Considering the affordability of the education you desire is an essential part of choosing your university. Some see the price tag, but fail to see the big picture—Tuition, fees, and room and board are only starting numbers. Our costs are comparatively low, our educational value high, but our financial aid assistance is unbelievably top notch. Students can take advantage of federal and institutional scholarships, grants and loans. Our financial aid team can make the personal effort that will make a financial difference for you and your family.

Here’s a step-by-step approach to applying for financial aid:

1. Fill out FAFSA and request to have Student Aid Report (SAR) sent to MBU (Code 007540)
   Complete the FAFSA early for first consideration. You can obtain a FAFSA from your high school Guidance Office or on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If more convenient, call our financial aid office and we can have one sent to you.
2. Complete the MBU admission process.
   After you’ve been accepted, you’ll be able to apply for MBU and non-MBU scholarships.
3. Apply for scholarships.
   MBU offers a variety of scholarships, including merit and need-based aid. Review our complete lists of  scholarships for details.  Students interested in athletic scholarships should contact the athletic office at 314.392.2279.
4. Apply for loans.
   A variety of loan options exist for students and parents, and the Financial Services Team can customize a financial aid package that fits your needs.  Simply contact a representative for an appointment at 314.392.2366.
5. Once you have been awarded financial aid, you will receive an award letter.
   Either accept or decline your awards and return the letter to the Student Financial Services Team.

FAFSA Tips

• Complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov rather than completing a paper form.  The online version is quicker to complete and easier to correct.
• Apply for a personal identification number (PIN) on the www.fafsa.ed.gov web site well before you want to complete your online FAFSA.
• Complete the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet before you complete the FAFSA.
• If you have reliable email access, provide your email address on the FAFSA form to receive correspondence quickly by email rather than waiting to get information by post.
• File the FAFSA early in the year as some aid is limited and awarded on a first come first serve basis.
• To avoid being selected for verification, answer every question completely and accurately.  Do not round numbers: offering $35,000 as your income vs. $35,267.
• Keep a copy of your tax return and a copy of the last pay stub of last year in case you are selected at random for verification.
• Be careful when completing the income questions as some apply to the parent and some apply to the student.
• When estimating your current balance of cash, savings and checking accounts, simply provide a reasonable ballpark of your current holdings after all of your presently due bills are paid.
• Answer question 31 carefully as the yes/no answers are in reverse order from the rest of the yes/no questions.

*Information obtained from studentloanfunding.com