Applying for Financial Aid

Undergraduate US Citizens and Eligible Non-US Citizens

1. Apply for admission to Gustavus.
2. Create a Federal Student Aid ID.
3. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 
   • Use Gustavus school code 002353
   • File the FAFSA by March 15 to receive a $2,000 FAFSA Filer Award from Gustavus.
   • Final deadline to file the FAFSA is October 15.
4. Apply for fine arts scholarships in your Gustavus Applicant Portal.
5. Stay on track with important deadlines by checking your Gustavus Applicant Portal (new students) or MyGustavus (current students). 
6. View your financial aid award on MyGustavus.
   • See details on the Financial Aid Award Letter form.
7. Submit your enrollment deposit by May 1.

 

Undergraduate International Non-US Citizens

1. Apply for admission to Gustavus.
2. Submit certified financial information: bank statements, tax returns, parent employment verification.
3. You do not need to complete the CSS or ISFAA applications. 
   • If you choose to complete these anyway, you will be responsible for all associated costs. Gustavus does not offer fee waivers for the CSS or ISFAA applications.
4. Stay on track with important deadlines by checking your Gustavus Applicant Portal (new students) or MyGustavus (current students). 
5. View your financial aid award on MyGustavus.
   • Use the Financial Aid Award Letter form to view your award.
6. Submit your enrollment deposit by May 1.

 

Returning Gustavus Students

Watch your email for messages from the Financial Aid Office. We will notify you when your initial award is complete and for each revision made during the year. Most notifications go out beginning in April. You may view your award in the following ways:

1. Access your financial aid award through MyGustavus. 

2. Use the Financial Aid Award Letter form to view your award. 

   If it's late April and you've completed your file but still don't see an award, we may need more information. Before you contact the Financial Aid Office, please check MyGustavus and submit any missing documents there.

In MyGustavus, you’ll find a Financial Aid Award Letter that details your aid package. This isn’t a bill. It's your aid applied against Gustavus' estimated cost of attendance, which includes variable costs like books and personal expenses. Your actual balance comes in your official statement in July.
You may see two types of assistance: 

• Gift aid is like free money; it requires no repayment.
• Self-help aid requires that you either borrow funds (to be repaid later) or work for wages.

Here’s how to interpret the details in your letter:

 

Gift Aid

• Scholarships

  Scholarships are gift aid that does not need to be repaid, awarded for things like academic achievement, talent, or a specific area of interest rather than financial need. If your offer lists a scholarship, it may appear as a general amount or under a specific name. Many Gustavus scholarships renew each year as long as you meet the conditions tied to the award.

  More About Scholarships

   

• Grant Aid

  Grant aid is gift aid that does not need to be repaid and can come from Gustavus, the State of Minnesota, or the federal government. If your offer lists a “Grant Aid” amount, the total will not change, although it may later be renamed or reclassified as a specific source such as a Gustavus Tuition Grant, Minnesota State Grant, Pell Grant, or other eligible grants

  More About Grants 

 

• First-Year Free Tuition Program

  If your award letter lists a First-Year Free Tuition Grant you have qualified for our First-Year Free Tuition Program. This grant covers remaining tuition costs after all other grants and scholarships have been applied. 

  First-Year Free Tuition Program 

   

Self-Help Aid

• Student Employment

  Does your offer include student employment? You’ll earn this award by applying for and obtaining a job through the Gustavus student employment office. This award doesn’t guarantee a position.

  The amount listed on your offer is the estimated maximum you can earn in one year; it is not automatically applied to your bill. You must first work and earn these funds before they can be used. 

  Student Employment 

 

• Loans 

  If you borrow funds to help cover your college costs, you’ll need to start repaying the funds, with interest, upon graduation or when you’re no longer at least a half-time student. Taking out a loan also requires that you complete entrance counseling, a master promissory note, and an annual student loan acknowledgment.

  Loans

   

Donor-Supported Funding

Financial aid offers are made possible, in part, by generous Gustavus alumni and friends who have established scholarships to support students like you. Gustavus may replace your aid with funding from endowed or donor-designated scholarships. This reclassification aligns with the intent of donors and allows the College to optimize financial resources while preserving your total financial aid award.
 

We're excited to welcome you to the Gustie family. Once you receive an offer of financial aid, you have several options: Your gift aid is automatically accepted for you. For any loans in your offer, you can accept, decline, or adjust the amount in MyGustavus. See our loans page for step-by-step instructions.

Then, you’ll secure your spot at Gustavus by paying a $300 deposit, due May 1. 

To continue receiving your financial aid, you’ll need to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and fill out the FAFSA each year. If your financial circumstances change, Gustavus has an appeals process in which you can share updated information. 

Get more details about renewing your:

Grants 

Loans 

 

Have more questions about applying for financial aid? 

Check out the FAQ page