Financial Aid
The Financial Aid Application Process
Academic Scholarship
All students are strongly encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA information is used for students who wish to apply for any type of needbased assistance, including loans, grants and work-study. It is also used by many outside scholarship programs. The Southern New Hampshire University code is 002580. The FAFSA can be completed electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov by using a PIN issued by the Department of Education. You may use the PIN to sign your FASFA online. Students may obtain a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. Awards are made for one academic year, which includes terms starting on or after July1. Students must reapply for financial aid each year.
A limited number of Academic Scholarships are awarded to full-time undergraduate day students based on their academic records in high school or college. To be eligible, firstyear students must be admitted prior to the financial aid priority date of March 15 and transfer students by May 15. Students selected for an Academic Scholarship will be notified at the time of admission and may receive additional types of financial assistance based on financial need. Individual scholarship amounts vary and are awarded based on a cumulative grade point average of a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) along with pre-determined SAT/ACT scores. These scholarships are renewable each year based on the maintenance of a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average (GPA). Failure to maintain the required GPA will result in the loss of scholarship funds.
Paper applications can be obtained in the Office of Financial Aid on the main campus, at any of the SNHU locations, at public libraries and at high schools. New students’ financial aid applications are considered for aid eligibility following admission into the university. Priority will be given to completed applications received by March 15. Students who submit applications after this date 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 approximately seven to ten days if submitted electronically; four weeks for mailed submissions. Students striving to meet the priority date are advised to keep the processing time in mind. Midyear transfer students must ensure that loans processed at other institutions are adjusted by their previous schools to reflect their actual enrollment end dates at those schools. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid of your previous school to have them update this information with your lender. All required paperwork must be completed before or during the student’s annual enrollment period. If a student withdraws from school prior to completing any required financial aid processes, pending financial aid funds will be canceled and any charges will become immediately due to the university. At Southern New Hampshire University we strive to acknowledge the academic achievement, community service and leadership experience of our students through a variety of merit based grants and scholarships.
Merit Based Aid for New Students New applicants are automatically considered for merit based, renewable grants and scholarships during the admission process. Grants and scholarships are awarded on a firstcome, first-served basis so students are encouraged to apply for admission early.
Presidential Scholarship Presidential Scholarships are offered on a selective basis up to 25 new, full-time undergraduate day students. Activities and leadership are considered in addition to academic records. The Presidential Scholarship is renewable based on the maintenance of a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point average. Failure to maintain the required GPA will result in the loss of scholarship funds.
Commuter Grant The Southern New Hampshire University Commuter Grant program is designed to assist a limited number of academically qualified students who plan to commute to Southern New Hampshire University undergraduate and culinary day programs on a full-time basis. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Scholarships are $2,000 per academic year for undergraduate day students. New students will be notified of their commuter grants at the time of acceptance until the financial aid priority date of March 15.
Sibling Grant The Southern New Hampshire University Sibling Grant consists of a total of $2,500 annually for a family with two or more dependent undergraduate siblings concurrently attending for the full academic year in any of the full-time day programs. Amounts will generally be split between each sibling.
Alpha Sigma Lambda Foundation Scholarship Any student may apply for the Foundation Scholarships. A student must have completed 30 semester hours with a grade point average of 3.4 for the Triangle Club: Second Century Scholarships or a 3.2 for the General Foundations Scholarships on all work taken at SNHU. You must be 24 years of age or older, enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program, have a financial need for assistance to complete the degree and do not need to be a member of the local Alpha Sigma Lambda chapter to apply. Applications for the Triangle Club are due in March and the Non-Triangle Club in April. Check with SNHU’s National Counselor (Adrienne Stevens at a.stevens@snhu.edu) for more information. 13