Financial Aid
Financial Aid includes all money that supports you in paying for your college costs. This includes federal, state and institutional loans, grants, and scholarships.
Courtesy of studentaid.gov
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
To determine your eligibility for financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application collects household and financial information for the student and the student's family. The 2022-2023 FAFSA opened on October 1, 2021. To learn more about applying for financial aid, explore GVSU's Office of Financial Aid.
To begin the FAFSA, you must create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) to access and complete the application. The FSA ID requires an email address, phone number, and social security number, so make sure you have these materials to get started.
If you'd like to set up an appointment to receive assistance on completing the FAFSA, call the Battle Creek Regional Outreach Center at (616) 331-7610. We would be more than happy to assist you and your family.
Federal Grants
The money from grant awards does NOT need to be repaid.
- Awarded on the basis of financial need
Sources for grants include:
- Federal government
- State government
- College institution
Courtesy of GVSU Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships Video Library
Courtesy of U.S. Department of Education
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions. Grant amounts are dependent on: the student's expected family contribution from the FAFSA (EFC); the cost of attendance (as determined by the institution); the student's enrollment status (full-time or part-time); and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
The FSEOG Program provides need-based grants to help low-income undergraduate students finance the costs of postsecondary education. Students can receive these grants at any one of approximately 3,800 participating postsecondary institutions. When making FSEOG awards, the institution must give priority to those students with “exceptional need” (those with the lowest Expected Family Contributions from the FAFSA at the institution) and those who are also Federal Pell Grant recipients.
Federal Student Loans
Many people need student loans to afford college costs. Federal Student Loans are earned by completing the FAFSA (see below), but will need to be paid back with interest (6 months after college graduation).
Two types of Federal Student Loans: subsidized and unsubsidized
- Subsidized: must demonstrate financial need, student does not pay interest in time accrued in college, up to $5,500 annually
- Unsubsidized: financial need does not need to be demonstrated, student does pay interest in time accrued in college, up to $20,500 annually
Students can reconsolidate loans into just one loan after graduation (usually with a lower interest rate). Payments can be flexible based on income-level.
Courtesy of GVSU Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships Video Library
Federal Work-Study
If you’re looking for another way to help pay for college, Federal Work-Study may be a great option for you. Work-study is a way for students to earn money to pay for school through part-time campus jobs. The program gives students an opportunity to gain valuable work experience while pursuing a college degree. However, not every school participates in the Federal Work-Study Program. Schools that do participate have a limited amount of funds they can award to eligible students. This is why it is so important for students to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form as early as possible, as some schools award work-study funds on a first-come, first-served basis.
Courtesy of GVSU Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships Video Library
Scholarships
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further their education at a post-secondary college, university, or other academic institution. Scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria, such as academic merit, athletic skill, financial need, among others. Scholarship criteria usually reflect the values and goals of the donor or founder of the award. While scholarship recipients are not required to repay scholarships, the awards may require that the recipient continue to meet certain requirements during their period of support, such maintaining a minimum grade point average or engaging in a certain activity.
For more information, review our Scholarships resource page.
Courtesy of GVSU Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships Video Library
MI Student Aid
Scholarship Search Self-Service Tool
National Scholarships
Career One Stop Scholarship Finder
College Board Opportunity Scholarships
College Board has announced a new program called "Opportunity Scholarships" to incentive students as they complete steps along their path to college. For each step completed, they are entered into a monthly raffle drawing for scholarships! These scholarships do not require an essay, application or minimum GPA.
Steps along students' path to college include:
Build your College List- $500 scholarship
Practice for the SAT Test- $1,000 scholarship
Improve your SAT Test Score- $2,000 scholarship
Strengthen your College List- $500 scholarship
Complete the FAFSA- $1,000 scholarship
Apply to Colleges- $1,000 scholarship
College Board's Opportunity Scholarship Program
In-District Community College Scholarship
Michigan Reconnect is a scholarship program that pays for you to attend your in-district community college and offers a large tuition discount if you attend an out-of-district community college.
You can use the scholarship to complete an associate degree or a skill certificate program.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be at least 25 years old when you apply
- Have lived in Michigan for a year or more
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Have not yet completed a college degree (associate or bachelors)
Interested in a skill certificate from a private training provider? Michigan Reconnect provides a $1,500 Skills Scholarship for Michiganders enrolled in an approved training program.
We pledge that admitted students who meet the shortlist of other criteria below will be automatically awarded full undergraduate tuition and course fees, renewable for up to four years.
HOW DOES THE GRAND VALLEY PLEDGE WORK?
- Apply to GVSU.
- Be accepted.
- File the FAFSA.
- That's it! If you meet the eligibility criteria listed below, you will have federal and institutional gift aid that covers (or even exceeds) the cost of your tuition.
RECIPIENTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
- Must be admitted in Fall 2022 as an undergraduate degree-seeking freshman or transfer student*
- Live in the state of Michigan
- Family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $0 - $50,000, as reported on the FAFSA
- Family Assets of $50,000 or less, as reported on the FAFSA
- Must be enrolled full-time
Renewable for an additional three years
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Must file a FAFSA annually
- Must continue to meet family AGI and asset requirements as outlined above