Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). We may also require a copy of parents’ and student’s federal income tax return transcript (all pages) and W-2 forms. If we require this additional information, we will notify you. For more information, visit the Applying for Aid page.

St. John’s FAFSA school codes:

• Annapolis – 002092
• Santa Fe – 002093

Typically, the process for packaging students for financial aid is two to four weeks. If a student is selected for the process called verification, packaging cannot take place until the student has submitted all required documentation to the financial aid office. Once the last document being requested is received, our two- to four-week processing time will begin. You should apply as early as possible. The FAFSA is available on October 1.

If you are not sure whether you qualify, it’s best to file. Financial aid includes grants, scholarships, work, and loans. You may not qualify for need-based grants, but student loans are always obtainable and the forms are necessary for government loans.

All students will be reviewed for merit aid as part of their admissions application. Institutional merit aid is only awarded to freshman but is renewed for all four years of attendance. Merit scholarships are awarded based on academic promise, as shown through your high school record, application essays, and other criteria, including test scores. A separate application is not required for merit aid. St. John’s offers several types of merit scholarships with varying award amounts.

You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Department of Education after they process your FAFSA. Please check the messages on it, as some conditions may prevent you from receiving aid until they are resolved. Do not throw away your SAR. Keep it for your records.

A financial aid award letter is the school’s offer of Federal, State, and Institutional financial aid. If you have been awarded merit aid, it will show that as well.

First and foremost, make sure you have turned in your FAFSA (U.S. applicants) or the CSS Profile (international applicants) if you would like to be considered for need-based aid. With this document missing, the college cannot complete your award. Financial aid award letters, including those for merit aid, are sent after you receive notice about acceptance at the college (see Calendar). Returning students should expect their awards once their file has been completed. If you need to know what we still need, please contact our office.

Don’t panic. Contact the Financial Aid Office to check the status:

The Financial Aid Office reviews financial aid applications and determines students’ awards. The Finance Office bills tuition, fees, and other institutional charges. Any information about billing or account balances needs to be directed to the Finance Office. The Admissions Office handles all aspects of your application for admission, which is considered apart from your financial aid status.

Work study is a federally or institutionally funded employment program. You are awarded a dollar amount to earn and this amount will appear on your award letter. Jobs are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Funds earned will be received through a paycheck, not posted to your billing account. Receiving a work award does not guarantee an on-campus position.

By law, the US Department of Education selects 30% of all St. John’s students who file a FAFSA for verification of the information in the financial aid applications. It is the responsibility of the Financial Aid Office to collect necessary financial documentation and verify the accuracy of the listed information. The Financial Aid office will contact you after the FAFSA has been received to let you know what other documentation is needed. You must turn in all financial documentation requests before your loans are processed and your account credited with financial aid.

“Need” is determined by using this formula: Cost of Attendance (COA) - Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need.

Cost of Attendance includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation, room and board, and miscellaneous costs. The Expected Family Contribution number is derived from the information you provided on the FAFSA or CSS Profile. This is the amount that can reasonably be expected from your family as contribution toward educational expenses. If you subtract your EFC from the school’s COA and you end up with a positive number, then you have “financial need” (or “need”). If you end up with a negative number, then you do not demonstrate "financial need.” You will receive “need-based aid” if you demonstrate financial “need.”

Information on tax benefits for higher education can be found at the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Credits or contact your tax accountant. The Financial Aid Office cannot counsel students or parents on how to prepare their taxes.

If you have further questions, please contact the Financial Aid office.