How to Apply

The Financial Aid Process 7 Easy Steps

Financial Aid Home

  • Step 1: Fill out your Institutional Scholarship Application
  • Step 2: Create an FSA ID Account
    • FSA ID Account Link

    • Establish a username and password
    • Your ID serves as your electronic signature
  • Step 3: Complete a FAFSA Application
    • FAFSA Link
    • Required for the Institutional Scholarship and Direct Loan Program
    • Include the ETSU School Code: 003487
    • New for 2025-2026: Use income/tax information from the 2023 tax year. Please omit parental information even if they claimed you on taxes. For question #4 choose the Master’s Doctorate option.
  • Step 4:Activate your ETSU Student Account & Set-Up Direct Deposit
    1. ETSU Student Account: Students receive instructions on how to activate via email once Admissions completes the matriculation process


    2. Set-up Direct Deposit with ETSU
  • Step 5: Review and Accept Financial Aid Award Package

    To Review Financial Aid Awards Online:

    1. Log in to GoldLink
    2. Click on “My Financial Aid Info” tab
    3. Click on “Your Account & Awards”
    4. Click on “Award for Aid Year View/Accept”
    5. Select Aid Year
    6. Click on “Accept Award Offer” tab
    7. Accept full or partial awards or decline awards on this page according to the instructions

    Once you have accepted your award package online, you can proceed to Step 6.

  • Step6: Complete the Direct Loan Student Requirements
    • All federal loan borrowers are required to complete Entrance Loan Counseling, a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note, and Exit Loan Counseling administered by FSA.

    • Students will not apply for direct loans until AFTER they have accepted their award package in Step 5.

    • You will need to include the amount you accepted on your direct loan MPNs below.
    • The Grad Plus MPN requires a credit check and expires 30 days after submission.
    1. Entrance Loan Counseling
    2. Complete an Unsubsidized Loan MPN
    3. Complete a Grad Plus Loan MPN
    4. Complete PLUS Loan Credit Counseling
    5. Complete Exit Loan Counseling (Exit Counseling is mandatory for students who withdraw, drop below half-time or graduate from Gatton College of Pharmacy.)
  • Step 7: Complete Financial Arrangements - Billing and Payment Options

    All charges are due at the beginning of each term. Students can view their financial obligations in GoldLink. All credit card payments must be made using GoldLink. A service fee will be assessed on all credit card payments. Domestic card: 2.95% International card: 4.25%

    Make a One-time Payment on Your Student Account:

    1. Sign into GoldLink
    2. Click on “Student” tab
    3. On the Taskbar, click “Account”
    4. Open the Account Taskbar
    5. click on “Make Payment”
    6. Enter Payment information

    Enroll in a Payment Plan:

    1. Sign into GoldLink
    2. Click on “Student “ tab
    3. On the taskbar, click “Account”
    4. Under the “My Account” taskbar
    5. Click “Enroll in Payment Plan”

    Direct Deposit Authorization:

    1. Click on “Student” in the GoldLink Portal
    2. Click on “Account”
    3. Click on “Set Up Direct Deposit”
    4. Click on “eRefunds”
    5. Use your banking account and routing number information.
    6. Do NOT input a debit card number