HOW TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Students do not have to wait for an acceptance decision from the Office of Admissions to begin the financial assistance application process. Students should begin the financial assistance application process as early as possible.

1. A student must complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the federal need analysis form, as early as possible after January 1 of the year that the student wants to receive assistance in the fall. A new FAFSA or renewal FAFSA must be completed for each academic year. A FAFSA is required for most types of financial assistance. The FAFSA is on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Francis Marion University must be designated as a school to which the student wants results sent by placing code 009226 on the FAFSA. Priority processing will be given to students who file a FAFSA prior to March 1.

2. New freshmen students who wish to apply for Institutional Scholarships should submit the Francis Marion University Scholarship application to the Office of Admissions by February 15 of their senior year in high school. New transfer students who wish to apply for Institutional Scholarships should submit to the Office of Admissions the FMU Scholarship application by February 15 of the year they wish to enter in the fall semester. Since these deadlines are subject to change, new students should contact the Office of Admissions for the most current information.

Continuing students who wish to apply for Institutional Scholarships should submit to the Office of Financial Assistance the FMU Scholarships application by March 1 of the year they wish to receive a scholarship for the fall semester. Students interested in Institutional Scholarships are also encouraged to file a FAFSA. For scholarship purposes, a FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships.

3. After the student files a FAFSA, the federal processing center will generate a Student Aid Report (SAR). This SAR will be mailed to the student. Also, if FMU was listed on the FAFSA, the University will receive the same data electronically from the U.S. Department of Education. Requests for additional information will be sent to the student. Once all requirements are met and the student's file is complete, an offer of financial assistance will be made.