Applying for Financial Aid
First-year Students
Prospective, first-year students interested in applying for financial aid should do so at the time of their application for admission or as soon as possible after October 1st. The admission process is separate, and the application for financial aid will not influence the decision for admission. All first-year students are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as their application. The FAFSA becomes available on October 1st of the prior year at FAFSA.ed.gov. Simmons will contact the student via mail and/or email if additional documentation is needed. Detailed application instructions and deadline dates are available at simmons.edu/sfs/ug. Award notifications for families who have submitted their FAFSA by their Admission Deadline are sent along with their letter of admission for the fall semester and on a rolling basis for the spring semester.
Continuing Undergraduates
Current undergraduate students should submit the FAFSA by March 1st to assume timely notification of awards. Awards for students who submit an application on time, will be issued in mid-June if they plan to return in the fall. To maintain financial aid eligibility, a student must demonstrate financial need, submit all necessary application materials by the requested dates, be enrolled at least half-time, and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Students who wish to apply for need based financial aid for summer enrollment should do so by completing the summer enrollment form. The form will be updated and posted on the SFS website in mid-February.
Transfer Students (On Ground)
Students transferring to Simmons University are also eligible for financial aid as described above. The admission process is separate, and the application for financial aid will not influence the decision for admission. All transfer students who wish to apply for financial aid are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA becomes available on October 1st of the prior year at FAFSA.ed.gov. Simmons will contact the student via mail and/or email if additional documentation is needed. Detailed application instructions and deadline dates are available at simmons.edu/sfs/ug. Notification begins in March for the fall semester and December for the spring semester.
Transfer CompleteDegree Students (Online)
Students transferring to Simmons University through the CompleteDegree program are eligible for federal financial aid. The admission process is separate, and the application for financial aid will not influence the decision for admission. All CompleteDegree students who wish to apply for financial aid are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA becomes available on October 1st of the prior year at FAFSA.ed.gov. Simmons will contact the student via email if additional documentation is needed. Detailed application instructions and deadline dates are available at simmons.edu/sfs/ug. Notification happens on a rolling basis after students are admitted. To maintain financial aid eligibility, a student must be enrolled at least half time (except for less than ½ time Pell grants) and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Financial Aid for Dix Scholars
Newly enrolling Dix Scholars receive a Dix Scholarship of up to $5000. Dix Scholars working toward their first undergraduate degree are eligible to apply for federal, state, and Simmons grant funding. Students seeking a second degree are also eligible for aid on a limited basis. Any Dix Scholar is welcome to apply for financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and any other requested documents.
Students over the age of 24 are not required to submit their parents’ financial information as part of their application. Detailed application instructions and deadline dates are available at simmons.edu/sfs/ug. Students should submit their financial aid applications concurrently with their applications for admission or as soon as possible after October 1st. Notice of awards will begin in March for the fall and summer semesters and in December for the spring semester.
Financial Aid for Study Abroad
Effective Fall 2018 Simmons has a Home School Tuition model for On Ground Students who study abroad. This policy allows all Simmons grant and scholarship aid to be used for approved semester abroad programs and is reflective of the university’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Under this model, the financial process will largely mirror a semester on campus where participating students will continue to pay Simmons tuition, housing, as well as a study abroad fee. This policy simplifies the study abroad process and ensures that undergraduate students of all financial means and diverse backgrounds have an opportunity to pursue a transformative semester abroad while at Simmons.
This approach makes the study abroad experience more equitable to all students, regardless of their financial position. Financial aid is provided to a majority of students at Simmons to ensure that ability to pay does not limit their educational opportunities
Additional Fees:
Several study abroad programs include services and excursions in their fees that would not typically be covered by Simmons tuition. In these instances, the fees are passed along to the student. For more information on estimated additional fees for a specific study abroad program, please the Center for Global Education at cge@simmons.edu.