What is financial aid?

Financial aid is money available from federal, state, institutional and private sources used to help students meet college expenses. Financial aid can help pay for direct educational costs such as tuition, fees and books as well as for personal living expenses such as housing, food and transportation. Financial aid exists to assist families in paying for the costs of attending college.

Who is eligible?

Southwestern students are encouraged to search and apply for all resources available to help them with their educational expenses. Every type of aid or source of funding has eligibility criteria that a student must meet before he or she can receive those funds. It is important that students read and understand the conditions for which they can apply and receive aid.

To be eligible for federal financial aid, a student must:

• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• have a valid Social Security Number
• enroll in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or certificate at Southwestern
• register with the Selective Service if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25
• demonstrate that you are qualified to obtain a postsecondary education
• certify that you will use student aid funds only for educational purposes and that you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe a refund on a federal grant
• maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

What types of financial aid are available at Southwestern?

Students who are attending Southwestern may be eligible to receive grants, loans, work-study, scholarships or any combination of these funds. Grants are financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Loans are borrowed money you must repay with interest. Work-Study is money that you earn while enrolled in school that will help pay your educational expenses. Scholarships are gift aid that does not need to be repaid and can come from institutional or private sources.