There are several steps you must complete in order to apply for financial aid. Follow these steps and you will be on your way to completing the process.

1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://fafsa.gov/. The Lindenwood University school code is 002480. Your FAFSA application must be submitted before Feb. 1 to meet the ACCESS MO Grant priority filing deadline.

Lindenwood University participates in the following undergraduate federal student aid programs. Your eligibility for these programs will be determined by the FAFSA.

• Pell Grant - Need-based grant with annual amounts up to $6,495 for the 2021-22 academic year.
• FSEOG Grant - Need-based grant with annual amounts up to $4,000.
• TEACH Grant - Annual amounts up to $4,000 for students pursing a degree in a high-need field who agree to teach at an elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.
• Federal Direct Loans - Undergraduate amounts range from $5,500-$12,500, depending on enrollment level and dependency status. Declining a Federal Direct Loan | Lindenwood University
• PLUS Loans - A credit-based loan for parent or graduate borrowers. The annual maximum is determined by the difference between the student’s cost of attendance and the total amount of other aid awarded for the academic year. PLUS loans have a fixed interest rate of 6.28% for the 2021-22 academic year, and an origination fee of 4.228% for loans disbursed after October 1, 2020.
• Federal Work Study - A need-based program through which students are paid hourly wages for part-time employment, typically on-campus.

The following Missouri state financial aid programs are available to Lindenwood University students who are Missouri residents and meet all other eligibility criteria.

• Access Missouri- Need-based grant with amounts up to $2,540 for the 2021-22 award year.
• Bright Flight - Merit-based grant that encourages top-ranked high school seniors to attend approved Missouri postsecondary schools. Amounts up to $3,000 for the 2021-22 academic year.
• Fast Track - Need-based grant for applicants who are at least 25 years old or have been out of school for at least 2 consecutive years and are pursuing a degree or industry-recognized credential in an area designated as high-need.
• Public Service Officer or Employee’s Child Survivor Grant - Tuition assistance program for public employees and their families if the employee is killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty.
• Minority and Underrepresented Environmental Literacy Program - This scholarship is designed to assist academically talented minority and underrepresented individuals pursuing a degree in an environmental course of study that will lead to employment in an environmentally related field.
• Kid’s Chance Scholarship - This scholarship is available to children of workers who were seriously injured or died in a work-related accident covered and compensated by workers' compensation.

2. First-time Lindenwood University Borrower Entrance Counseling: Any new Lindenwood borrower who wants to apply for a student loan must complete entrance counseling. The entrance counseling session is quick and easy and will provide useful tips and tools to help you manage your educational expenses. This online session will take about 20-30 minutes to complete. Lindenwood University will be notified electronically once your session is complete.

3. Master Promissory Note (MPN): Once you have completed the entrance counseling session it will be necessary for you to complete a Federal Direct Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note. Upon completion, Lindenwood University will be notified electronically of your application.

4. Alternative Loans: A Federal Direct Loan may not provide enough financing to meet your educational expenses. An alternative/private loan can play a major role to fill the gap. If you are considering an alternative/private loan to supplement your educational expenses, first be sure you have maximized all your aid eligibility under the federal aid programs.

Access LU’s Alternative Lender List

Lenders on LU’s alternative loan list have been selected for their favorable terms and conditions regarding interest rates, fees, repayment options, processing efficiency, customer support, and other borrower benefits and incentives. Consideration was also given to lenders that have been historically popular among Lindenwood students. To ensure current and accurate information is used to maintain the list, Student Financial Services conducts an annual review of the included lenders.

Students may use any lender, including those not on the list. Applicants are encouraged to apply with a co-signer who has a favorable credit history. Most private student loan borrowers have a co-signer.

Before using a private loan, students are strongly encouraged to explore their eligibility for state and federal student aid programs by completing the FAFSA.

4.a. Missouri Family Education Loan Program: The Missouri Family Education Loan Program (MOFELP) is a need-based, interest-free (0% interest rate) private education loan program that is awarded on a first come, first served basis. The annual loan limit is $5,000. MOFELP has no additional fees; however, borrowers are responsible for a $5 monthly “Keep-In-Touch” payment while enrolled. Below are the general eligibility requirements:

• Enrolled full-time
• Making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• EFC of $20,000 or less
• At least 17 years of age
• US Citizen
• Permanent Missouri resident
• Not have a Bachelor’s degree
• At least 21 on ACT or 1500 on SAT; or have an overall cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher earned at high school, participating school, or another institution
• Two-year credit history (or have a cosigner with two-year credit history)

Access an Application

Once you have chosen a lender and completed the application process, Lindenwood University will be notified electronically of your request for an alternative/private loan. We will not certify eligibility for the alternative/private loan until your financial aid and admissions file is complete and your federal/state aid has been processed.

5. Worksheets & Forms: Every application is reviewed individually and may require additional information or the completion of additional documents. Student Financial Services will notify you by email of the necessary documents needed to complete the verification process. You can download some of the forms you might need.

6. Apply Early: The most important factor when applying for financial aid is to apply early. We recommend you file your FAFSA no later than Jan. 15 to ensure you meet the Access MO Grant priority deadline of Feb. 1.