All types of financial aid can be divided into two categories: merit-based aid and need-based aid. Each category has different applications, criteria, and processes. Applying for any kind of aid begins with applying for and being admitted to Gustavus.
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Application complete by-- |
Admission decision by-- |
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November 1 |
November 20 |
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December 1 |
December 20 |
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January 1 or after |
Rolling notification beginning January 20 |
To apply for need-based aid (Gustavus, state, or federal grants; loans; and, student employment awards), all families must complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE and the Gustavus Financial Aid Application.
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Admitted to Gustavus, submitted the PROFILE, and submitted the Gustavus Financial Aid Application by-- |
Financial aid award by-- |
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January 1 |
January 20 |
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February 1 |
February 20 |
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March 1 or after |
Rolling notification beginning March 20 |
After admission to Gustavus, qualified students will be automatically considered for annually renewable merit-based aid (scholarships), like our Dean's Scholarship. Some scholarships require separate applications before consideration, such as our top academic scholarship (the President's Scholarship) and our fine arts scholarships. The application deadline for these scholarships is January 4, 2008.
If you qualify for any scholarship, we will send you a letter at the same time we send you a need-based financial aid award. (Our scholarship awards are not included in our offer of admission.) Therefore, to receive any scholarships, you must first apply for need-based aid or tell us that you are not going to apply for need-based aid.
Families who are applying for merit-based aid only must tell us by completing page 1 and page 4 of the Gustavus Financial Aid Application.
Eligibility for need-based financial aid is determined by the one-time submission of the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, the annual submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and the annual completion of the Gustavus Financial Aid Application.
The PROFILE and the FAFSA use formulas to determine your family's expected contribution toward your education costs in the coming year. Family income and assets are primary considerations. Other factors are also assessed, including certain personal data like size of family, number of family members in college and age of parents.
To receive an initial estimate of your family's financial aid eligibility, download, print, and complete Gustavus' financial aid estimate form.
After receiving an actual financial aid award, some families will be asked to verify their financial information by submitting tax forms and other related forms.
Financial aid awards are renewable by completing the FAFSA and the Gustavus Financial Aid Application each subsequent year.