Investing in YOU.

The Financial Aid Office strives to provide access to all Bennies and Johnnies by proactively serving and educating families of varied economic backgrounds. We administer financial aid programs with a commitment to equity, consistency and transparency in awarding resources.

Financial Aid for Prospective Students

Paying for college is a partnership between our students, their families and the college. We look carefully at the unique financial circumstances of each family, and offer every student the best package of support we can. While each family differs in its resources, its priorities and its attitudes toward money, The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University follow policies and practices to treat families equitably in the process.

90%

of CSB+SJU graduates finish in four years.

100%

students receive scholarship or grant assistance to help pay for college

97%

Alums rate their college experience as good or excellent.

Applying for Aid

The FAFSA is now open for the 2024-2025 academic year! In addition to completing the FAFSA, our prospective students may also complete our Special Circumstances form.

CSB+SJU Net Price Calculators

Like many major purchases, the price you see is not necessarily the price you pay. Estimate how much a CSB+SJU education will cost with our Net Price Calculators.

Note: This is only an estimate for new, first-year undergraduate students. It’s not an official application for financial aid. See our Applying for Financial Aid page.

Please contact our CSB+SJU Financial Aid Office after you fill out the estimator. They can help you interpret the results.

Types of Aid

At Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s we offer multiple types of aid to assist our Bennies and Johnnies with college related expenses.

Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded based on merit at the time of admission to CSB+SJU.

Grants

All grants are awarded to students based on family income and financial information which is provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSB+SJU Financial Aid Application. Grants do not need to be repaid.

Student Employment

Students who work through the CSB/SJU Student Employment Program gain valuable skills and earn money to assist in paying for college. Students generally work 5-12 hours per week and are are paid every two weeks for the hours they have worked.

Loans

CSB+SJU participate in all the major federal and state loan programs. Some loans are need-based and require the FAFSA and CSB+SJU Financial Aid Application in order to determine eligibility. Others are available to all students and parents regardless of family income. The loan amount and interest must be repaid.

FAQs

How is financial aid eligibility determined?

The FAFSA formula generates a number called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is comprised of a Parent Contribution and a Student Contribution. This is the amount, based on the federal formula, which your family is expected to pay towards college costs. Each student’s financial need is determined by subtracting the EFC from the cost of education at CSB/SJU. While CSB/SJU cannot guarantee to meet 100% of every student’s financial need, CSB/SJU will do their best to provide financial aid to eligible applicants through a combination of federal and state grants, institutional grants, student employment and loans.

There are optional unsubsidized loan programs, which are available to help fund the EFC.

When will I receive my financial aid award for next year?

Returning students are encouraged to complete the CSB/SJU Institutional Aid Application and the FAFSA immediately after filing their federal tax returns. The priority deadline for completing these forms is May 15th of each year. Starting in early June, financial aid offers are mailed to students with a complete financial aid application.

How do I get a job and how will it affect Financial Aid?

All job openings are listed on the CSB/SJU Student Employment Jobs Website.

Only eligible students are authorized to look for work at certain times during the year. A username and password may be required to access the website.

All students are eligible to be placed on the waiting list. Contact the Financial Aid Office to have your name placed on the waiting list. You will be notified when you are authorized to look for employment on campus.

Work awards are included in your financial aid package. It sometimes is necessary to reduce Federal subsidized loans to make room for a work award. Please contact the student employment administrator on your campus to find out specifically how the addition of a work award will affect your financial aid.

How will outside scholarships affect my financial aid?

As required by federal regulations, the award from the college may be reduced to reflect additional resources such as outside scholarships. Grants or scholarships from the college will not be reduced unless the total of all awards exceeds the cost of attendance. Instead the student’s loans and/or student employment award may need to be adjusted.

Does CSB+SJU offer athletic scholarships?

Since CSB and SJU are Division III schools, NCAA regulations prohibit athletic scholarships.