Applying for financial aid is easy, just follow these five simple steps:

Apply. Even if you don't think you qualify for financial aid, apply anyway. The results may surprise you. To file an application, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after Jan. 1 as possible. This form will determine your eligibility for many types of financial aid including Federal Pell Grants, Stafford Loans and Work-Study. You can find FAFSA's in your high school college counselor's office or you can apply online. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

To apply for a merit scholarship at UNCP, complete this on-line form. Be sure to include UNCP's code on your FAFSA. Our code is 002954.

Wait. It takes about four week to receive the results from your FAFSA called a Student Aid Report (SAR). If you listed UNCP's code on your FAFSA, we will receive your SAR as well.

Wait some more. A few weeks after you receive your SAR, UNCP will send you a financial aid award based on your eligibility.

Do nothing. To accept your award, all you have to do is wait for it to appear on our UNCP account.

Complete your loan applications. If you qualified for a Stafford Loan, complete and return the loan application that was sent to you as part of your aid package. If you are seeking financing from a lender not on our preferred lender list, send a completed application to us and we'll process it for you.

If this is your first time for taking out a loan at UNCP, you will also need to attend an entrance loan counseling session to learn your rights and responsibilities as a borrower.