What is
Financial Aid?
Financial aid is money that helps you pay for college. At Unity Environmental University, financial aid comes from federal grants and loans that you apply for by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This aid is meant to reduce your out-of-pocket costs and make your education more affordable.
Applying for Financial Aid
1. Start with the FAFSA
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at FAFSA.gov. Be sure to send your FAFSA to Unity’s School Code: 006858.
2. Apply to Unity
- Complete your Unity application, so we can help you understand your aid award and how it applies to your tuition at Unity!
3. Meet Deadlines
- Complete your FAFSA at least 1 week before you start to allow for processing time.
- If no additional information is required, you will receive an email confirmation of the award within 3-5 days of receipt of the electronic FAFSA data.
- If additional information is required, you’ll receive an email from us. Please complete any requested documents and send them back to us as quickly as you can.
4. Ensure Eligibility
- You’ll be eligible for full-time financial aid at 3 credits per term. This means that you won’t be discouraged from mastering one course at a time.
- You may also take a term off to complete that dream internship without losing eligibility.
Net Price Calculator
Financial Aid
Simplify your enrollment journey at Unity with these quick answers to common questions.
Yes! At Unity, we believe a college education should help launch you into a promising green future, not weigh you down with student debt, so we do everything we can to help make your college education affordable. Less than 2% of our students take out alternative loans, and we are committed to keeping our current tuition rates locked through 2030!
After you complete the FAFSA, here are the steps we take:
1. Look At Your FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the primary tool used to evaluate financial aid eligibility for need-based assistance. Here’s how it works:
Submit the FAFSA: You must complete the FAFSA annually, providing detailed financial information about yourself (and your families, if applicable).
Calculate Expected Family Contribution (EFC): The FAFSA calculates the EFC, which estimates how much you and your family can contribute toward educational costs.
Determine Eligibility for Federal Aid: The EFC helps determine your eligibility for federal grants, loans, and work-study programs.
2. Calculate Need-Based Aid
Formula for Need-Based Aid: Cost of Attendance (COA)−Expected Family Contribution
Cost of Attendance (COA): This includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, and other educational expenses.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC): A measure of a family’s financial ability to contribute to educational costs.
Students with high financial need may qualify for aid such as Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and subsidized loans.
3. Consider Other Factors
Unity also considers the following when determining eligibility for aid:
Enrollment Status: Full-time or part-time enrollment affects the amount and types of aid available.
Residency: Some state grants, like the Maine State Grant, require residency in a particular state.
Unity offers a mix of need-based and merit-based financial aid to support students, although most aid is need-based. From federal grants and loans to institutional scholarships, there are resources to meet a variety of financial needs and recognize academic excellence. We encourage you to complete the FAFSA and explore Unity’s scholarship opportunities to maximize your financial aid package.
Graduate students at Unity Environmental University can access federal loans, scholarships, and other financial resources. While options like Pell Grants and subsidized loans are not available for graduate studies, you can still benefit from tailored support to help fund your education. Completing the FAFSA and exploring external aid opportunities such as employer tuition reimbursement are key steps for graduate students seeking financial assistance. Always ask about employer tuition reimbursement! Did you know that less than 10% of people who are eligible for employer tuition reimbursement actually use it?
Yes, Unity Distance Education students may apply for the Holt Challenge Scholarship.
Learn more about how to apply for the Holt Challenge Scholarship.
In addition, Unity works to keep our base tuition affordable, with no hidden fees. Unity has maintained steady tuition rates for several years and is committed to keeping tuition flat through 2030. This reflects our dedication to making education accessible and affordable for all students.
Baccalaureate Students: Must be enrolled in at least one 3-credit course per 5-week term for most types of financial aid. Some students may qualify for a Pell Grant with just 1 credit per term based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC). FSEOG funds require 2 or more credits.
Graduate Students: Must be enrolled in at least one 3-credit course per 8-week term to qualify for financial aid.
Non-Degree Seeking Students: Not eligible for financial aid.
Maine residents with student loans may qualify for the Educational Opportunity Tax Credit (EOTC) if they:
- Earned a degree from a Maine college
- Live and work in Maine
- Took out student loans after January 1, 2008
To claim the credit, submit the EOTC Worksheet with your Maine income tax return. Businesses that repay employee loans may also qualify.
Unity Concierges, New Student Navigators, and Advisors are all trained to help you understand your financial aid. They will be your first point of contact for all of your questions!
FAFSA Troubleshooting
Dear Students,
At Unity Environmental University, we understand that the process of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) can be daunting.
We want to assure you that we are here to support you every step of the way.
With hope and determination,
Dr. Melik Peter Khoury
President and CEO
Unity Environmental University
The FAFSA® redesign simplified the form but may have skipped required questions. This isn’t your fault, but we may need additional details to finalize your aid.
To read more about commonly known issues with the FAFSA®, click here.
We may need additional information before legally disbursing your aid. Once we receive the necessary documents, your funds will be applied.
Your initial award letter is an estimate based on your FAFSA®.
During verification, we must confirm all details, which may result in requests for missing documents or changes to your final award.
“Pending” means your aid is estimated but not fully processed. Once verification is complete and you’re enrolled, the status will update.
Delays in the FAFSA® are affecting communication from the Department of Education. We notify you as soon as we identify missing documents, so check your email regularly.
During COVID-19, notarization requirements were suspended but are now reinstated. Mail your notarized Statement of ID and ID copy to:
Financial Aid Office 70 Farm View Drive, Suite 200, New Gloucester, ME 04260
Mail a copy to:
Financial Aid Office 70 Farm View Drive, Suite 200, New Gloucester, ME 04260
or fax it to (207) 512-1168. If you don’t have a fax machine, you can use online faxing services.
The FAFSA® redesign may have hidden required questions due to system errors. If this happens, we will reach out to correct the issue and process your aid.
- If there are no FAFSA® errors, refunds are issued by the end of week 2 of the term.
- If corrections are needed, refunds are processed within 3-5 days of aid disbursement.
- Sign up for Direct Deposit in your student portal to receive funds faster.
Check your email for updates from Financial Aid. Missing documentation may be delaying disbursement.
Financial Aid emails will include any required forms.
For more information about FAFSA®, visit the Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel
