Need-Based Financial Aid
Students seeking financial aid are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application will provide the Financial Planning Office with the amount the student and their family can contribute to the cost of education. (The cost of education includes tuition, fees, food, housing, and expenses for books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.) The FAFSA collects the student’s and parents’ federal tax information from two years prior as well as asset information. This information is used to calculate the student aid index (SAI). (The SAI is the family’s ability to contribute toward college costs.) The SAI determines the amount and type(s) of financial aid that can be awarded to each student.
There is no charge to apply, and the FAFSA can be completed at the following website: www.studentaid.gov. The application can be done beginning October 1 preceding the year the student plans to attend college. Once the FAFSA has been submitted by the student, a copy of the results are provided to each college listed on the form. Gardner-Webb’s school code is 002929. Gardner-Webb will receive the application electronically, and a financial aid award will be prepared once the student has been admitted. The student will receive an award notification e-mail at their Gardner-Webb e-mail address. The award information is provided via Gardner-Webb’s secure online portal called WebbConnect. (Each student is given a username and password upon admission to the University.) Any scholarship aid awarded to the student from Gardner-Webb will be included in the financial-aid package.