Federal Verification Process
**Please reference MyCCU for a complete list of required documentation.**
You MUST include your (student’s) name and CCU ID number on all documents submitted. Failure to do so will result in a delay of the processing of your documents.
What is Verification?
Verification is a process in which information on a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is reviewed by a school for accuracy and completeness.
Approximately 30% of all FAFSAs received each year are selected by the Federal Department of Education for the verification process. Documentation of the information supplied by the applicant and/or parent(s) on the FAFSA is required to complete verification.
How do I know if I’m selected?
There are multiple ways to determine if you have been selected for the verification process including:
- There will be an asterisk next to your Student Aid Index (SAI) on your FAFSA Submission Summary.
- You will also be informed of having been selected for verification in the SAR Acknowledgement letter, which will be included with your SAR documents or on your FAFSA Submission Summary.
- Coastal Carolina University students will receive an email from Financial Aid and Scholarships directing them to the Required Documents section in MyCCU.
Why was I selected?
Many students selected for verification are chosen randomly by the Federal Department of Education. However, you are more likely to be selected for verification if the data you provided on the FAFSA was inconsistent, incomplete, or estimated. Financial Aid and Scholarships also has the authority to select students for verification.
I’m selected, what now?
If your FAFSA was selected, participation in the verification process is not optional and must be completed before receiving federal student financial aid, to include but not limited to, Pell Grant, Direct Student Loans and Parent PLUS loans. Some state and institutional aid may also require the completion of verification. It is very important to respond promptly to all requests for verification information. Delays in response or submission of incomplete verification documentation will delay the offer of a student financial aid award package. Students and/or parent(s) must submit the required documentation to verify the information supplied on your FAFSA. Do not send documentation to Financial Aid and Scholarships unless you have been selected.
During the process of verification, new or additional information may be required in order to clarify any inconsistencies. Financial Aid and Scholarships will contact you via your university email account, mailing address, or phone number if additional documentation is required. All required documentation will also be listed in the Financial Aid section of MyCCU under Required Documents. It is important to submit any requested documentation immediately.
Verification is completed only when all required information is received. However, your financial aid cannot be awarded until your submitted documentation has been verified by Financial Aid and Scholarships, and the Department of Education has received and accepted changes to the original FAFSA information.
What documentation is required to complete the verification process?
The required documentation is dependent upon which verification tracking group you have been assigned by the Department of Education. To ensure you submit only the required documentation, refer to the Required Documents section in MyCCU.
Please be advised that you are required to complete the verification process, even if you transferred your tax information directly from the IRS to the FAFSA using the FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX). There are other data elements required for verification that may not be found on the tax return data; however, use of the FA-DDX will suffice for all of the federal tax return data, as long as no conflict is found regarding the student and/or the parent(s) tax information.
Contributors who were required to manually enter their tax information on the FAFSA will need to submit either a 2022 Tax Return Transcript or a signed 2022 federal tax return including Schedules 1, 2, 3, and C (if filed). The IRS Tax Return Transcript can be obtained via the IRS Form 4506-T, calling the IRS at 1-800-908-9946, or through the website https://irs.gov (recommended). Tax documents should not be submitted unless specifically requested in order to avoid processing delays.
2024-2025 Verification Policy and Procedures