Saint Louis University is committed to making the financial aid process seamless and manageable for you and your family.
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 your student's Student Aid Index (SAI).
All colleges and universities use your SAI to determine your student's eligibility for aid. For consideration for need-based assistance or eligibility for low-interest student loans, students must complete the FAFSA. Priority consideration is given to students who file prior to Feb. 1.
Saint Louis University’s FAFSA school code is 002506.
How to Apply
Follow these steps to ensure your application is complete:
The Access Missouri Grant priority deadline is Feb. 1.
Missing this deadline doesn’t mean you won’t be eligible for aid, but SLU gives priority consideration to anyone who submits a FAFSA ahead of this date.
FAFSA filing tips:
- The FAFSA must be signed by the student and parent (of dependent students). Be sure to obtain your FSA IDs before starting the FAFSA.
- Use the IRS Direct Data Exchange on the FAFSA to download your federal tax information directly into the FAFSA. Doing so without making changes to the data is fast, easy and satisfies federal verification requirements.
- See FAFSA FAQs for additional information and tips.
SLU uses 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. It is important to note that demonstrated financial need cannot always be met entirely by a financial aid offer. Saint Louis University uses federal, state and institutional aid to determine scholarships, grants, work-study and loans for which you may be eligible to help meet your demonstrated financial need.
Students will receive notification of their financial aid offer via email.
If you accept a loan, remember that you may need to complete entrance counseling and a Master Promissory Note, which is a contractual agreement between you and a lender.
Financial Aid for International Students
International students are not eligible for federal student loans or grants. However, SLU does automatically consider students attending the St. Louis campus for merit scholarships with their application for admission.
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.
Helpful Hints
- Plan ahead. Become familiar with procedures, priority dates and deadlines.
- Apply early. Financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so the best time to file the FAFSA for maximum consideration is between its opening date (anticipated in December 2023 for the 2024-2025 FAFSA) and Feb. 1. You do not need completed tax returns to file your FAFSA. It is better to file early with your best estimates (based on W-2s and year-end earnings statements) than to file late with exact figures.
- 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.
- Reapply each year. Financial aid is not automatically renewed. You must file a FAFSA to be considered for financial aid each year. Check renewal requirements on all of your awards.
- Manage debt wisely. We highly recommend that you limit your borrowing to necessary educational expenses. Your professional counselors can help you develop a plan to pay for your education.
- Special circumstances. If you have special or unusual circumstances that you would like the Office of Student Financial Services to consider, go to our forms page or contact us for additional information.
- 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.
Any policies, regulations, procedures, and fees from the Office of Student Financial Services are subject to change without prior notice, if necessary, to keep Saint Louis University policies in compliance with state and federal laws and/or with rules and regulations of Saint Louis University.