Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This is required for all Thomas More students seeking consideration for financial aid from any source: federal, state, private or directly from Thomas More College. You may apply as soon as January 1. Remember, the sooner you apply, the better your chances of receiving aid.

Be sure to indicate Thomas More College (code number is002001) in the "College Release and Certification" section of the application; you must list Thomas More College in order for the College to receive your application data results. The FAFSA form is available from any high school counselor, college or university financial aid office. You may also complete the form online by visiting the US Department of Education web site at www.fafsa.ed.gov. 

Approximately 30 days following receipt of your FAFSA form, you'll receive a Student Aid Report. This report identifies the amount you should contribute toward your education, also called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Completing the FAFSA form and Thomas More College application automatically applies you for federal, state and all available scholarships and grants available through the College. All applications are processed without regard to sex, age, creed, handicap or national origin.

In order to receive priority consideration for financial aid from Thomas More, however, you must be accepted as a student by March 1. Applications received after this date will be awarded with any remaining funds. To give yourself the best chance, apply early.

Upon notification of your acceptance to Thomas More College, the Office of Financial Aid will mail you a "Financial Aid Package" detailing the amount of money you have qualified for. This package will alert you to scholarships and/or grants awarded, as well as an estimation of money you may apply for by federal loan. Additional forms are required to be completed to apply for a Stafford Loan, Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) or a Perkins Loan.

In addition to the grants and scholarships available to you from Thomas More, you may apply for additional assistance from other sources, such as federal, state or private scholarships or grants. These may include, but are not limited to academic scholarships, Pell grants and supplemental federal grants. Each scholarship or grant applied for outside of Thomas More College has its own application form and priority deadline; most have a March 1 deadline, but check each program for deadlines and apply as early as possible to give yourself the best chance for consideration.

Check with your high school guidance office or the Office of Financial Aid at Thomas More to discover these additional opportunities to assist in defraying your total educational costs.

Check into the following online resources for more additional information on financial aid for your college education:

CollegeView
The Student Guide
Easy Access for Students and Institutions
Finaid

Once you have qualified for any outside source(s) of financial aid, you must contact the Office of Financial Aid at Thomas More College so they may adjust your Financial Aid Package accordingly. If you neglect to contact the Office of Financial Aid you are in danger of compromising or losing your outside scholarships or grants.

Students are required to renew their financial aid each year. In order to continue to receive aid, you must re-apply by completing a renewal FAFSA form and other renewal applications for your other scholarships or grants. Contact the Office of Financial Aid at Thomas More College for more details.