Santa Clara University

Graduate students seeking information about receiving financial support are strongly encouraged to speak with the academic departments or professional school to which they have applied and/or been admitted. Deadlines for various graduate awards can vary widely. Because many deadlines occur early in the academic year, it is important to obtain information and application materials as early as possible.

Note: International students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Therefore, international students should not complete a FAFSA.

Follow these steps to apply for federal financial aid:

1.  Apply for Admission to the Santa Clara University (if not already admitted). We cannot process your financial aid application until you are officially admitted to the university. Please submit your application as soon as possible.

2. Apply for a Federal Student Aid Personal Identification Number (PIN)
If you have a PIN from a previous year, please use that. If you have forgotten your PIN, the site listed above will help you retrieve it.

3. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
All students requesting need-based assistance must complete a FAFSA using their PIN from Step 2. The school code for the Santa Clara University is 001326.

You should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) three to six weeks after submitting your FAFSA. If you have applied for a PIN, you can view the SAR online through the FAFSA on the Web. Review your SAR for accuracy and make any necessary corrections.

4. Accept your financial aid award
The Santa Clara University Financial Aid Office will use the information on your FAFSA to determine your eligibility for financial assistance and send you an email when your award is available. You can view your award information on eCampus and accept or decline the awards offered to you through this Web site.

You may be selected for verification of the information reported on the FAFSA by the U.S. Department of Education. Your SAR will indicate you have been selected. The Santa Clara University Financial Aid Office will contact you by email to notify you of the additional information needed. If selected, the additional documentation is required to be turned into the university before determining your aid eligibility and disbursing any funds.

5. Plan ahead and think long-term
Depending upon when you complete the financial aid application process, funds may or may not be available to you at the time your tuition bill is due or other educational expenses arise. Have some financial resources available to cover such expenses.

Also, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress in your course of study to keep your financial aid. If you withdraw from classes or change your enrollment status, your financial aid package may be affected.

The Santa Clara University Financial Aid Office can provide you additional information on loans and debt management.