Transfer Students

The financial aid application process runs concurrent to the admission process. For many students and families, 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.

Step 1: Complete your Application for Admission to St. Olaf College.

• For more information on merit scholarships and financial aid, click here.
  • Students who wish to apply only for merit scholarships (and don’t want to apply for need-based aid) do not need to complete any of the other parts of the financial aid process.
  • All students are considered for Academic and Service scholarships during the admission review process. Academic and Service scholarship decisions are made by the Admissions Office.
  • Students applying for Fine Arts Scholarships must submit separate applications. Please click here for more information about applying for merit scholarships at St. Olaf.

Step 2: Complete the CSS Profile.

• For more information on the CSS Profile, click here.
  • St. Olaf is one of over 350 schools nationally to require the CSS Profile in determining institutional aid. The CSS Profile is a more in-depth and nuanced financial aid application than the FAFSA.
  • All students interested in need-based St. Olaf aid are required to complete the CSS Profile.
  • There is a fee required to complete the CSS Profile. There is an automatic fee waiver that applies for certain students and eligibility for this fee waiver is determined by the CSS Profile.
  • St. Olaf’s CSS PROFILE Code: 6638.
  • The CSS PROFILE for the 2024-2025 Academic Year can be completed any time after October 1, 2023.  Please note that you are completing the CSS Profile with final tax information for 2022, so please have that information readily available when completing the CSS Profile.
  • If your parents are separated or divorced or were never married, St. Olaf will consider both biological parents’ financial information when determining eligibility for institutional need-based grants. 

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

• For more information on the FAFSA, click here.
  • The FAFSA is required to determine your eligibility for all federal and state based financial aid, such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Perkins Loans or Minnesota State Grant.
  • There is no fee associated with filing the FAFSA.
  • The FAFSA can be completed any time after December 31, 2023 and will use 2022 tax information.
  • Students who wish to apply for federal/state aid only (and do not wish to be considered for St. Olaf need-based grants) do not need to complete the CSS PROFILE.
  • St. Olaf’s FAFSA Code: 002382.
  • If your parents are separated or divorced or were never married, 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 required documents.

• For more information on the tax and other required documents, click here.
  • Students who are receiving need-based financial aid may be asked to turn in additional documents to the Financial Aid Office.
  • The most commonly requested additional forms are the 2022 Parental 1099 or W2 forms.
  • Families are also required to either utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool within the FAFSA or submit their 2022 1040 Tax Returns.
  • Please submit all tax documents to St. Olaf via Egnyte.

Dates and Deadlines

For students intending to start in February 2025, the CSS Profile and FAFSA should be completed by November 1, 2024.