Student financial aid data is protected not only by FERPA rules, but by the Higher Education Act (specifically Section 483(a)(3)(E) and the Privacy Act (specifically 5 U.S.C.§552). Any university requests made for release of student financial aid data must be reviewed by the Financial Aid Office. Data that is taken directly from the FAFSA or created as a result of the FAFSA (e.g. aid awards) can only be released in de-identified and aggregated statistics.
Based on the FY 2018 spending bill passed on March 23, 2018, the Mason Office of Student Financial Aid may provide, with explicit written consent from the student, FAFSA information to scholarship-granting organizations or tribal organizations.
What is not allowed is eligibility determinations for state benefits programs, even with the student’s written consent. This includes Vocational Rehabilitation, food stamps, and income verification for rent, low-income housing, and other social services requests. Students who need financial aid information for non-scholarship granting organizations or tribal organizations may provide requested data directly to third parties using the following methods:
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC) can be found on the Student Aid Report (SAR), which is available by logging in to the student’s FAFSA at https://fafsa.gov/. After logging in, the student should click the link to view the SAR.
- Financial Aid awards can be printed from https://patriotweb.gmu.edu. After logging in, click Financial Aid, Award, Award by Aid Year. Please note that awards for continuing 2018-2019 students will be available beginning in June 2018.
- Federal loan borrowing history and status can be printed by signing into https://studentaid.gov/.
- Cost of Attendance: Estimated cost of attendance information can be found at: https://www2.gmu.edu/admissions-aid/paying-college
- Financial Aid awards can be printed from https://patriotweb.gmu.edu.