Emporia State University (ESU) is committed to making higher education affordable and accessible to all students. As part of this commitment, ESU offers a variety of financial aid options to help students pay for the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses.
Types of Financial Aid
Grants: Grants do not need to be repaid and are awarded based on financial need, academic merit, or other factors. ESU offers several types of grants, including:
- Federal Pell Grant: Up to $6,345 per academic year for students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG): Up to $4,000 per academic year for students with an EFC of $0 who demonstrate exceptional financial need.
- Kansas State General Scholarship (KSGS): Up to $6,000 per academic year for Kansas residents with an ACT score of 27 or higher.
- ESU Need-Based Grant: Up to $5,000 per academic year for students with demonstrated financial need.
Scholarships: Scholarships are merit-based awards that do not need to be repaid. ESU offers a variety of scholarships, including:
- Presidential Scholarship: Up to $10,000 per academic year for incoming freshmen with an ACT score of 32 or higher.
- Chancellor’s Scholarship: Up to $7,500 per academic year for incoming freshmen with an ACT score of 29 or higher.
- Dean’s Scholarship: Up to $5,000 per academic year for incoming freshmen with an ACT score of 26 or higher.
- ESU Merit Scholarship: Up to $2,500 per academic year for incoming freshmen with an ACT score of 24 or higher.
Loans: Loans must be repaid with interest. ESU offers two types of loans:
- Federal Direct Loan: Up to $12,500 per academic year for undergraduate students and up to $20,500 per academic year for graduate students.
- ESU Alternative Loan: Up to the cost of attendance minus other financial aid for students who do not qualify for federal loans.
Work-Study: Work-Study provides part-time employment to students with demonstrated financial need. Students can earn up to $2,500 per academic year through on-campus or off-campus employment.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility for financial aid depends on the type of aid for which you are applying. In general, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the priority deadline.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid, follow these steps:
- Complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. ESU’s school code is 001932.
- Submit all required documentation to the Financial Aid Office.
- Wait for notification of your financial aid award.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not applying for financial aid early enough. The priority deadline for the FAFSA is March 1st. However, you should apply as early as possible to ensure that you are considered for all available aid.
- Not submitting all required documentation. The Financial Aid Office will need to verify your income and other information before you can be awarded financial aid.
- Not maintaining satisfactory academic progress. You must maintain a certain GPA and course load to remain eligible for financial aid.
- Borrowing more than you need. Only borrow what you need to cover the cost of your education. Remember that you will have to repay your loans with interest.
How to Step-by-Step Approach
- Gather your financial information. You will need your Social Security number, driver’s license number, and tax returns.
- Complete the FAFSA. You can complete the FAFSA online at fafsa.gov or by paper at fafsa.ed.gov/paper-fafsa.
- Submit your FAFSA. ESU’s school code is 001932.
- Wait for your Student Aid Report (SAR). Your SAR will show you how much federal student aid you are eligible for.
- Review your financial aid award letter. ESU will send you a financial aid award letter once you have been awarded aid.
- Accept or decline your financial aid. You must accept or decline your financial aid by the deadline specified in your award letter.
FAQs
- What is the priority deadline for the FAFSA? The priority deadline for the FAFSA is March 1st.
- What is the FAFSA school code for ESU? ESU’s school code is 001932.
- What documents do I need to submit to the Financial Aid Office? You will need to submit your Social Security number, driver’s license number, and tax returns.
- How much financial aid can I receive? The amount of financial aid you can receive depends on your financial need, academic merit, and other factors.
- Do I have to repay my financial aid? Grants and scholarships do not need to be repaid. Loans must be repaid with interest.
- How do I apply for financial aid? You can apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA at fafsa.gov.
- What are the common mistakes to avoid when applying for financial aid? Common mistakes to avoid include not applying for financial aid early enough, not submitting all required documentation, not maintaining satisfactory academic progress, and borrowing more than you need.
- How can I contact the Financial Aid Office? You can contact the Financial Aid Office at (620) 341-5454 or by email at [email protected].
