Verification

Rutgers University is required to verify the data you supplied on your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in cases where your application is selected for verification, typically through random selection by the federal government.

Federal Verification Process

If your FAFSA is selected for verification by the U.S Department of Education, you will receive an email from the Rutgers University Office of Financial Aid notifying you that you are required to submit additional documentation in the Financial Aid Student Portal.

If you receive notification, we encourage you to submit any required documentation at your earliest opportunity, to ensure you receive your financial aid before payment is due. Failure to complete the verification process could result in the delay or denial of your financial aid. 

Questions about the federal verification process?

Visit the Financial Aid Portal Library webpage for more information. If you require further assistance, please contact your regional One Stop Student Services Center. RBHS students should contact their campus Office of Financial Aid.

New Jersey State Verification Process

If we need to verify your application for New Jersey state verification, we will contact you by email to explain what additional information is needed. You can also check scarlethub.rutgers.edu/docs to see the required documentation that is currently requested.

It is important to note that you should not send us documents unless we have specifically requested them. Unsolicited documentation may cause a delay in the processing of your financial aid.

Students who are eligible for NJ state aid may need to log in to their NJFAMS account to complete their state record. Learn more via the NJHESAA website.

Documentation that we request for state verification

The following information will be requested if you are selected for verification.

1. Household and Number in College Worksheet
   • If you were required to provide parent information on the FAFSA, you will be asked to complete the household and number in college worksheet for dependent students for the appropriate aid year.
   • If you were not required to provide parent information on the FAFSA, you will be asked to complete the household and number in college worksheet for independent students for the appropriate aid year.
2. Tax Information
   • For Tax Filers
     
     • Option 1: Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA
       Log into fafsa.gov and use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This will automatically transfer income information from the IRS to the FAFSA. It will also indicate to Rutgers that you have used the tool and that the information is accurate so there is no need to order the paper transcript!
     • Option 2: Order a Tax Transcript from the IRS and submit to the Office of Financial Aid with student RU-ID on every page.
       For instructions on how to order an IRS Tax Transcript, visit www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript. Please note that you will need to select “Tax Return Transcript”; do not select the “Tax Account Transcript” option.
     • Option 3: Submit a signed copy of the IRS 1040 Tax Return to the Office of Financial Aid with student Rutgers Student ID (RU-ID) on every page.
   • For Non-Tax Filers
     • Step 1: Order a Verification of Non-Filing (VONF) Letter and submit to the Office of Financial Aid with student RU-ID on every page.
       This option is required for parents and independent students who did not and will not file a tax return. For instructions on how to order a Verification of Non-Filing Letter, visit irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript and click on “Get Transcript Online” or “Get Transcript By Mail” and select “Verification of Non-Filing Letter” once the option is available.
     • Step 2: Submit a signed Number in Household and College Non-Filer Statement Form and check the “not employed and had no income earned” box or the “was employed” box and submit any applicable w-2 forms.
       If you are a dependent student, you may verify that you have not and do not plan to complete a Tax Return by checking the box on the form and providing a signature. Please note that if you had any earnings you will need to provide a copy of each of your W-2s. However, if you filed for an extension beyond the automatic six months, you must provide the verification of non-filing form from the IRS. For all individuals that file an extension beyond the automatic six months, form 2350 must be provided indicating that the extension was approved.
3. Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose
   • Students may be required to verify their identity and confirm the Statement of Educational Purpose.
   • For students who will be attending Rutgers University, you must appear in person at the New Brunswick, Newark or Camden Office of Financial Aid and present your original, government-issued photo identification for verification and completion. DO NOT sign this form until you appear in person.
   • For those students who are enrolled in a distance education program, you may appear in-person to a Notary Public who will complete the Notary Certificate of Acknowledgement on your behalf witnessing your signature of the form. DO NOT sign this form before visiting the Notary Public. You should then mail both the completed and notarized document and a copy of your government-issued identification used to verify your identity to the Rutgers University Office of Financial Aid.
4. High School Completion Status
   • Students may be required to verify their high school completion status before college enrollment begins. Students can submit one of the following documents to satisfy this requirement
     • A copy of the student’s high school diploma
     • A copy of the student’s final official high school transcript that shows the date when the diploma was awarded
     • A copy of the student’s General Educational Development (GED) certificate or GED transcript
     • An academic transcript that indicates the student successfully completed at least a two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree
     • If state law requires a homeschooled student to obtain a secondary school completion credential for homeschool (other than a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent), a copy of that credential
     • If state law does not require a homeschooled student to obtain a secondary school completion credential for homeschool (other than a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent), submit a transcript or the equivalent, signed by the student’s parent or guardian, that lists the secondary school courses the student completed. The transcript or equivalent must document the successful completion of a secondary school education in a homeschool setting.
     • A copy of DD Form 214 (DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) is acceptable only when a primary document (high school diploma, GED certificate, etc.) is unavailable. The DD-214 must indicate the student is a high school graduate or its equivalent, which is noted on Question 15b on Member Copy 1,2 or 4.

Your aid is preliminary until our review is complete

Preliminary awards are estimates based upon the data we received from you on the FAFSA and are designed to give you the best available data at the time to assist you in budgeting for the school year. If necessary, the Office of Financial Aid may request additional documentation.

We will review your FAFSA data once you have sent us all of the requested documentation. If necessary, we will correct your FAFSA and recalculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your financial aid may change as a result of this review. If aid has already been paid to you, it may be billed back. If your aid changes, we will notify you via email. The email address used will either be the one provided on the FAFSA if you are an incoming student or your Rutgers email if you are a continuing student.