Financial Aid Process

Congratulations on becoming a Mercer Bear!

Here are some actions you can take to ease the financial obligations you will incur on your pathway to higher learning.

If you need further assistance, contact the Office of Student Financial Planning.

Complete the FAFSA

If you haven’t already, make sure to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available at studentaid.gov.

  • The FAFSA opens each year on October 1.
  • Mercer’s school code is 001580.

Complete FAFSA verification

If your FAFSA is selected for verification, you will receive an email from the Office of Student Financial Planning, or you can review your Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Department of Education.

  • Create an account and complete the required tasks at Mercer.StudentForms.com
  • Watch this video for instructions on how to create your verification account and submit your verification documents in Student Forms.

Check your MyMercer Document Center for additional requirements

Additional documents may be required to complete the financial aid process. All required documents will be listed in your MyMercer Document Center.

  • Your financial aid notification will be finalized and confirmed once all documents and items are submitted and verified.
  •  Watch this video for instructions on how to upload documents in your MyMercer portal.

Accept your estimated financial aid

Accept or decline your estimated financial aid in your MyMercer portal.

Watch this video for instructions on how to review your financial aid in MyMercer.

Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling

If you are a first-time borrower and have accepted a Federal Direct Loan, then you must complete Entrance Counseling.

If you have already completed Entrance Counseling at a prior school, the Office of Student Financial Planning will review the Department of Education site and let you know if you haven’t completed it.

Complete your Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note

Your Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) may be valid for up to 10 years. Review your Document Center to determine if you need to complete a new MPN.

Review your College Financing Plan (College Shopping Sheet)

The College Financing Plan is a federally required document to allow students to easily compare financial aid offers from different institutions.

You can find your College Financing Plan for Mercer University in your MyMercer portal.

Know what you owe

There are annual and lifetime limits to federal loans.

  • Review your federal student aid usage on studentaid.gov.
  • Make a financial plan to finish your degree utilizing the funds you have available.