Resources

There are several ways for students to find the aid they need in order to meet tuition expenses. St. Mary's is committed to helping all students find the best financial aid package to meet their individual needs and situations. Following is a list of resources we know will help in this process.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

To be considered for federal, state, and St. Mary's need-based aid, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA must be submitted each year after January 1 but before March 1, to maximize the student's chances of receiving aid. Students applying for assistance for only the spring semester must file all forms by November 15.

To receive the paper form FAFSA, please contact your local high school, library, or our office during the month of January. The FAFSA can also be filed on the Web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov Filing on the Web has benefits, including faster processing time and online error checking during submission.

When you fill out the form, please use the St. Mary's College Title IV code: 002095. Once you have completed and filed your FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Please review your SAR for accuracy. St. Mary's College will receive your SAR electronically as long as you list our school in your FAFSA application.

Common FAFSA Mistakes

• Do not leave a field blank. Use a zero if the question does not apply to you.
• Do not forget to report ALL required sources of untaxed income.
• Use the 1040 Federal tax return for reporting income and taxes paid, not the W-2.
• Include yourself in household size, even if you did not live there the previous year.
• Sign the application. If you are filing as a dependent, make sure your parents sign too. If you are filing on the Web, remember to print off the signature page, get the required signatures, and mail the form to the address listed on your signature page.

FastWeb

FastWeb is the largest, most accurate, and most frequently updated scholarship database. If you supply an e-mail address, they will notify you when new awards that match your profile are added to the database. You can even submit an electronic application to some of the scholarships listed on FastWeb, saving you time and money. FastWeb also includes a college search and numerous other student resources. http://www.fastweb.com.