The financial aid application process runs concurrent to the admission process.  For fullest consideration for all sources of aid please adhere to the deadlines listed below. For many, financial aid plays an important role in choosing a college and our goal is to provide you with accurate and timely information to help you make your decision.

Note for Transfer Students:  Financial Aid and Transfer Merit Scholarship applications are due at the same time that the application for admission is submitted. Transfer students applying for a merit scholarship should follow the same directions as first-year students.

Step 1: Complete your Application for Admission to St. Olaf College.
Early Decision I and Early Decision 2 candidates must apply by November 15 or January 15, respectively, and Regular Decision candidates must apply for admission by January 15. For further details, see the Dates and Deadlines page.

All students are considered for academic and service scholarships during the admission review process.  Students applying for Fine Arts Scholarships must submit separate applications.

For more information about applying for merit scholarships at St. Olaf click here.

Step 2: Complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.

St. Olaf requires all first-year students to complete the CSS/Financial Aid Profile. The Profile is available online. You must include St. Olaf’s school code, 6638, in order for the Financial Aid Office to receive your results.

Find out more information about what is needed for the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.

A helpful resource to answer general questions about the Profile is the CSS/Financial Aid Profile Student Guide.

The CSS/Financial Aid Profile will collect information about your and your parents’ income and assets to determine your eligibility for need-based financial aid.

If your parents are separated or divorced or were never married then St. Olaf will consider both biological parents’ information when determining eligibility for institutional need-based grants.  The custodial parent (the parent with whom you lived the most in the last 12 months) and step-parent (if applicable) should complete the CSS/Financial Aid Profile.  Once you and your custodial parent have submitted the Profile you will receive an email alerting you that your noncustodial parent also needs to complete a Profile. You will be sent a link that you should forward to your noncustodial parent. This will correctly link both Profiles to your record.

Step 3: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Find out more information about what is needed for the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.

The deadline for filing the FAFSA is March 1 of your senior year. Enter St. Olaf’s FAFSA Code: 002382 to have your results sent directly to St. Olaf. You can complete your FAFSA online.

If your parents are separated or divorced or were never married then only the custodial parent (the parent with whom you lived the most in the last 12 months) should complete the FAFSA.  If that parent has remarried then your step-parent’s financial information should also be reported on the FAFSA.

Step 4: Submit tax and other documents.

Once completed, submit copies of your and your parents’ 2012 federal tax returns, W-2’s, and accompanying schedules to the Financial Aid Office.  While this step is not required in order for us to create a financial aid award for you, it will ensure that the award we present is as accurate  as possible. This information is due by March 1st.

Award Notifications

Assuming you have completed Steps 1 and 2 by the priority deadlines you can expect a financial aid award notification to be sent to you on or before December 22 for Early Decision 1, on or before February 22 for Early Decision 2, and on or before March 22 for Regular applicants.

If you apply after our priority financial aid deadlines we will process your application as quickly as possible.  You can expect to hear from us within 10 days after you have filed the CSS/Financial Aid Profile or the above notification dates, whichever is later.