2025-26 incoming student: Applying for financial aid
Follow the steps below to apply for financial aid. After you have been accepted for admission to Augustana, and the results of your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and other requested documents have been received, your file will be reviewed.
Augustana will prepare a financial aid decision for you that may include scholarships, grants, loans and/or work-study.
The Office of Financial Aid will begin mailing financial aid decisions to accepted students in mid-March 2025.
Note: International students can apply for Financial Aid by completing the International Financial Aid application. Learn more here.
1. Apply for admission to Augustana by April 1
Your application will be reviewed for both admission and academic scholarship eligibility.
Note: Early Decision and Early Action applications must be submitted by Nov. 1.
2. Search Augustana scholarship opportunities, August-February
• Augustana scholarship opportunities
Some awards require auditions and/or additional applications.
Deadlines vary by scholarship.
3. Complete the FAFSA, December
• Complete the 2025-26 FAFSA.
The 2025-26 FAFSA is available in December.
If you and/or your parents do not already have a FSA ID, see studentaid.gov to create one.
Augustana’s federal school code is 001633.
If eligible, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to complete the FAFSA.
Use 2023 tax information to complete the FAFSA. If your 2023 taxes are not complete by December, file the FAFSA with estimated tax information.
4. Tell us about any special circumstances
We realize circumstances may change at any time. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 309-794-7207 if your family experiences changes that significantly affect your finances, such as:
- Substantial reduction in parent income since 2023 tax year
- High medical/dental expenses
- Parent in college
- Private elementary/secondary tuition
- Other special circumstances
The FAFSA must be filed for special circumstances to be considered.
5. Verification and additional documents
If you are selected for verification by the Department of Education, the Office of Financial Aid will notify you of additional required documents. These should be submitted as soon as requested.
6. Make your final college decision and confirm enrollment by May 1
• Pay your tuition deposit online or mail your deposit to the Office of Admissions.
Note: Early Decision applicants should confirm enrollment by Jan. 15.
7. Finalize Federal Direct Loans (if awarded) by July 15
If you plan to borrow the loans noted in your award letter, you must:
- Complete online entrance counseling
- Sign a master promissory note
Instructions will be forwarded from the Office of Financial Aid by June.
All financial aid is awarded on an annual basis. Merit awards such as academic and talent scholarships automatically will be renewed at the same amount, provided you have met the renewal criteria outlined in the award notification material. See scholarship information for renewal criteria for academic and talent based awards.
To receive need-based financial aid, you must complete the FAFSA on a yearly basis. See grants, loans and student employment for renewal criteria for need-based awards. Need-based awards may be continued, increased or decreased from one year to another depending on changes in the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The most common factors impacting changes in EFC are number of family members enrolled in college and/or a change in family income.
Renewal for all awards requires maintaining financial aid satisfactory academic progress.