Maintain Your Aid Eligibility 

How Financial Need is Determined  

Cost of Attendance – Student Aid Index (SAI) number – Outside Scholarships and Other Resources = Financial Aid Need

Cost of attendance is determined each year by the University and includes tuition and fees, housing, food, books, course materials, supplies, travel expenses and cost of living expenses. This number is only for planning purposes and for determining your financial need, which will differ from your actual Clemson bill and will vary with each student. It is important to note, however, that the total amount of financial aid a student receives cannot exceed the cost of attendance.  

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is determined by the Department of Education using your FAFSA information. This is based on a need-analysis formula calculated from information provided by you and your contributor(s0 on your FAFSA.

When Student Aid Index (SAI) is More Than the Maximum Pell Grant Amount 

If your SAI is greater than the maximum Pell grant amount, then you don’t qualify for need-based aid. However, there are other financial aid programs available regardless of your financial need, such as the unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan, the Federal Parent PLUS loan and private loans. 

Verification is the process mandated by the U.S. Department of Education to ensure the accuracy of data submitted by applicants for federal financial aid. The Office of Student Financial Aid is charged with the responsibility of requesting various documents needed to verify an applicant’s financial information. 

If you are Selected for Verification 

If you are selected for verification for the current academic year, the documents you need to complete will be available on your account under Financial Aid in the iROAR portal. The documents will appear as Unsatisfied Requirements under the Eligibility tab. Please be sure to check your email and iROAR account regularly until verification is complete because additional information may be required.

How to Submit Verification Information

Our office prefers the use of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on FAFSA to provide your tax return information.

Alternatively, you may submit an IRS Tax Return Transcript. To request the IRS Tax Return Transcript, you may go to the IRS website and click “Get Transcript ONLINE” or "Get Transcript by MAIL." Mailed transcripts will arrive seven to 10 days after the request has been made.  

Please note an IRS Account Transcript is not the same as the IRS Return Transcript and will not be accepted. 

Verification documentation must be submitted through the secure uploads located within the iROAR portal. Please ensure the student’s name and Clemson University ID number are on all documentation submitted to our office. 

Please keep in mind that communications via email over the internet are not secure.

For financial aid purposes, you must meet one of the following requirements to be considered independent.  

• You are 24 years or older.
• You are legally married.
• You are an orphan or ward of the court.
• You were in foster care or legal guardianship as determined by the court.
• You were determined to be an unaccompanied youth or homeless.
• You are working on a graduate or professional degree.
• You are serving active duty or are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• You have a child for whom you provide more than half the support or
• You have a dependent (other than a child or spouse) for whom you provide more than half the support.

Additional details and information on these requirements can be found on the FAFSA. If you do not meet one of the above requirements, then your parents’ financial information will be considered when determining your SAI, regardless of living arrangements, family disagreements or your parents’ unwillingness to contribute to your education costs. 

To qualify for federal financial aid, you must apply and be accepted into a degree-seeking program at Clemson University. Most types of financial aid require a student to enroll in at least half-time credits each semester. Half-time status for undergraduate students is defined as six credit hours. Half-time status for graduate students is defined as five credit hours. Enrollment in courses that do not apply to your program of study may not count toward your enrollment status for financial aid purposes.