Step 1 - Before You Apply for Financial Aid

Feeling challenged about paying for college? You are not alone. We understand and that is why Stevenson University is committed to helping students cover their college costs – not just for the first year, but for their entire time at SU.

To help you through the process of applying for grants, scholarships, work-study or loans, we've created this step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Before You Apply for Financial Aid

Research Your Financing Options

Students rely on funding from a number of sources to help finance their educations:

  • Scholarships and grants  are a type of gift aid awarded by the University based upon academic merit, special ability, or financial need. Scholarships and grants do not need to be repaid.
  • Loans are funding options that come from an outside source. Loans must be repaid after graduation.
  • Whatever financing options you choose, be mindful of the varying terms and conditions associated with the various awards and loans described on this and other web sites from which you may obtain information.
  • Stevenson’s Financial Aid Calculator is a great resource for helping families plan ahead. You can use it to estimate the cost of an SU education and the aid for which you may be eligible.  

Determine if You Are an Independent or Dependent Student

An independent student is one of the following: at least 24 years old, married, a graduate or professional student, a veteran, a member of the armed forces, an orphan, a ward of the court, or someone with legal dependents other than a spouse.

Dependent students must include their parents'/guardians' information when filing the FAFSA. If you've never filed a FAFSA before and would like an estimate of your EFC, visit the federal government's FAFSA Forecaster.

Be Mindful of Important Deadlines

SU requires students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA uses tax information from the student's family to determine what each family can contribute to the student's education. The FAFSA is a critical tool in the financial aid process, and we encourage all applicants and current students, regardless of means, to submit the FAFSA.

FAFSA deadlines are as follows:

New freshmen entering fall term   February 15
New transfer students entering fall term October 15
New undergraduates entering winter, spring, or summer terms July 1 until your Admission Application Deadline
Current undergraduate students Renew annually, January 1 – May 1
New graduate students entering fall term January 1 – March 1
Current graduate students Renew annually, January 1 – May 1

Apply for Your Federal PIN

Apply for your federal Personal Identification Number (PIN), if you don't already have one. You will need your Federal Personal Identification Number (PIN) to sign your FAFSA electronically. If you cannot remember your PIN or need to get a PIN, you may do so at www.pin.ed.gov. Parents should also have a Federal PIN if you meet the dependent student definition as described on the FAFSA.
 

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