How to Apply for Undergraduate Financial Aid

To access need-based aid—including SAIC, state and federal grants, loans, and work-study—you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Here’s how:

• Start Early: The FAFSA opens annually on October 1 for the upcoming academic year. Remember to file your FAFSA as soon as possible as some types of assistance are limited. An official award letter and an email outlining your financial aid offer will be sent to you once your file has been reviewed and your eligibility has been determined.
• Priority Deadlines: Fall 2027 (2027–28): January 1, 2027
   

Pro Tips

• International Students: Note that international students are not eligible for federal aid. However, merit scholarships are available at admission, and resources for international funding can be found on our website. Visit our International Applicant pages to learn more. 
• Be In the Know: Watch this video for an introduction to FAFSA
• Get Your FSA ID: You (and parents, if applicable) will need an FSA ID to sign your FAFSA. This will become your digital signature. Receive your FSA ID and password at StudentAid.gov/fsa-id as soon as possible.
• Include SAIC’s School Code: Enter SAIC’s code (001753) on your FAFSA to ensure your information is sent to us.
• Confirmation: Expect an email confirmation 3-5 days after submitting your FAFSA. Review your processed application for accuracy.
• Follow Up: If additional documentation or clarification is needed, you’ll be contacted via email or postal mail. Respond promptly to avoid delays.

Once your FAFSA is processed, you will receive an official Financial Aid Award Offer via email. This document outlines your financial aid package and eligibility. Newly admitted students will also receive a detailed award packet by mail.

At SAIC, tuition and financial aid are calculated on a per-credit-hour basis. If you plan to enroll in a different credit load than the standard (15 credits/semester for undergraduates), inform Student Financial Services immediately. Submit an Early Aid Actual Adjustment Form to ensure your aid reflects your enrollment accurately.

Utilize our Figure Your Cost Budgeting worksheet to estimate both direct costs (tuition and fees billed by SAIC) and indirect costs (expenses you’ll need to budget for but aren’t billed by SAIC). This will help you understand your financial landscape.

SAIC offers several loan programs to help cover tuition costs. Eligibility is determined by your FAFSA results.

• Accepting Loans: First-time borrowers must complete specific steps to secure Federal Direct Loans. The Federal Direct PLUS and private loans require creditworthiness or a creditworthy co-signer. Learn more.
• Deadlines: Complete loan steps by July 1 for the upcoming academic year or January 1 for spring-only semesters. Remember, you must reapply for Federal Direct PLUS and private loans each year.

For more details on the loan process, visit our Student Loan section.

To avoid late fees and restrictions on campus access, arrange payment for any balance not covered by financial aid. Payment must be completed by specified due dates, which are available here.

• Demonstrated Financial Need: Your need is assessed based on your FAFSA information, with the exception of certain loans.
• Citizenship Status: You must be a US citizen or an eligible noncitizen with a valid Social Security number.
• Degree or Certificate Program: You should be actively working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program.
• Educational Qualifications: You must demonstrate eligibility to enroll in postsecondary education, typically by possessing a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress: Maintain progress according to SAIC's standards as outlined by the Office of Student Financial Services.

The FAFSA collects essential information regarding your (and your parents', if applicable) income, assets, and family size. This data is used to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI), which plays a crucial role in determining your financial need.

• How It Works: The SAI is calculated by subtracting your SAI and any other financial assistance from the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) at SAIC. This formula helps establish the amount of financial assistance you may receive.
• Family Contribution Estimator: Before applying for aid, you can estimate your family’s contribution using the Federal Student Aid Estimator.

Financial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study, is designated for classes required for your degree program. If you choose to take classes for audit or those not essential for your degree, you must cover those costs yourself.

All admitted students are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on a holistic review of their application—no extra paperwork needed! Visit our SAIC Scholarships and Grants page to learn more.

Explore opportunities on websites like Fastweb or consult your high school or college counselor for local scholarships. Consider organizations you’re affiliated with for additional funding options. Visit our Outside Scholarships page to learn more.

No Action Needed: If you've been awarded grants or scholarships, no further action is required. It’s assumed that all students offered these funds wish to accept them.

Accept or Decline: For federal and private loans, you’ll need to actively accept or decline your offers. 

• One-Time Acceptance: For Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, you typically need to complete the acceptance steps only once. However, you must reapply each year for Federal Direct PLUS and private loans.

If you wish to reduce or decline any of your Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized loans or Federal Work-Study, simply email your request to Student Financial Services at saic.sfs@saic.edu from your SAIC email. Include specific instructions on which loans or work-study you wish to adjust.

• Potential Benefits: Reducing or declining a loan can increase your eligibility for other awards, such as Federal Direct PLUS loans or additional Federal Work-Study. If your intent is to increase another type of award, please specify that in your request.

• Award Notifications for New Students: New students who have been admitted to SAIC and completed the FAFSA will receive their initial award offer packets via mail approximately 8 to 10 business days after fulfilling these requirements.
• Continuing Students: After your first year, you will not receive a mailed award offer. Instead, you'll receive an automated email notification letting you know that your award offer is available for viewing in Self-Service.
• Automatic Processing for Previous Borrowers: If you have previously borrowed Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans and are offered these loans again, they will be processed automatically, requiring no additional steps.

Parent Borrowers: Parents applying for Federal Direct PLUS Loans must submit a new request at StudentAid.gov for each award year and for each loan desired.

Federal Title IV financial aid (excluding work-study) is automatically applied to your tuition and fees account. This account includes charges for:

• Tuition and allowable fees
• Health insurance
• Room and board
• Other potential charges (e.g., library fines, health service fees)

Unlike other financial aid, Federal Work-Study funds are not credited to your student account. Instead, they are issued directly to you as paychecks. We highly recommend setting up direct deposit to receive your funds more quickly—often available a day earlier than paper checks. For direct deposit information, visit the SAIC Student Payroll webpage.

If you receive scholarships or funds from qualified education/529 college savings plans, you must forward these checks and any correspondence to the Student Financial Services office. This ensures that funds are applied correctly to your student account. Avoid sending checks to the Bursar's Office, as this could delay processing.

Student loans are disbursed directly to your student account. If you have a credit balance in your account (not due to anticipated aid), you may receive a refund. Refunds of credit balances are processed weekly and do not require a separate request. Sign up for eRefunds through Transact in Self-Service to streamline this process. You’ll be notified via email when your funds are available.

Since summer aid is only disbursed after the add-drop period at the end of July, SAIC offers early refunds for students who complete their add-drop sessions beforehand. To request an early refund, contact an advisor or email saic.sfs@saic.edu.

Here are the estimated dates when disbursements begin for various types of aid:

Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized, PLUS, and Private Education Loans

• Summer: Third to Fourth week of May
• Fall: Third to Fourth week of August
• Winter: Fourth week of December
• Spring: Third week of January
   

Grants and Scholarships

• Summer: Second week of August
• Fall: Fourth week of September
• Winter: Second week of January
• Spring: Fourth week of February

Grants and scholarships are disbursed each semester only after all requirements are met, including:

• Your actual enrollment matches the aid for which you are packaged.
• Attendance records are collected in week 3, and holds may be placed on accounts for unconfirmed attendance.
• All requested documents have been submitted to Student Financial Services.
• Your financial aid file is complete and reviewed.
• For student loans, all entrance counseling sessions and Master Promissory Notes (MPNs) must be completed.

If you plan to enroll in a different number of credits than the standard for your program (for example, less than or more than 15 credits per semester for undergraduates), it's essential to notify SFS immediately.

• How to Notify: Submit an Early Aid Actual Adjustment Form online. This will prompt SFS to recalculate your aid based on your new enrollment status, ensuring accurate invoices and statements.

To ensure timely adjustments, be mindful of the priority submission dates for each semester:

If you’re considering enrolling in a different number of credits, it’s wise to understand the financial implications. You can request an estimate of your financial aid for various credit hour scenarios.

• For Fall or Spring Semesters: Access SAIC's online estimator here to get an idea of how changing your credit hours will affect your financial aid.
• For Summer or Winter Terms: Click here to request an estimate.

• Federal Direct Student Loans: You must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify for Federal Direct Student Loans.
• Merit Scholarships and Grants: Most SAIC merit scholarships and grants can be pro-rated based on your credit hours, meaning you don’t need to be enrolled full-time to receive them. Check your merit award offer letter for specific enrollment requirements.