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Financial Aid FAQs
Tuition and financial aid
Our FAQ page is your go-to resource for understanding financial aid options and requirements. From eligibility criteria to application deadlines, we cover it all in clear and simple language. Plus, we’ve made our content accessible to all with ASL videos. Get the information you need to make informed decisions about financing your education.
When I was in high school, I was not sure how I would pay for college. I learned that there are many options to help me pay for college. Here are some examples:
The FAFSA form asks for a lot of personal information. You must answer all questions on the form. You cannot skip questions, nor can you “pick and choose” which ones you prefer to answer.
You may feel that FAFSA is asking for too much private information – but don’t worry. There is a law called the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This law says that private information can be seen only by people who need it to do their job. For FAFSA, this means that only people in Financial Aid will see your private information, and only so that they can make financial aid decisions. Other people at Gallaudet will not see your personal details.
From time to time, you may see people talking about VR or Vocational Rehabilitation. What’s that? VR is a federal-state program in each U.S. state. It may have different names, but their goal is the same – to support people with disabilities and help them gain employment. A college degree is one of the best training opportunities to prepare for jobs. VR can help you go to college.
How do you know if you are eligible for VR services? There are three important things. First, you must have a documented disability that causes a barrier to employment. Most Gallaudet students are deaf, and being deaf is the disability. There are other disabilities as well; VR serves people with all kinds of disabilities. Second, you must need Vocational Rehabilitation services such as financial support and college planning to achieve employment. Third, you must have a goal and intent to use your college degree to get a full-time job.
How do you begin the VR process? First, you must find your local VR office. Every state is different; sometimes VR has a different name, not VR. It may be called DVR, or sometimes DARS, DOR, or DORS. The best first step is to Google your state: for example California and “vocational rehabilitation”. Look for “applying for services” and follow instructions. If you are not sure or the information is not clear, you can always meet with your admissions counselor, who will help you find the right information. Many states have specialized VR counselors for deaf and hard of hearing people. Try to find those counselors. If you need help, contact us!
Your VR counselor will ask you about yourself, and about your goals and the challenges you may have. They may give you paperwork to fill out about your skills, interests, and abilities. They will discuss what services you can receive. They will work together with you to develop paperwork for your education plan.
Here are some things you should do when you set up your first meeting with your VR counselor. You will need to bring a few things to make sure your meeting goes smoothly. Be sure to bring personal information: your contact information, Social Security Number, and your driver’s license or other government-issued identification. You also need to bring medical documentation showing proof of your disability. If you are deaf, usually this means an audiogram. If you have other disabilities, bring your medical records that document this disability. VR will also want to know about your educational and employment history. Finally, be ready to tell your VR counselor your career goals. You should be able to explain clearly your job or career goals, and how getting a college degree from Gallaudet will help you achieve this goal.
After you meet with your VR counselor, you will leave with something called an IPE, or Individualized Plan for Employment. Your IPE is almost like a road map. It will list the different steps you need to complete, what services VR will provide to support you, and the resources you can get. Your IPE will break down your exact plan: what you will do and how VR will help you. Every semester, you will meet with your VR counselor to review your progress and make sure that you are on track to succeed.
Keep in mind that VR support is not automatic. You can fill out an application and set up a meeting with a VR counselor, but every applicant for VR services is considered on an individual basis. Of course, Gallaudet wants you to have good luck with VR and have them agree to help support you and pay for your college costs. Here are some ideas . how you can increase your chances of receiving VR support. First, be responsive to their communication. If they email you, read and answer all their questions. The more you communicate with your VR counselor, the more they will see that you are serious about wanting to get your college degree. Second, bring your own ideas. Don’t just show up for your appointments and have nothing to say. If you do this, your VR counselor may make decisions for you. You should bring your own decisions and your own goals, and bring solutions. Do your research before meeting with your VR counselor. Identify what degree you want and how that degree will benefit you and help you get the job that you want. In short, help your VR counselor help you.
Sometimes a VR counselor will say that they cannot pay for you to attend Gallaudet, or that they will only pay for a school that is close to you, but not send you to Washington, D.C. This is frustrating, but we can help. We have a justification letter at gu.live/VRVerifyDoc. You can share this justification letter with your VR counselor to help them understand why choosing Gallaudet is a better option to support your chances for success and meeting your IPE.
Now your child is ready to go to college and that’s exciting. Congratulations! I can imagine it is a proud time for you and you may be anxious and wonder how you can afford it. I understand as I was there in your shoes before. Our Gallaudet students have several options, but the most popular and best options are federal aid and Vocational Rehabilitation. Both are great because they can work together and offer you a much-reduced college cost, even possibly zero.
What is FAFSA? Free Application for Federal Student Aid. FAFSA is very important because the U.S. Department of Education will review your application and determine whether your child is eligible for aid, including need-based aid and loans. Gallaudet will use this information and review it to see what we can contribute. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) also heavily relies on FAFSA, and may provide support. It is imperative to file FAFSA annually.
It is crucial that parents and the child work together. You and your child need to file the FAFSA together and figure out how you can afford it. Why? Because it has specific rules on who fills out the form and based on whose information it’s based on. It is imperative that you follow the instructions thoroughly. If you choose not to file the FAFSA, your child will NOT be eligible for federal student aid, free grants, loans or VR. This is a common mistake that families make so it is important to file the FAFSA.
If your family depends on government benefit programs – for example, Social Security, food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), you may be concerned that submitting a FAFSA form will disrupt your benefits. Don’t worry. Applying for FAFSA will not disrupt or impact your government benefits in any way.
If your child has a Social Security Number (SSN) and is a US citizen or holds a green card, and you, the parent, don’t have an SSN, that is fine. Go ahead and fill out the FAFSA. Follow the instructions on the forms. Please proceed.
You will see people talk or discuss “VR” in different places and wonder what is VR. What is Vocational Rehabilitation? It is a federal program that each state has and the purpose of this is to help people with disabilities gain employment. Knowing the best way to obtain employment is to receive a college degree. Having a college degree will lead you to many opportunities. VR can help you attend college because VR wants you to find a job.
If you are not sure where to start? Fine, no worries. Most importantly, find your local VR first because many states have different names for VR. Some will say VR, DVR, DARS or whatever. Your best tool is to go into google and type “Vocational Rehabilitation,” then add your home state such as California, Texas or Wisconsin, and then you will see the list on your screen. Look for “Apply for Services” then click there, and then follow the instructions. If you are still unsure or unclear, please go ahead and contact our admissions counselors at Gallaudet as we are happy to help you.
The VR counselor will ask your child questions about themselves, their goals, challenges and interests. Sometimes, the VR counselor will have paperwork for both of you to fill out and list skills, interests, and more to ensure they align with your child’s goals. They will discuss the options and services that your child may receive. With that said, the VR counselor will work with your child and develop an IPE (Individual Plan for Employment).
You are excited and ready to go to Gallaudet – but your VR counselor wants you to attend a community college or college in your home state. You are discouraged and feel that it is not a good fit for you, and that Gallaudet is the right choice for you. How can you persuade your VR counselor to send you to Gallaudet? First, Gallaudet University has a justification letter on its website. This letter can help you plead your case to your VR counselor. Sometimes, VR counselors do not fully understand what Gallaudet is about, or what it Gallaudet offers that other schools do not. Second, your admissions counselor will be happy to meet with you and go through the justification letter to help you prepare for your meeting with the VR counselor.