Office of Financial Aid

One of the most important investments that you will make is to further your education. For some students, this comes with a lot of fear. One such fear is the fear that is associated with paying for an education. There is a ton of information out there about this topic—some of it accurate—some of it not accurate. This is where the Office of Financial Aid can help.

The mission of the Office of Financial Aid at Cardinal Stritch University is to assist students and families in an equitable, sensitive, and confidential manner to reduce financial barriers, which could otherwise prevent students from achieving their educational goals. This is consistent with the University’s mission and is guided by our Franciscan Values.

One thing that I hope you discover as you explore the financial aid process is we make every effort to make your education as affordable as possible. Driven by this concept and our mission, we have built an office of Financial Aid staff that is passionate about student accessibility and service. We strive daily to educate, serve, and empower our students. I also encourage you to ask questions. Our staff is here to serve you. Call us, email us, or stop in and see us.

Financial Literacy

Cardinal Stritch University strives to ensure that all students have a well-rounded education. Part of that education is becoming literate about financial matters. This goes beyond understanding your bill and what part is being covered by Financial Aid. It stresses the importance of responsible borrowing of student loans and maximizing your grant and scholarship aid. It teaches students about managing a budget, what their credit score is and how it impacts them, and how to engage in financial planning.

The Financial Aid Office has recently unveiled several new tools to assist students in learning about financial literacy. We have unveiled a new “Scholarship Information” tab in MyStritch to assist student in locating and applying for additional scholarship funding. We have also partnered with Great Lakes Higher Education to allow our students to engage in their Grad Ready curriculum. Create an Account with Grad Ready and you will be able to learn about all aspects of financial Literacy.

Dash Emergency Grant

Cardinal Stritch University has received a $67,200 Dash Emergency Grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates to operate and maintain a student emergency aid program. Students face unforeseen challenges and responsibilities, and a situation that might be a headache for one can be a major financial crisis for another. If a student is already struggling to make ends meet, an unexpected car repair or medical bill might cause that student to withdraw from college.

The University will begin making student emergency grants in fall 2017. Students will complete an application detailing their financial emergency. A Cardinal Stritch University committee will review the application, and expenses up to $1,000 will be paid within two business days of approval. By quickly removing financial distractions, students can refocus on their studies and continue toward graduation.

To find out if you are eligible for the Dash Emergency Grant and to begin the process contact your academic advisor or any of the Dash Advocates.

Financial Aid Process

New Students

Who Should File a FAFSA?

All U.S. citizens and permanent residents seeking to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree are eligible to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Office of Financial Aid will rely on this information to locate grants, loans, and need-based scholarships to help you fund your education. International students should not file the FAFSA.

Should I Submit an Admissions Application First?

Yes. New students should submit an application for admission before starting the financial aid process. This helps our counselors locate additional scholarships and grants based on your academic performance, affiliations, and financial need. Apply online: www.stritch.edu/apply

The Financial Aid Process

Step 1: Create Your FSA ID
Students and parents (of dependent students) will need a login called the FSA ID to access the U.S. Department of Education website to begin the FAFSA: www.studentaid.gov/fsaid

Step 2: File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Begin the process at www.fafsa.gov and follow the prompts. You need to enter the school code for Cardinal Stritch University, which is 003837. If you have trouble accessing the FAFSA, call their Customer Service department at (800) 433-3243.

Step 3: Receive Your Student Aid Report (SAR)
Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer your tax information directly into the application. After you have submitted the FAFSA, the federal government will send you and the Office of Financial Aid a copy of the processed application, called a Student Aid Report (SAR). From this report, we will be able to determine if any additional documentation is required.

Step 4: Review of Your Information
Once everything has been received your information will be reviewed. We will send you a notice if anything is missing or if additional information is required. Some students might be randomly selected for verification, which is a normal part of the process. In those cases we will ask you to complete a Verification Worksheet.

Step 5: Scholarships are Applied
If you have already been accepted by the Office of Admissions to your degree program, we will use data from your FAFSA and admissions application to automatically award scholarships funded by the University. In most cases there are no additional forms for you to complete!

Step 6: Review and Accept Your Financial Aid Package
Your financial aid award letter will include any scholarships, grants, and loans for which you are eligible. You can expect to receive a hardcopy by postal mail in addition to viewing it through our Online Aid Services. Both new and continuing students can use this service to:

Manage and accept a financial aid package.
View a list of required documents and what has been received.
Download any required forms or documents that are missing.

Dates and Deadlines

October 1– First date on which you may file the FAFSA to enroll for the following semester. File early, as many forms of aid are offered on an application date priority.

December 1 – Priority deadline for submitting your FAFSA and any other required paperwork to receive full consideration for all of our scholarships and grants, and other limited funding.

Current Students

Submit the FAFSA Each Year

If you previously filed the FAFSA, make sure you reapply each year. This ensures that the Office of Financial Aid receives current information needed to create your award for the upcoming semester(s).

Contact Us 24/7

Let us help you! We want you to focus on getting an education and not on worrying about your financial aid. Our counselors are available for walk-in appointments in Bonaventure Hall, by phone and email.

1. Locate or Create an FSA ID

The FSA ID, which consists of a user-created username and password, replaced the PIN in 2015, but you’ll have an opportunity to link your current Federal Student Aid PIN to your FSA ID.
Creating an FSA ID is simple and only takes a few minutes. Get help creating your FSA ID. This allows you to electronically access personal information on Federal Student Aid Web sites as well as electronically sign a FAFSA. Parents of dependents will also need an ID.

2. Complete a FAFSA Renewal Form

You can complete a FAFSA or check on the status of a completed FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You can use your FSA ID to sign your FAFSA form. You will be asked to indicate the school code of the college or university that you will be attending. The Cardinal Stritch University school code is 003837.

3. Complete All Requested Documentation

After you have completed the FAFSA, the federal government will send you and the Financial Aid Office a copy of the processed application, called a Student Aid Report (SAR). From this report, we will be able to determine if additional documentation is required to complete your financial aid application.
We will assist by sending reminders of what is still needed to complete the financial aid process. You can also use Online Aid Services to find out what has been received and what is still needed. Remember to choose the correct year after logging in to the system.

New and current students can use this service to view a list of required documents, see what we received, and download any required forms or documents that are missing. You can also manage your financial aid award package by accepting or declining portions of your award.

Useful Financial Aid Links

General Information

Create Your FSA ID (Previously the FAFSA PIN)
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Cardinal Stritch University Online Aid Services
IES National Center for Education Statistics
Wisconsin Higher Education Aids Board
Wisconsin College Savings Program (Edvest and Tomorrow's Scholar)

Financial Aid Guides

Scholarship Websites

Student Loan Information

Payment Plans

Cardinal Stritch University Payment Plan

International Student Information

Loan Forgiveness Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can help me?

The Office of Financial Aid is here to answer your questions. Speak one-on-one with a counselor for help by calling (414) 410-4048 or email them finaid@stritch.edu.

Where can I find additional scholarships?

A great resource to look for additional scholarships is www.fastweb.com which is hosted by Great Lakes Higher Education.
Set up a profile on the site to receive emails when you are matched with eligible scholarships. Consider asking education, community, or religious groups with whom you’re affiliated for scholarships they offer.

What happens when I have been chosen for verification? Did I do something wrong?

Each year, our office is obligated to check the documentation provided by 30% percent of students who file a FAFSA. If you have been randomly selected for verification, we will ask you to complete a Verification Worksheet. You can find the verification worksheet on the Stritch Online Aid Service in the forms tab of the web portal. From there, you can download the Verification Worksheet as a PDF to complete and return to our office.

Is there a number of credits in which I need to enroll in order to receive aid?

Undergraduate students must take at least six credits (part-time) to receive Federal Stafford loans. By taking a minimum of
12 credits (full time), students are eligible to receive Stritch scholarships and grants.

Graduate students must enroll in a minimum of four credits in order to qualify for financial aid, and be eligible for any scholarships available for the degree program.

How do I know my documents are there?

Log into Online Aid Service and click on the documents tab. If you read “not reviewed” or “received” then the Office of Financial Aid has your documents. If you read “not signed” or “incomplete” then we have your documentation but something is incomplete. We will send a notice by email but you are also welcome to contact us.

How can I renew my aid from year to year?

Each year, you need to fill out a FAFSA in order to renew and continue your financial aid. The 2019–2020 FAFSA is available now.

Where do I find the current tuition and fees?

Visit: www.stritch.edu/tuition

Does a credit score affect my eligibility?

Your credit score does not affect your eligibility for Stafford loans, federal and state grants, or Stritch scholarships. If you decide to work with a lender to receive an alternative loan, your credit score will then become a factor in determining your loan interest rate. Students who have defaulted on a previous student loan might have difficulty obtaining a Stafford loan.

How do I avoid capitalizing loan interest?

Paying interest prevents the interest from capitalizing on the principal loan and keeps the price of your loan low. Find out who your loan servicer is through the National Student Loan Database. Log in with your FSA ID and view your loan servicer. This way you will know who to contact in order to pay interest while in school.

Does receiving employer reimbursement negatively affect my financial aid?

We will take this into consideration as part of any other financial aid you might be eligible to receive. Typically, an employer will not provide an amount of reimbursement that exceeds the cost of what you need or what is more than the cost of attendance.