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Frequently Asked Questions
Applying for Aid
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How Is Financial Aid Eligibility Determined?
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Is the information that I provide in my financial aid application kept private?
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Does CSB/SJU offer a discount for more than one child enrolled at their school?
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Do I need to complete the FAFSA online?
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When will I receive my financial aid award for next year?
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How do I report special circumstances that might influence my family's ability to pay for my educational expenses?
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How is financial aid applied to my student account?
Scholarships
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How will outside scholarships affect my financial aid?
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Can my academic scholarships be increased if my grades improve?
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Does CSB/SJU offer athletic scholarships?
Grants
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Can I receive a MN Grant if I graduated from a MN high school, but now my parents and I are residents of another state?
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How will dropping a class affect my Minnesota Grant?
Student Employment
Study Abroad
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How will my financial aid be affected if I study abroad?
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What if I study abroad through a different college?
Transferring/Senior Students
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I am going to transfer next semester, how will this affect my financial aid?
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I'll be graduating in December, how will this affect my financial aid?
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I'll be a fifth year student next year, how will this affect my financial aid?
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How Is Financial Aid Eligibility Determined?
The FAFSA formula generates an amount called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is comprised of a Parent Contribution and a Student Contribution. This is the amount, based on the federal formula, which your family is expected to pay out-of-pocket for college. Each student’s need is determined by subtracting the EFC from the cost of education at CSB/SJU. That need is then met through a combination of scholarships, grants, student employment, and subsidized student loans.
There are optional unsubsidized loan programs, which are available to help fund the EFC.
Is the information that I provide in my financial aid application kept private?
The College of St. Benedict and Saint John’s University comply with federal and state privacy laws and regulations. The data in your file may be released to financial aid donors, lenders, and the colleges’ offices needing the information for awarding or advising. No one else, however, may review your file without your written consent or a subpoena or court order. If you want us to provide information to someone else, such as a parent, spouse, other relative, etc., you must provide written authorization.
Does CSB/SJU offer a discount for more than one child enrolled at their school?
No, the federal formula automatically takes this into consideration.
Do I need to complete the FAFSA online?
You can request a paper FAFSA by calling 1-800-433-3243 or online at http://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov/fafsa/fafsa_options.html.
When will I receive my financial aid award for next year?
Returning students are encouraged to complete the CSB/SJU Institutional Aid Application and the FAFSA immediately after filing their federal tax returns. Starting in early June, financial aid awards are mailed to students with a complete financial aid application.
How do I report special circumstances that might influence my family's ability to pay for my educational expenses?
Students with special circumstances should complete the Special Circumstances Form and may wish to speak to a counselor in the financial aid office to discuss their circumstances.
How is financial aid applied to my student account?
If all requirements are complete, institutional scholarships, grants, and Federal Perkins Loan funds will automatically be applied to your account at the rate of 50% for fall semester and 50% for spring semester prior to the first billing for each term.
Assuming that you have completed the appropriate forms for the Federal Stafford Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, and alternative loans, the funds are usually electronically wired to your student account prior to the start of each semester.
Student employment earnings will be applied to your off-campus bank account as they are earned each month. If you want your student employment earnings applied to your student account, you must complete a payroll deduction form.
How will outside scholarships affect my financial aid?
It is the policy of CSB and SJU to first reduce loans.
Can my academic scholarships be increased if my grades improve?
The dollar amount of academic scholarships is determined by a competitive ranking within the first year applicant pool. These scholarships are four year renewable scholarships and cannot be adjusted.
Does CSB/SJU offer athletic scholarships?
Since CSB and SJU are Division III schools, NCAA regulations prohibit athletic scholarships.
Can I receive a MN Grant if I graduated from a MN high school, but now my parents and I are residents of another state?
Yes, you meet the eligibility criteria for a MN Grant because you graduated from a MN High School.
How will dropping a class affect my Minnesota Grant?
MN Grant recipients must carry 15 credits per term to receive the maximum grant. Funding at 12, 13, or 14 credits is prorated. Call the Financial Aid Office to check your funding if you plan to enroll for less than 15 credits.
How do I get a job and how will it affect Financial Aid?
All job openings are listed on the CSB/SJU Student Employment Jobs Website.
Only eligible students are authorized to look for work at certain times during the year. A username and password may be required to access the website.
All students are eligible to be placed on the waiting list. You will be notified when you are authorized to look for employment on campus.
Work awards are included in your financial aid package. It sometimes is necessary to reduce Federal subsidized loans to make room for a work award. Please contact the student employment administrator on your campus to find out specifically how the addition of a work award will affect your financial aid.
How will my financial aid be affected if I study abroad?
The Financial Aid Office will be notified by the Center for International Education if you plan to study abroad. Students attending CSB/SJU study-abroad programs pay the same tuition, room and board that they would if they stayed on campus. An adjustment will be made to your budget to reflect additional expenses you will incur.
What if I study abroad through a different college?
Charges for study-abroad programs not affiliated with CSB/SJU charge will vary. It is up to you to determine tuition, fees, room and board and other expenses for external programs.
Students choosing to participate in a program offered through another educational institution may use any federal or state aid for which they are eligible. CSB/SJU grants and scholarships may not be used for these external programs.
For more information, please contact the Center for International Education Office.
I am going to transfer next semester, how will this affect my financial aid?
If you will be transferring after fall semester, you will not receive any of the financial aid you were scheduled to receive for spring semester. In addition, all student loans will be returned to the lender. You will need to re-apply for financial aid through the school you will be attending. Contact that school's Financial Aid Office for details.
If you are transferring at the end of the school year, your CSB/SJU financial aid will not be affected.
If you borrowed a Federal Stafford Loan, or a Federal Perkins Loan, you will need to complete a loan deferment form, to insure that your loans will not go into repayment.
Loan deferment form link for Stafford Loans
I'll be graduating in December, how will this affect my financial aid?
If you haven't already notified the Financial Aid Office, you need to do so. Your financial aid budget and award will be adjusted accordingly.
I'll be a fifth year student next year, how will this affect my financial aid?
Fifth year students are not eligible for college grants and scholarships. However, the Federal Pell Grant may extend into the 5th year, depending on the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Student loans and student employment are also available for fifth year students.
Transfer students and those who will be student teaching during their fifth year, should contact the Financial Aid Office for details regarding those situations.