Applying for Financial Aid

Saint Louis University students with full-time time status will pay full-time tuition and fees while students with less than full-time time status will pay part-time tuition and fees. See SLU's Time Status policy for more information.

Students enrolled in fall and spring courses are assessed tuition and fees associated with their primary college, school or degree-granting center, regardless of the course or courses taken. Students enrolled in summer courses are assessed tuition and fees associated with the college, school or degree-granting center of the course, regardless of their primary college, school or degree-granting center.

Explore tuition and costs for your program

The cost for on-campus housing is assessed as one inclusive rate based on the type of residence hall or apartment in which you will live and the meal plan that you have chosen. The estimate listed on your offer notice is an average housing cost for a student with a standard meal plan. Full-time undergraduate commuter students will be charged for a commuter meal plan.

These items represent charges not covered by tuition. Common fees include:

• Orientation Fee: Covers SLU 101 and Fall Welcome; required for all undergraduate students in their first semester
• University Fee: Covers sponsored events and student services on campus
• Activity Fee: Supports student organizations and campus programming
• Course Fees: Assessed based on registration each semester
• Program Fees: Fees associated with your program or school of study

Explore additional miscellaneous fees

Books, depending on your program of study, could cost $400 to $800 per semester. You have the option to charge required books and supplies to your SLU account within the first three weeks of the semester if you purchase them from the The Billiken Shop.

Transportation expenses could include daily commuting costs or traveling home for holidays and breaks.

Health insurance is required for full-time, undergraduate students. You may submit a waiver providing evidence of coverage, either your own or under a parent’s plan. If not, you will receive information about and be billed for coverage under a University-sponsored health plan.

Your program of study occasionally may require you to purchase specific items to complete your coursework. In addition, students should allot money for eating at off-campus locations not covered by their meal plans and for other social expenses.

•  Scholarships: Scholarships are merit-based funds that do not have to be repaid. Undergraduate students are automatically considered for merit scholarships with their application for admission. SLU is test-optional for admission and scholarships.
• Grants: SLU Grants are offered to eligible students with a FAFSA on file. You might also be eligible for federal or state grants, which would also require the FAFSA to be processed for the aid year in which you are seeking grants.
• Loans: There are different loan programs available to students and parents. Federal loans require the student to file the FAFSA. Direct Student Loans do not require an additional application and eligibility will be shown on the Financial Aid Offer for eligible students. Parent PLUS loans or alternative loans require additional applications.
• Work Study: Work-study is a federally sponsored, need-based program that allows students to earn funds from part-time work on campus. Eligibility is determined through the FAFSA, but does require students to apply for employment on campus if they wish to participate.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free tool provided by the U.S. Department of Education that collects pertinent information to calculate a student's Student Aid Index (SAI).

All colleges and universities use your SAI to determine a student's eligibility for aid. For consideration for need-based assistance or eligibility for low-interest student loans, students must complete the FAFSA.

Saint Louis University’s FAFSA school code is 002506.

How to Apply:

1. Create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).
2. Complete and file the FAFSA.
3. Wait while SLU assembles your financial aid offer.
4. Review and accept or decline your award through mySLU.

If you accept a loan, remember that you need to complete entrance counseling and a Master Promissory Note, which is a repayment agreement.

If you need to make any changes to your FAFSA due to changes in your financial information, you can do so at Federal Student Aid.

Due to the implementation of prior-prior year tax reporting, you are required to report 2022 tax data on the 2024-25 FAFSA. It is possible that your 2022 financial situation differs from today. Your changing situation may warrant a special circumstance review. Special circumstances are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and the University is limited regarding adjustments that can be made. Learn more about the Special Circumstance Application process here.

Colleges use your Student Aid Index (SAI), determined by your FAFSA, to estimate the amount of your unmet costs. In the simplest terms, a school’s cost of attendance minus your Student Aid Index equals your demonstrated financial need. Your SAI is constant for each school, but the cost of attendance at each school will be different. Each school’s cost of attendance takes into account components such as tuition, room/board, books, transportation and miscellaneous fees. Aid offers will, therefore, vary significantly among colleges.

SLU uses federal, state and institutional aid to determine scholarships, grants and work-study for which you may be eligible. But, demonstrated need can not always be met by a financial aid offer. The question of how to pay for any balance not yet covered by financial aid is not an easy one to answer. What may work for one family is not always the best solution for another.

Consider these alternatives for your remaining balance:

• Outside scholarships from sources other than SLU
• SLU payment plans
• 529 college savings plans, such as Missouri MOST and College Illinois!
• Federal or private loans for students and/or parents

As you consider these alternatives for your remaining balance, remember that our counselors are here to assist you.

• Scholarships: Scholarships are merit-based funds that do not have to be repaid. Undergraduate students are automatically considered for merit scholarships with their application for admission. SLU is test-optional for admission and scholarships.
• Grants: International students are not eligible for need-based aid including grants. Typically international students are not eligible to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for need-based aid. Find out if you are eligible here.
• Loans: International students could be eligible for loans to help with their cost of education. Check our Preferred Lender List for options.
• Work Opportunities: If you want to work while you’re a student at Saint Louis University, you should first meet with your international adviser to understand employment rules for F-1 and J-1 students. More information is available here. They will need a Social Security number to work on and off campus.

We will assemble a financial aid package for each admitted student. New students will be sent an award letter via email through personalized links.

Returning students will receive this information via email and can view it in Banner Self-Service.

It can be difficult to determine how to pay for tuition not covered by financial aid.

• Outside scholarships from sources other than SLU
• SLU payment plans
• Private loans for students and/or parents

Applying for financial aid can seem like a daunting process, but SLU is here to help. If you have questions, contact one of our financial aid counselors.

1. Scholarships, Fellowships, and Assistantships: Scholarships and fellowships are merit-based funds that do not have to be repaid. Some departments offer assistantships, where students work in a research or teaching assistant capacity in exchange for a reduction or elimination of tuition costs.
2. Loans: Loans are funds borrowed by the student that must be repaid. Domestic students can choose between federal and private student loan options. There are additional applications required in order to be eligible for the Graduate PLUS Loan or private or alternative loans.
3. Work Opportunities: Work-study is a federally sponsored, need-based program that allows students to earn funds from part-time work on campus. Even if you do not qualify for work-study, you still may be able to obtain other types of on-campus employment. Eligibility is determined through the FAFSA, but does require students to apply for employment on campus if they wish to participate.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free tool provided by the U.S. Department of Education that collects pertinent information to calculate a student's Student Aid Index (SAI).

All colleges and universities use your SAI to determine your eligibility for aid. For consideration for need-based assistance or eligibility for low-interest student loans, students must complete the FAFSA.

Saint Louis University’s FAFSA school code is 002506.

How to Apply:

1. Create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).
2. Complete and file the FAFSA.
3. Wait while SLU assembles your financial aid offer.
4. Review and accept or decline your award through mySLU.

The FAFSA is required in order to receive Graduate Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS Loans. If you accept a loan, remember that you need to complete entrance counseling and a Master Promissory Note, which is a repayment agreement.

At the graduate level, most merit-based aid is distributed through academic departments, not the university as a whole. Departmental aid may not show on your initial Financial Aid Offer if we have not received the information from your department. You will want to follow up with your department to ensure they have communicated your aid with our Scholarship Area. We will send revisions as there are any changes to your Financial Aid Offer.

• Plan ahead. Become familiar with procedures, priority dates and deadlines.
• Keep records. Fill out forms carefully and keep copies for your records. Your admit packet or visit folder is a great place to store these forms.
• Respond to information requests. Promptly reply to all requests from the Office of Student Financial Services for additional information.
• Reply on time. The financial aid awarded to you has been temporarily reserved for you. Access mySLU to accept or decline your aid online. Failure to respond in a timely manner may result in the cancellation of your award.
• Investigate. What sources of financial aid are available outside of Saint Louis University? Check with your employer, the public library, and other organizations by using the web.

1. Scholarships: Global Graduate students are offered merit-based scholarships based on their application for admission. No additional application is required to be considered for these funds. Scholarships can also be earned through our SLU EXP program to be used for eligible Global Graduate programs.
2. Fellowships and Assistantships: Fellowships and Assistantships are merit-based funds that do not have to be repaid. Some departments offer assistantships, where students work in a research or teaching assistant capacity in exchange for a reduction or elimination of tuition costs.
3. Loans: Loans are funds borrowed by the student that must be repaid. International students are only eligible for private loans. MPower and Prodigy are popular lenders for SLU international graduate students.
4. Work Opportunities: If you want to work while you’re a student at Saint Louis University, you should first meet with your international adviser to understand employment rules for F-1 and J-1 students.

There are many campus partners that assist in the enrollment process for international graduate students. See the offices below for assistance in key areas:

• Admission or scholarship questions: globalgrad@slu.edu
• Academic or program questions: globalgrad@slu.edu
• I-20 questions: internationalservices@slu.edu
• Loan questions: sfs@slu.edu
• Payment and billing questions: sfs@slu.edu