How to Apply for Financial Aid

Students who wish to apply for any type of need-based assistance, including loans, grants and work-study, must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Southern New Hampshire University code number is 002580. The FAFSA can be completed electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Paper applications can be obtained in the Office of Financial Aid, at public libraries and at high schools. Awards are made for the academic year, which includes terms starting on or after July 1. Students must reapply for financial aid each year.

New students' financial aid applications are considered for aid eligibility following admission. Priority will be given to complete applications received by March 15 for all students. Students who submit applications after these dates will receive all federal and state funds that they are eligible to receive, and will receive institutional aid as funds permit.

Normal processing time for the FAFSA is about four weeks. Students striving to meet the priority dates are advised to keep the processing time in mind.

Transfer students who transfer in the middle of an academic year (July through June) must ensure that their previous school and lender(s) have updated and completed processing of your financial aid records with the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS). We will use this database to identify what aid you have already received for the current academic year. If you were scheduled to have loans or Pell grants disbursed at your previous school after you ceased attending, you must ensure that your school and lender(s) cancel those disbursements and update the NSLDS records for you.