Financial Aid

How do I apply for Financial Aid?
Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a Renewal FAFSA and return it to the Federal Processor as soon as possible after January 1st. Be sure to submit your FAFSA/Renewal FAFSA to the Federal Processor in time for them to process it (about four weeks) and transmit the results to St. John's University by our March 1st, on-time application deadline. You may prefer to apply online using FAFSA on the Web. We strongly encourage this method of applying since it is faster and generally more accurate because the online version has built-in edits. Apply for financial aid at the same time, or even before, you apply for admission.
Do I need to reapply each year?
Yes. Each year you must file either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a Renewal FAFSA. You must also maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to qualify for aid each year.
What happens after I apply?
Once you complete and mail your FAFSA to the processing center, your FAFSA will be processed and you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). The results of your FAFSA willbe electronically sent to the Office of Student Financial Services. The FAFSA will be reviewed and a Financial Aid Award Letter will be prepared and mailed to the student describing all of the eligible financial aid sources.
Will our savings and other assets be considered when our financial need is being determined?
Family assets such as stocks and bonds, net business worth and savings are taken into account in determining the Expected Family Contribution toward a student's education. Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid funds is determined by rules set by the government that provide, among other things, allowances for retirement needs in computing this contribution.
How will my financial aid be applied to my bill?
St. John’s will provide a temporary credit on your student bill for the funds for which you have satisfied all program eligibility requirements and requested paperwork. Your financial awards will then be disbursed (paid) to your account once you have confirmed your registration as an enrolled paid student. The awards will be applied as follows:
- Federal Grants and Institutional Aid: St. John’s University Academic grant and scholarship funds will be credited directly to your account each semester.
- Institutional and federal need based grants will be credited directly to your student account each semester once you have met all institutional and federal fund eligibility requirements.
- Loan Funds: If you receive a Federal Student/Private Loan, most lenders will send the funds directly through electronic funds transfer to St. John’s for the amount borrowed minus fees in accordance with your loan disclosure. Funds will be credited directly to your student account each semester once we confirm that you have met all loan eligibility requirements. In some cases the lender of a Private loan will forward funds in the form of a check made payable to the student and St. John’s. Students whose lenders send checks will be notified to visit the Office of Student Financial Services to endorse their loan check.
- State Funds: State grants/scholarships will be credited directly to your student account each semester, once you have met all fund eligibility and application requirements.
- If my account indicates that I have a credit balance, when will I receive a refund?
- Refunds will not be issued until after classes begin each term. If the student is due a refund, a check will be mailed to the student or a direct credit will be applied to the student’s bank account if a direct deposit form has been completed by the student. If a credit balance has been created by a Federal Parent PLUS Loan, then a refund will be issued directly to the parent borrower. The Title IV Authorization Form and Direct Deposit Forms can be downloaded from our website.
If my account indicates that I have a credit balance, when will I receive a refund?
Refunds will not be issued until after classes begin each term. If the student is due a refund, a check will be mailed to the student or a direct credit will be applied to the student’s bank account if a direct deposit form has been completed by the student. If a credit balance has been created by a Federal Parent PLUS Loan, then a refund will be issued directly to the parent borrower. The Title IV Authorization Form and Direct Deposit Forms can be downloaded from our website.
How will an outside scholarship affect my financial aid award?
All outside awards are considered as a resource and must be included and factored into the student’s financial aid package. We will allow the student to retain the scholarship of the student’s need has not been met and the scholarship in combination with other awards does not exceed expenses for tuition, fees, room and board. If need is met, then the University will make every effort to first reduce student loan debt or work study before reducing grant or scholarship assistance.
What is the best way for me to communicate with the Office of Student Financial Services?
1. Mail - Please mail all documents to our Processing Center:
  - St. John's University,
    P.O. Box 548, Randolph,
    MA 02368-0548
  - Students submitting documents to the Office of Student Financial Services should not send originals.
  - Your STJ ID number (“X” number) should be included on each page of documentation.
  - We encourage you to use the pre-paid white and blue envelope enclosed with your Award Letter.
2. E-mail us at financialaid@stjohns.edu (Please include student’s STJ “X” number – for privacy reasons do not include social security number)
3. Telephone – You can reach one of our Customer Service specialists by calling (718) 990-2000
4. Visit our Office:
  Queens Campus – location Bent Hall – entrance located across from Carnesecca Arena
  Staten Island Campus – location Kelleher Center
Whom do I call if I do not receive my SAR?
If you need answers right away to questions about Federal Student Aid you may call the Department of Education at (800) 4-FED AID.
What is verification?
Verification is a review process where the Department of Education has requested that the Office of Student Financial Services review all of the information that the student has completed on their financial aid application.
Is it required that I submit my/my parent's Federal Tax Return?
No, unless you have been selected for Federal/Institutional Verification.
If my parents are divorced or separated, whose financial aid data should be used when I am completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
If your parents are separated or divorced use the parent with whom you lived the most with in the past 12 months. If you lived with neither parent or lived with each parent an equal number of days use the parent that provided the most financial support to you over the past 12 months. If that parent has remarried you must also include the stepparent's financial information on the application and parent and stepparent should report themselves as married on the FAFSA.
How do I apply for a Federal Direct Student Loan?
The first step in applying for a Federal Direct Student Loan is to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For new or first-time borrowers once you file your FAFSA form, you will receive a Financial Aid Award Letter indicating the amount of your student loan eligibility along with instructions on when and how to apply for your loans. Students who wish borrow under the Federal Direct Loan program must accept their loans via their personal UIS account. Once accepted the request will be processed and forwarded to Department of Education for approval. If you wish to change your processed loan amount please complete a Loan Change Request Form.
What if I withdraw or drop below full-time study, will it affect my financial aid?
Your aid may be affected if you make a change in enrollment status. Your awards may have to be reduced or cancelled entirely. Students are encouraged to visit the Office of Student Financial Services if they have any questions about how the change in enrollment status will impact their financial aid.
For more information see:
http://www.stjohns.edu/services/financial/financial.stj