Verification Process

When you submit the FAFSA, you may be randomly selected by the Department of Education for a review process called “verification.” Verification is the process used to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA is accurate. If you are selected for verification, Concordia’s Financial Aid Office is required by law to obtain information from the student/family that confirms the accuracy of the information reported on the FAFSA. 

Verification Steps:

1. You and any contributors must provide consent and approval for the U.S. Department of Education to obtain your federal tax information from the IRS and transfer that into your FAFSA.
   • If you, or a contributor, do not provide consent and approval to have your federal tax information transferred into the FAFSA form, you (the student) will not be eligible for federal student aid—even if you or the contributor manually enters tax information into the FAFSA.
2. Submit the appropriate verification forms to the Financial Aid Office as requested.
   • Login to your MyRecords account to view missing requirements
3. Students submitting documents to Concordia's Financial Aid Office must use one of the following methods:
   • Email to [email protected] using ONLY your student eagles email
   • FAX: 949-214- 3500
   • Mail: Concordia University Financial Aid Office:
     1530 Concordia West, Irvine, CA 92612
   • In Person: Grimm Hall North, 2nd Floor

A student is not eligible to receive federal, state, and/or institutional need-based aid until all required paperwork has been submitted.

What if I Choose Not to Provide Consent?

If a required contributor (including the student) does not provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred into the FAFSA form, the student will not be eligible for any federal student aid—even if the contributor manually enters tax information into the FAFSA form.

Note: Beyond those applications selected by the Department of Education for verification, Federal regulations require that our office resolve any discrepancies or conflicting information when a FAFSA and/or subsequent paperwork appears incomplete or inaccurate. Concordia’s Financial Aid Office may request additional documentation to resolve any discrepancies or conflicting information.