Whether you are a New Incoming Freshmen, Transfer student or a Returning Rattler, the Office of Financial Assistance is here to help you through the financial aid process. All incoming students are considered for a merit scholarship in the Admission process. In addition, we encourage you to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for additional federal, state and institutional funding. Select your student type below for details on steps to follow to apply for financial aid.

Apply For Admission

To receive financial aid, you must be accepted to St. Mary’s University.

Apply for admission

Submit your FAFSA

Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year and list St. Mary’s University (FAFSA Code 003623). The application opens up every October 1. Once you are a continuing student, the FAFSA Priority deadline to submit your FAFSA is March 1.

Once your FAFSA is submitted, you will receive a confirmation page, and then you will be emailed your Student Aid Report (SAR). Review the SAR closely. It will give you necessary information on your FAFSA and on any requirements that might be needed, such as a process called Verification.

Review Requirements

Once you have been admitted and have submitted your FAFSA, you will then review any needed requirements in Gateway. Follow these steps for access:

  1. Log into Gateway
  2. Go to the LaunchPad on the left
  3. Select Financial Aid
  4. Select Requirements
  5. Select Financial Assistance Requirements
  6. Select the appropriate academic year
  7. View outstanding requirements on your account

If you are selected for the Verification process, as listed in your SAR and in Gateway, you will be emailed the necessary form. You can also access it on our Financial Aid Forms page.  

Get Awarded

Once all your requirements are completed, we can award you financial aid. You will receive a Financial Aid award offer in the mail. You can also see your award in your Gateway account. Follow these steps to access it in Gateway:

  1. Log into Gateway
  2. Go to the LaunchPad on the left
  3. Select Financial Aid
  4. Select Award
  5. Select View Award Offer
  6. Select the appropriate academic year
  7. Select Accept Award Offer

Once in Gateway, you can view and accept or decline your financial aid award. Scholarships and grants are automatically accepted for you. You can decide if you want to accept your loans and work-study.

Additional Requirements

Additional requirements will now show if you accept your Stafford Loans or work-study.

  • Stafford Loans: If you accept your Stafford loans, you will complete two steps: Loan Entrance Counseling and sign your Master Promissory Notes (MPN). Both steps are completed on the Federal Student Aid website.
  • Work-Study: If you accept work-study, you will be sent an email in July with a link to the job board. Jobs are not guaranteed. You will go through the process of applying for jobs. If hired, you will then work with your supervisor and HR to make sure the necessary paperwork has been submitted.

Additional Aid

If you or your parent will be pursuing additional loans or if you will be receiving outside scholarships, there are some additional steps to consider.

  • Additional Loan Options: As a student, you are able to apply for alternative loans. You can find loan options at Elm Select. Parents of dependent students can also pursue the Federal Parent PLUS Loan option.
  • Outside Scholarships: If you will be receiving an outside scholarship from your community or an organization outside of St. Mary’s University, you will want to send us a copy of your scholarship notification letter as soon as possible. We will need to update your award to reflect this. We will then work with the Business Office to apply the scholarship to your account when the donor sends the funds.
New Undergraduate Student

Submit your FAFSA by the March 1 priority deadline

Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year and list St. Mary’s University (FAFSA Code 003623). The application opens up every October 1. Once you are a continuing student, the FAFSA Priority deadline to submit your FAFSA is March 1.

Once your FAFSA is submitted, you will receive a confirmation page, and then you will be emailed your Student Aid Report (SAR). Review the SAR closely. It will give you necessary information on your FAFSA and on any requirements that might be needed, such as a process called Verification.

Review Requirements

You can review any needed requirements in Gateway. Follow these steps for access:

  1. Log into Gateway
  2. Go to the LaunchPad on the left
  3. Select Financial Aid
  4. Select Requirements
  5. Select Financial Assistance Requirements
  6. Select the appropriate academic year
  7. View outstanding requirements on your account

If you are selected for the Verification process, as listed in your SAR and in Gateway, you will be emailed the necessary form. You can also access it on our Financial Aid Forms page.  

Get Awarded

Once all requirements are completed, you will be ready to be awarded financial aid for the upcoming year. Returning students are awarded aid in June leading up to the new year. You will be emailed once your award is available to view in Gateway. Follow these steps to access it in Gateway:

  1. Log into Gateway
  2. Go to the LaunchPad on the left
  3. Select Financial Aid
  4. Select Award
  5. Select View Award Offer
  6. Select the appropriate academic year
  7. Select Accept Award Offer

Once in Gateway, you can view and accept or decline your financial aid award. Scholarships and grants are automatically accepted for you. You can decide if you want to accept your loans and work-study.

Keep in mind we will only award you if you are meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

Additional Requirements

If this is your first time accepting your Stafford Loans, you will have some steps to complete. There are also additional steps for work-study.

  • Stafford Loans: If it’s your first time accepting Stafford loans, complete two steps: Loan Entrance Counseling and sign your Master Promissory Notes (MPN). Both steps are completed on the Federal Student Aid website.
  • Work-Study: If you had work-study last academic year, communicate with your supervisor AND check your award to see if work-study has been awarded to you.

Additional Aid

If you or your parent will be pursuing additional loans or if you will be receiving outside scholarships, there are some additional steps to consider.

  • Additional Loan Options: As a student, you are able to apply for alternative loans. You can find loan options at Elm Select. Parents of dependent students can also pursue the Federal Parent PLUS Loan option.
  • Outside Scholarships: If you will be receiving an outside scholarship from your community or an organization outside of St. Mary’s University, you will want to send us a copy of your scholarship notification letter as soon as possible. We will need to update your award to reflect this. We will then work with the Business Office to apply the scholarship to your account when the donor sends the funds.
Undergraduate Returning Student

Submit your FAFSA

Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for this year (2021-2022) and next year (2022-2023).

Submit the Summer Aid Application

You’ll submit your Summer Aid Application in Gateway. You can use some great tools to help you determine your financial aid eligibility including the Summer Grant Calculator and the Summer COA Explanation. Use these steps to get to the Summer section in Gateway:

  1. Log into Gateway
  2. Go to Services > Student Services > Financial Aid
  3. Scroll down to summer section
  4. Select the Summer Aid Application

Get Awarded

You will be awarded financial aid and will be able to view your award in Gateway by following these steps:

  1. Log into Gateway
  2. Go to the LaunchPad on the left
  3. Select Financial Aid
  4. Select Award
  5. Select View Award Offer
  6. Select the appropriate academic year
  7. Select Accept Award Offer

Additional Requirements

If this is your first time accepting your Stafford Loans, you will have some steps to complete. You will complete two steps: Loan Entrance Counseling and sign your Master Promissory Notes (MPN). Both steps are completed on the Federal Student Aid website.

Additional Aid

If you or your parent will be pursuing additional loans or if you will be receiving outside scholarships, there are some additional steps to consider.

  • Additional Loan Options: As a student, you are able to apply for alternative loans. You can find loan options at Elm Select. Parents of dependent students can also pursue the Federal Parent PLUS Loan option.
  • Outside Scholarships: If you will be receiving an outside scholarship from your community or an organization outside of St. Mary’s University, you will want to send us a copy of your scholarship notification letter as soon as possible. We will need to update your award to reflect this. We will then work with the Business Office to apply the scholarship to your account when the donor sends the funds.
Undergraduate Summer Student

How to complete the FAFSA (2022-2023)

How to accept your Financial Aid Awards

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