Your Student Portal & Financial Aid
Understand how to access and complete your requirements
At Millersville University, you have access to several student portals that connect you with essential information to support your academic and financial success. This page is designed to help you navigate which portals to use for different needs and, more importantly, where to go for Financial Aid.
Keep reading for a step-by-step guide on completing your financial aid requirements so you're ready for bills and set for the semester.
myVILLE Student Portal: Your Central Information Hub
myVILLE is the main student portal at Millersville University, connecting you to the academic, financial, and campus resources you need. Think of it as your starting point—from here, you can access different systems based on what you need to do.
Key Features:
- Academics – Register for classes, view grades, and access D2L for coursework.
- Financial Aid – View a snapshot of your aid status and access MAX for full details.
- Billing – Links to SAM for payments, installment plans, and direct deposit.
- University Communication – Check MU email, sign up for MU Alert, and view personalized updates.
- Personal Information - Update contact details, emergency contacts, and preferred name.
- Campus Resources – Access the University Bookstore, Library, Handshake (Career Services), Starfish (Student Success Tool), and Get Involved to explore events, organizations, and campus news.
Navigating Your Finances Tab in myVILLE
The Finances Tab provides a quick snapshot of your financial aid and billing details, but full account management requires accessing separate systems
| Category | System | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Aid | MAX |
✔️ View aid offers and eligibility |
| Billing | Student Account Manager (SAM) | ✔️ Access billing statements, payments, and installment plans ✔️ Set up direct deposit and view payment due dates ✔️ Link to the Office of Student Accounts (OSA) for additional billing details |
💡 The Finances Tab is for reference only—students must log into MAX for financial aid and SAM for billing to manage their accounts fully. Learn more about Financial Aid & Billing.
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myVILLE to MAX: Understand Your Financial Aid Overview
When reviewing the details of your financial aid in your MAX account, it’s important to understand what each tab displays and how to use this information to plan your educational expenses.
This guide is designed to help you navigate your Financial Aid Overview in MAX. Review each tab carefully to understand your aid, costs, and next steps.
Your Financial Aid Overview by section
HOME TAB Important Messages: Things you need to be aware of, messages from financial aid, reminders to look out for or remember, etc..
Satisfied Requirements: Tasks and requirements you have completed for financial aid.
Unsatisfied Requirements: Tasks and requirements that are not complete and still need to be done.
OFFER TAB Your Aid Offer Details: Expected enrollment status, FAFSA SAI, and the types of aid offered, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study.
Overall Cost of Attendance (COA): An estimated total cost of attendance.
Net Balance Due: The net balance due being displayed is only an estimate and does not reflect the exact amount you owe to Millersville University.
- ⚠️ This is not your bill—Direct charges like tuition, fees, housing, and meal plans will be listed on your billing statement in the Office of Student Accounts SAM Portal—your Student Account Manager.
Other Resources: This link is a disclaimer about additional resources and a link to add or view other financial resources.
NOTIFICATIONS TAB Important Alerts: Special messages you should pay attention to regarding your financial aid.
Withdrawal Information: If you have withdrawn from any courses, this tab will display relevant details.
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP) Academic Progress Status: Indicates whether you are meeting academic requirements to maintain financial aid eligibility.
Effective Term: The academic term for which the SAP status is applicable.
Type of Aid and Status: Details the type of aid you are receiving and a status indicator detailing your eligibility to continue those funds.
Federal Aid: (Title IV—SEOG and Pell Grants; Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS Loans)
PHEAA: (State Grant and other state programs)
- ⚠️ This is not your bill—Direct charges like tuition, fees, housing, and meal plans will be listed on your billing statement Go to: millersville.edu/sam
Status Indicators: A status indicator will be displayed showing whether you’re eligible to continue receiving those funds
- ✅ OK – Eligible to continue receiving aid
- ❌ Denied – Ineligible to receive aid
COLLEGE FINANCING TAB Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) and Offered Aid: Displays an estimate of your total educational costs and the financial aid you’ve been offered.
- ⚠️ This is NOT Your Exact Charge: The figures shown are estimates. Your actual bill from Millersville University will list precise charges for tuition, fees, housing, and meal plans.
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A guide to check & finalize your financial aid for bills
It is time to finalize your financial aid so it can be applied to your bill. This means completing outstanding tasks, submitting required documents, and making sure everything is in place before the semester starts.
💡 Tip: Some requirements apply to every student, while others are based on the FAFSA and apply to only some students.
Overview of Financial Aid Requirements
Category Applies To Requirements Standard Requirements All Students - Terms & Conditions – Must be completed every year before aid is applied.
- Taking Action on Your Aid Offer – Accept or decline aid each year.
- Authorization to Release Forms– Allows MU to discuss aid with approved individuals (does not affect aid processing).
Critical Requirements Varies by Student - Verification Documents – Additional household or tax information may be required to confirm FAFSA details.
- Proof of Identity – SSN, citizenship, birthdate, or veteran status verification.
- Loan Agreement Documentation – If borrowing federal loans, Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) are required.
How to Check Your Requirements
Step What to Do ➡️ 1 Log into myVILLE → Click Finances Tab → Select Financial Aid Overview ➡️ 2 Scroll down on your Financial Aid Homepage to see your Unsatisfied Student Requirements. ➡️ 3 Click each requirement for specific instructions on what needs to be completed. 💡 Some standard requirements cannot be completed until the other critical requirements are satisfied.
How to Submit Required Documents
Depending on the type of document, you may be asked to submit information in different ways:
Submission Method Types of Documents Submitted Email to the Office of Financial Aid - General Forms – Authorization to Release Information, Federal Appeal Forms, and other non-sensitive financial aid documents.
In-person - Identity & Verification Documents – Proof of High School Completion Form, ID Card, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate.
- Sensitive Documents – Documents not recommended for electronic submission (e.g., proof of identity).
- Other – Any forms you prefer to submit in person.
Secure upload via the Financial Aid Student Forms Portal - Verification of FAFSA Data – Tax returns, financial details, household size, marital status.
- Student-Initiated Forms – Housing Change, Change of Enrollment, Loan Change Request, Summer Financial Aid Request, VA Enrollment Certification Forms.
- School-Requested Form– Proof of Citizenship Status, Housing Change, Enrollment Change Forms.
External Websites - Loan Agreements – Loan Entrance Counseling & Master Promissory Note (studentaid.gov).
- State Grant Forms – PA State Grant applications & required documentation (pheaa.org).
- Veteran Benefits – VA benefits application (va.gov).
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A guide to complete standard requirements (all students)
Third-Party Authorizations
Check out the different types of authorizations below and how to complete them!
At Millersville, each office has its own process. If you want a parent, guardian, partner, or friend to be able to discuss your financial aid, billing, or academic records, you’ll need to complete separate authorization forms for each office.
Category ✅ Covers ❌ Does Not Cover How to Complete Financial Aid (Office of Financial Aid - OFA) FAFSA, grants, loans, scholarships, and financial aid requirements Grades, including Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)—SAP details can only be discussed with the student. Visit the Financial Aid Forms Center and select "Authorization to Release."
OR
Log into myVILLE → Finances > Financial Aid Requirements → Select Authorization to Release Information FormBilling & Payments (Office of Student Accounts - OSA) Tuition, fees, payment plans, refunds, and 529 plans Financial Aid—unless a Financial Aid Authorization is on file, or grades. Log in to Student Account Manager (SAM) → Select Third-Party Authorization
→ Add the person(s) to grant access
Academic Records (Registrar’s Office) Course schedules, transcripts, and enrollment verification Financial Aid or Billing—even if authorizations are on file with other offices. Visit the Registrar’s Office Forms Page → Complete FERPA Authorization Form
→ Submit it to the Registrar’s Office
✔️ Each office requires a separate authorization—completing one does not grant access to all departments.
✔️ Authorizations remain in place until you revoke them or leave the university.
✔️ Only the student can set up or change authorizations.💡Take these steps early to simplify communication between you, your family, and the university!
Take Action on Your Financial Aid Offer
Some financial aid does not automatically apply—you must accept any offered loans before they can be credited to your account and reduce your bill.
Category Applies To Types of Aid & Status Options Automatically Accepted Aid All Students Grants & Scholarships
- Applied automatically if eligible—no action needed to be awarded.
- Must complete Terms & Conditions to apply funds to account.
PLUS Loans & Private Loans
- Automatically accepted based on credit application.
- Additional lender requirements may apply.
No options provided. If you want to make changes to loans after being awarded, contact the Office of Financial Aid. Aid That Requires Action Varies by Student Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized & Unsubsidized)
- Loans are credited to your student bill only if accepted.
✅ Accept
➖ Reduce
❌ Decline💡 Loans require action, even if you decline them. If offered, always accept subsidized loans first before accepting unsubsidized loans.
Complete the Terms & Conditions of Your Aid
Students must read and accept the terms and conditions of their aid offer each year. This applies to all types of financial aid—grants, loans, scholarships, etc. Terms and Conditions must be completed before students can proceed to certain tasks and ensure their aid is paid.
Category Applies To What You Need to Do Review & Sign Terms & Conditions All Students - After taking action on your student loans in MAX, the terms and conditions will appear.
- Read carefully, then sign and submit.
Disclaimer All Students - The button will say "Accept Awards."
- If you choose to decline or reduce loans, this does not reverse your action.
- Clicking "Accept Awards" simply confirms you understand your aid package and accept the terms.
What If I have Already Accepted Loans? All Students - If you've already accepted loans, you may see the Terms & Conditions again when viewing and exiting your Offer Tab.
- Just click to accept—this will not change your previous selections.
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a guide to complete critical aid requirements (some students)
Additional loan requirements
If you accept federal student loans, you will need to take additional steps before the funds can be applied to your bill.
💡 These requirements won’t appear until you take action on your aid offer and accept your loans.
Requirement Applies To What You Need to Do Loan Agreement (MPN) First-time loan borrowers & borrowers who completed agreements 10+ years ago Go to: studentaid.gov/mpn
- Select Undergraduate Students
- Complete, sign, and submit
Loan Entrance Counseling First-time loan borrowers & borrowers who completed agreements 10+ years ago Go to: studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling
- Select Undergraduate Students
- Complete, sign, and submit
Parent PLUS Loan Borrowers First-time loan borrowers & borrowers who have appealed a denied credit decision or added an endorser. Apply at: studentaid.gov
- If approved, complete a Parent PLUS MPN
- If denied, but using an endorser, also complete PLUS Loan Credit Counseling
Submit Additional Documentation (If Required)
Some students may need to submit additional documents before their aid is finalized.
Why Additional Documents Might Be Needed Examples Verification: FAFSA details need confirmation Household size, tax/income info Dependency Status: You didn’t provide parental data Proof of independence required Identity Verification: MU needs additional proof SSN, birthdate, and citizenship verification Veteran Status: You listed yourself as a veteran Under age 24? Proof of status required Special Circumstances: Income changes since FAFSA Student-initiated request for an internal review (won’t delay aid)
Final review of Next Steps
1️⃣ Log into myVILLE → View in MAX > Financial Aid Overview and check for any remaining financial aid tasks.
2️⃣ Submit any outstanding documents as soon as possible.
3️⃣ If borrowing loans, ensure your MPN and Entrance Counseling are completed.
4️⃣ Check for additional requirements—some appear after you accept your aid offer.
5️⃣ Plan for any remaining costs—explore payment plans, additional funding options, or external scholarships.
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VIdeo tutorials for completing requirements
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understanding potential Adjustments To Your Financial Aid
A student’s financial aid award package is completed based on information at the time of processing. It is possible changes to a student’s awards may be made during the academic year for several reasons.
Some examples include:
- Additional financial aid was received (such as scholarships or grants)
- Changes were made to the student’s FAFSA which caused an adjustment in eligibility
- A re-evaluation was done based on special circumstances, causing an adjustment in eligibility
- The student’s enrollment status changed
- The student’s living status changed (off-campus, dorm, with parents)
- The student withdrew from the university
- The student reached the maximum amount of aid available
For more information on the terms and conditions of your awards, click here. For specific details about changes made to your financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 717-871-5100.
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Access & Instructions for MAX.: a guide to view your 24-25 financial aid & past history
Under the Finances tab, you will find important information about your financial aid, such as your eligibility, tasks you need to complete, and links to your MAX Account, where you can find more detailed information on your awards and complete required tasks.
You can view in your myVILLE portal whether you are meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards to remain eligible for federal and/or state financial aid. If you click on the link to view your status in MAX you can also:
- See a more detailed list and description of your requirements.
- View holds that may have been placed on your record by the Office of Student Accounts, the Registrar's Office, and/or other University offices.
- Check your current Academic Progress status and the history.
You can check your requirements which are complete and incomplete.
- A green check mark indicates the task is complete.
- If you do not see a green check mark, click the link provided or click on Financial Aid Status for more information.
You can check your Unsatisfied Student Requirements, Outside Resources, Academic Progress Status, and Financial Aid History.
- Click the link for Financial Aid Status under the section Financial Aid Requirements
- Select the academic year
You can click from your myVILLE to access the Financial Aid Awards section in your MAX Account. From there you can view:
- Your Award Overview (financial aid awards) listed by academic year.
- Your other resources received and additional information by academic year.
- The Terms and Conditions of your financial aid awards.
step-by-step instructions
Under the Finances tab, you will find important information about your financial aid such as your eligibility, tasks you need to complete, and links to your MAX Account where you can find more detailed information on your awards and complete required tasks.
Authorization to Release Information
- Go to the Award by Aid Year page in Max.
- Select the current academic year from the drop-down and click “Submit.”
- Under “Unsatisfied Requirements” click on the blue link, “Authorization to Release Information”, to complete the form online.
Terms and Conditions(Requires login)
- Go to the Award by Aid Year page in Max.
- Select the current academic year from the drop-down and click “Submit.”
- Click on the blue link, “Terms & Conditions”, inside the red box.
- Review and read “Terms & Conditions.”
- Click the box at the bottom to “Accept” or “Decline”.
Accept, Decline, or Reduce your Offered Direct Loans(Requires login)
All borrowers must either “Accept”, “Reduce” or “Decline” the offered Federal Direct Loans on their account. The Terms and Conditions (above) must be completed before you can do this step.
- Federal Direct Loans have a fixed interest rate and are recommended before looking into other loan options.
To accept or decline your offered loans:
- Go to the Award by Aid Year page in Max.
- Select the current academic year from the drop-down and click “Submit.”
- Click on the tab at the top of the screen “Accept Award Offer.”
- Your loans will be listed as OFPE (Offer Pending) > use the drop-down box to “Accept”, “Reduce” or “Decline”.
- Make sure to complete this step for ALL semesters you are offered loans.
Disclaimer: If you accept your offered loans you may have additional requirements to complete before they can be credited to your bill. See the section below on Other Requirements.