Apply for Aid

We encourage all students and potential students to apply for financial aid. You should file as early as you can to maximize your potential aid opportunities.

The timeline for applying for financial aid varies by the type of student. You will need to reapply for financial aid every year.

Apply Using the FAFSA

If you are a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen, you will need to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Filing your FAFSA is the only way to qualify for federal and state grant program, federal direct loan including Parent Plus loans and Grad Plus loans, and is require for some Alma College Scholarship Programs*.

Gather Your Materials

You’ll need the following to complete a FAFSA form:

Social Security and driver’s license numbers for you and your parent(s)/guardian(s). If you are considered an independent student, no parental information is necessary.
Your tax return or W-2 (or other records of income) from two years prior. For the 2020-21 academic year, you will use your 2019 return and for the 2022-23 academic year, you will use your 2020 return. If available in the FASFA, use the IRS data retrieval tool (DRT), to automatically import your tax return information.
Account statements for all investment assets and bank statements, such as stocks, bonds, business assets, etc.
Records of untaxed income, such as child support and interest income.

Apply for a FSA ID (if you do not already have one)

The FSA ID (account username and password) allows students and parents to identify themselves electronically to access Federal Student Aid websites. While you aren’t required to have an FSA ID to complete and submit a FAFSA form, it’s the fastest way to sign your application and have it processed. It’s also the only way to access or correct your information online or to prefill an online FAFSA form with information from your previous year’s FAFSA form.;Parents and students require separate FSA IDs.

Submit Your FAFSA

Submit your FAFSA between October 1 and May 1 for priority consideration for the upcoming academic year. Enter Alma’s Federal School Code 002236 to ensure we receive your information. Be sure to file by March 1 in order to be considered for priority aid through the state of Michigan.

Make Corrections, if Needed

After filing your application, you will receive an email notification with a link to your Federal Student Aid Report. Review the information carefully and follow the instructions if you need to make any corrections or are chosen for verification.

Promptly respond to any document requests from our office.

Your financial aid cannot be finalized until all requested documents are received. You can securely submit files to our office using the Secure Document Uplaoder. Please monitor your email as this is how we will communicate with you regarding documents needed.

Information regarding missing items can be found in your student portal as well. Please refer to our verification page for additional details on completing this process.

Follow the Appropriate Process

To ensure you receive the maximum consideration for scholarships and financial aid

First Year Students

Complete any applications or auditions that may be required for performance or interest-based awards. Your admissions representative can assist you with these processes or with any questions.

Research and apply for outside scholarships starting in November prior to the upcoming academic year. Typically, organizations complete their awarding in February/March for the upcoming year.

Once you receive your offer letter please complete next steps to Receive Your Aid.

Financial Aid Offer Letters will be sent through the mail starting in early December and continue on a rolling basis as students complete all of their requirements and scholarship decisions are finalized.

Transfer Students

Complete any applications or auditions that may be required for performance or interest-based awards. Your admissions representative can assist you with these processes or with any questions.

Submit copy of transcripts

Research and apply for outside scholarships starting in November prior to the upcoming academic year. Typically, organizations complete their awarding in February/March for the upcoming year.

Once you receive your offer letter please complete next steps to Receive Your Aid.

Current Students

Research and apply for outside scholarships starting in November prior to the upcoming academic year. Typically, organizations complete their awarding in February/March for the upcoming year.

Once you receive your offer letter please complete next steps to Receive Your Aid.

Financial Aid Offer Letters will be sent via email starting in early June and continue on a rolling basis as students complete all of their requirements and are registered for the fall term.

Graduate Students

Federal Loans

Federal Direct Loans are available to students who file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and are enrolled at least half-time (6 credits).

Graduate students are considered independent students for FAFSA purposes, so when you fill out your FAFSA form to apply for grad school aid, you won’t need to provide parent information.

DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN

Application Process

Accept loan in student portal inside.alma.edu (select My Self-Service, Financial Aid Counseling - navigate to My Awards or Review & Accept your Financial Aid Award Package)
Complete a Master Promissory Note - (only if you have never completed one or it has expired)
Complete Entrance Counseling - Only if you have never borrowed through the federal program.

ALL steps must be complete before the loan can be disbursed to a students account.

IMPORTANT: Any loans that are not accepted or steps are incomplete will be canceled after July 15th. These can be reinstated after all steps have been completed but requires communication with the Financial Aid Office.

DIRECT PLUS LOAN (grad PLUS Loan)

Application Process

Complete the Graduate Plus Loan Application
Complete a Master Promissory Note for Direct PLUS Loans- (only if you have never completed one or it has expired)

Private Loans

Private loans can help bridge the gap between the actual cost of your education and the amount of financial aid you are receiving. This type of loan may require a credit-worthy co-signer.

Selecting a Lender

ElmSelect is an interactive tool that allows you to compare loans offered by private loan lenders. Please click the button below to launch this tool. Please select graduate for your program type so you see only the loans available to you.

The Loan Process

The student applies for a loan with the lender of their choice.
If the loan is approved, the lender sends the college an electronic certification request.
Once received, the loan is applied to the student’s account as pending until the funds are received from the lender.
Funds will be disbursed to student accounts no earlier that two weeks before the start of classes.

Borrowing Limits

Students may borrow up to the school’s cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received including federal loans borrowed.

Loan Period Dates

Private loan applications require a requested loan period. Incomplete or extended loan periods may result in a delay in processing.

IMPORTANT: Federal student loans are typically less expensive and offer better terms than private student loans. You should always exhaust your eligibility for federal student loans before using private loans.

*Neither Alma College nor the Financial Aid Office promotes, endorses or recommends any of these loan products or lenders.

Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH ENGINES

Forms and Resources

This online library contains forms and other resources that may be necessary or helpful during the financial aid process.

Consent Form for Disclosure

If you would like someone to be able to call on our behalf and discuss your account, please complete the form. Add the names of those who have permission to receive this information. Be sure to share your security answer and PIN with those individuals, as they will be required to provide this information before we can discuss your account in detail.

Financial Aid Secure Document Upload

This is where you should upload any sensitive documents that have been requested.

Deadlines and Updates

File your FAFSA annually by March 1st. Alma College’s School Code is 002236.

Students who have filed a FAFSA will receive an electronic award offer by June 1st. This notice will be sent to your student e-mail account and the offer is viewable in your student portal.

Graduate Academic Calendar

Program Costs

MFA in Creative Writing - Tuition and Fee Information

MS in Communication and Information Technology - Tuition and Fee Information

FA Policies and Consumer Information

General Policy Notice

Alma College reserves the right to change its scholarship and aid policies at any time. Written or verbal representations by anyone contradictory to the policies stated here and in the Alma College academic catalog are not binding.

Alma College Student Consumer Information

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy SAP

Graduate International Student Aid Options

Federal Student Aid

To receive federal financial aid, you must be a citizen of the United States or have lawful permanent resident status.

The standard documentation for a permanent resident of the United States is the Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551, since 1997) or Resident Alien Card (Form I-551, before 1997).

You are not eligible for federal financial aid if:

You have only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-717 or I-464)
You are in the United States on only a F1 or F2 student visa
You are in the United States on only a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa

Other Sources of Aid

Non-United State citizens or those not having a lawful permanent resident status will not be considered for U.S. federal loans and are encouraged to seek out financing options through a financial banking institution by way of a private loan that includes a U.S. co-signer.

You may also seek outside scholarships.

*FAFSA filing required for the following Alma Programs: Distinguished Presidential, ACE, Detroit Future, Detroit Promise, Heritage Need Based Award, and STEM.