Undergraduate Catalog

Financial Aid

The cost of a college education is of vital concern to students, their parents and the educational institutions they attend. This section identifies many sources of financial aid and information about university programs and policies that are designed to help students finance a college education at St. Thomas. Whenever possible, students will want to take advantage of opportunities such as federal and state grants, loans and student employment programs. It is important that proper application for aid be made by the deadlines noted.

The University of St. Thomas participates in Federal and State financial aid programs. These programs include scholarships and grants, loans and student employment. In addition, the university offers institutional merit-based scholarships and awards to those students who have excelled academically and/or made contributions to their school, community or church. In addition, the university may offer need-based grants to students who demonstrate financial need. Merit-based scholarships may meet some or all of a student’s financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Financial Aid Information on the Web

For the most current information regarding the application process, scholarships, grants, student employment, student loans and financial aid policies at the University of St. Thomas, visit the undergraduate financial aid website at www.stthomas.edu/financialaid/undergraduate.

Applications

To be considered for financial aid, a student must be admitted to the university as a degree-seeking student.

Students wishing to apply for need-based financial aid or federal student loans must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA collects information about the student and his/her family, considers that data in light of the federal financial aid formula and determines financial need.

Students are strongly encouraged to complete the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov. A paper form may also be obtained, contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.

Undocumented students who are MN residents may be eligible for a MN state grant. Students with this status should complete the state financial aid application rather than the FAFSA. More information can be found at www.ohe.state.mn.us.

Awards and Renewals

Need-based financial aid is awarded annually unless specified otherwise.

Students must reapply by filing the FAFSA each year. All financial aid is disbursed to the student’s account to pay tuition, fees or other charges for each semester. Awards will be adjusted if the student withdraws from the university before the end of the semester or year, or if the student is enrolled less than full-time (12 credits or more per semester). Students must be in compliance with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy to be eligible for financial assistance.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

To remain in compliance with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, a student must:

  1. Successfully complete 67 percent of all attempted credits
  2. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 after his/ her fourth term of attendance in the four-year program or after the second term of attendance in the two-year program.

All students meeting the above conditions are eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of 192 attempted credits. A detailed copy of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is available at www.stthomas.edu/ugsap. 

Financial Aid Policy Regarding Withdrawal from the University

If a student withdraws from the University of St. Thomas during a semester, January or summer term, a calculation of “earned” vs. “unearned” federal aid must be determined. This federal policy assumes the student earns his or her aid based on how much time has elapsed in the term. If a student receives federal financial aid, that aid may be reduced as a result of the withdrawal.

There are four steps that St. Thomas must complete to comply with the federal policy: 1) For each class for which the student was registered, determine whether the student attended or participated in any academic activity, 2) Determine the withdrawal date, 3) Calculate the amount of earned federal aid, 4) Return unearned federal funds to the appropriate program(s). To officially withdraw from the university, the student should meet with Academic Counseling and drop their courses on Murphy Online. Upon official withdrawal, the Financial Aid Office will contact all of the student’s instructors to determine when the student last participated in academic activity related to their class. The date established as the latest date among their responses will act as the student’s withdrawal date. If the student fails to withdraw officially, the withdrawal date will become the midpoint of the term, unless the university can document a later date. If the student withdraws after completing 60 percent of the term, they earn all federal financial aid for the term. The responsibility to repay unearned aid is shared by the institution (St. Thomas) and the student. The institution’s share is the lesser of the unearned aid or unearned institutional charges. The institution’s share must be repaid to the federal aid programs in the following order before the student’s share is considered:

  1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
  2. Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
  3. Federal Direct PLUS/Grad PLUS Loan
  4. Federal Pell Grant
  5. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  6. Other Title IV Aid

If the student is required to repay a portion of their loan through the student’s share calculation, they will not be expected to return those funds immediately, but rather when repayment begins according to the terms and conditions of the promissory note. If the student’s share includes grant funds, federal rules allow the grant to be reduced by 50 percent. In such cases, St. Thomas repays the grant programs on the student’s behalf and the student is then responsible for repaying St. Thomas. If this causes undue hardship, a satisfactory payment arrangement can be made with St. Thomas.

Institutional Charges and State Aid Refund Policy

The Return of Title IV Aid calculation, as cited above, only considers federal funds – not institutional, state or outside funding sources that may be included in the student’s financial aid package. Depending upon the timing of your withdrawal, you may qualify for a tuition refund.

If a student withdraws during a period of time that allows for a tuition refund, a portion or all of the student’s institutional, state and/or outside funding may need to be reduced or cancelled. If a student receives a 100 percent tuition refund on all courses for a particular term, all institutional, state and outside funding must be returned to the appropriate aid program(s). If the student’s tuition refund was not used to fully repay the Return of Title IV Aid, a proportional share of the remaining tuition refund must be returned to the appropriate aid program(s).

Tuition Refund Plan/Tuition Insurance

For information about the voluntary Tuition Refund Plan please click here.

Consumer Information

For important information to consider please look below - 

Required Higher Education Act disclosures: Click here.

University of St Thomas Policy Repository: Click here.