a family's financial strength and is determined through a process called Need Analysis conducted by the U.S. Department of Education servicer at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Financial aid programs are designed to supplement family resources by bridging the gap between cost and the family's measured ability to pay.

Once a financial aid application and file are completed, a student's record is submitted through an award packaging formula call PARS which awards students on a first come-first served basis of all eligible and available grant aid, such as Pell Grant, Supplemental Grant, and LEAP grant.  An application is not complete until all required and requested documents are on file. Incomplete files are not processed.

Balance of aid available after tution and fees have been debited, is mailed to the address on file approximately two weeks after the start of the semester.