How to Apply for Financial Aid

The financial aid application process is detailed in the steps below.

1. Complete the FAFSA Form Online

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to determine your student aid eligibility based on your personal and family situation. If you are a first-time user, you will be required to create an FSA ID. It allows users to access personal information on federal student aid websites as well as to sign a FAFSA.

Once SMU receives the FAFSA application (3–5 business days), you can complete the following financial aid application steps through the MySMU Student Portal in the My Finances section.

When you complete the FAFSA, be sure to list SMU’s school code. Code: 007012

Start your FAFSA today

2. Complete Entrance Counseling 

If you plan to use federal student loans, access studentaid.gov to complete entrance counseling. This step is required to ensure you understand your borrower rights and responsibilities.

3. Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN)

If you plan to use federal student loans, you will need to electronically complete and sign the MPN—a legal document that creates a contract between you and the lender to repay the loans. You will find the MPN at studentaid.gov. If you are a graduate student then also do the GradPLUS MPN.

4. Complete any other Financial Aid Documentation as Required

You may be required to complete or supply additional documentation before your financial aid can be awarded. Any required documents will be listed in the Financial Services section of your MySMU Student Portal.

5. Complete the Financial Aid Process

After completing the FAFSA, you will receive your personal Award Notice on the Financial Aid page in your student portal. After reviewing your Financial Aid Award, you will be prompted to accept a recommended loan amount or request a custom loan amount not to exceed the maximum loan eligibility. An award letter displaying your requested, or otherwise eligible, loan and grant amounts will be sent to your SMU email address. An sms text message will also be sent if your mobile phone number is on file. 

Financial Aid Forms

The Financial Aid Office may require certain forms to confirm your Federal Financial Aid eligibility. Click on the form you must submit below, print and complete the form, then submit the form to the Financial Aid Office. Please submit any forms requested ASAP.

Completed forms should be uploaded in the Financial Aid Portal of MySMU. [Video Instructions]

Scholarship Forms

• SMU Scholarship Application
   

Verification Forms

• 2023.2024 V1 VERIFICATION DEPENDENT WORKSHEET
• 2023.2024 V1 VERIFICATION INDEPENDENT WORKSHEET
• 2023.2024 V4 VERIFICATION WORKSHEET
• 2023.2024 V5 VERIFICATION WORKSHEET
• Non-Tax-Filer Statement

General Forms

• Cal Grant B Authorization Form

Loan Forms

• Parent PLUS Loan Request Form
• Parent PLUS Loan Authorization Form

Federal Work Study

• Federal Work-Study Request Link - For Students (Students need to complete this once per academic year)
• SMU Student JobBoard
• SMU’s Work Study Instructions

Financial Wellness Training

SMU has partnered with the National Endowment for Financial Education to provide a comprehensive online curriculum of financial topics. You can create an account at https://www.cashcourse.org/ The system is self-paced and you can pick and choose what topics you want to explore.

Financial Wellness Coursework

Be Credit Savvy - This course starts with 10 pre-test questions about credit. Then, review the slides of information about how credit works and how to use it responsibly. Following the slides, take a 10-question post-test to measure knowledge gained.

Budgeting Basics - This course starts with 10 pre-test questions about budgeting. Then, review the slides of information about how budgeting works and how to budget your own money. Following the slides, take a 10-question post-test to measure knowledge gained.

Paying Back Student Loans - This course starts with 10 pre-test questions about student loans. Then, review the slides of information about student loans and the options for repayment. Following the slides, take a 10-question post-test to measure knowledge gained.

Getting Started with Saving and Investing - This course starts with 10 pre-test questions about saving and investing. Then, review the slides of information about savings and investment accounts, risk, and other relevant topics. Following the slides, take a 10-question post-test to measure knowledge gained.

Career Planning - This course starts with 10 pre-test questions. Then, review the slides of information about career planning. Following the slides, take a 10-question post-test to measure knowledge gained.

Saving and Goal Setting - This course starts with 10 pre-test questions. Then, review the slides of information about saving and goal setting. Following the slides, take a 10-question post-test to measure knowledge gained.

Prepare for Emergencies - This course starts with 10 pre-test questions. Then, review the slides of information about preparing for emergencies. Following the slides, take a 10-question post-test to measure knowledge gained.

Funding Sources - This course starts with 10 pre-test questions. Then, review the slides of information about funding sources. Following the slides, take a 10-question post-test to measure knowledge gained.

Worksheets

Monthly Budget - This worksheet provides an outline of common college expenses. Set a budget for each category, and then compare income and expenses to see if the budget needs an adjustment.
Spend: Budgeting
Pay for Education: Predicting Costs

Student Loan Comparison Chart - This worksheet lists costs and factors to consider when evaluating student loan options. This worksheet is helpful when used in conjunction with the loan payoff calculators.
Pay for Education: Costs and Benefits of Student Loans

SMART Goals Worksheet - Use this worksheet to set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound (SMART) goals. When goals are too abstract, it can be hard to know how or where to start. SMART goals help you to stay accountable and to be deliberate in your planning.

Save & Invest: Saving and Goal Setting
Earn: Career Planning

Resources for DACA, Immigrants, Refugees, Asylees, & New Americans

smu global health initiative

On Nov. 17, 2015, the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released a fact sheet on the rights of unaccompanied children to enroll in and participate meaningfully and equally in education programs.

• Fact Sheet [PDF]

On October 20, 2015, the U.S. Department of Education released a Resource Guide to help schools, colleges, teachers, and other personnel support the college and career success of undocumented and DACA youth in secondary and postsecondary settings.

• Guide [PDF]

Higher Education 

• Qualifying for Student Aid—Many non-U.S. citizens qualify for federal student aid. Access this website to learn more about the eligibility criteria for that aid.
• Questions and Answers about Financial Aid and Undocumented Students [PDF]—This questions-and-answers (Q&As) document provides information about student financial aid for undocumented students as well as guidance for a specific subgroup of undocumented students who have received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The Q&As include general information, information about eligibility for financial aid, and information about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• WHIEEH Financial Aid Guide for Graduates—The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics (WHIEEH) created the ¡Gradúate! Financial Aid Guide to Success (Guide) to help students and families navigate the college application process. The Guide, available in both English and Spanish, provides recommended steps for the college enrollment process, helpful tips on filling out the FAFSA and key financial aid resources available to better support Hispanics, including DACA and non-U.S. citizen students, in their efforts to access a postsecondary education.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Students

On June 15, 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several key guidelines, including educational guidelines, may request consideration of deferred immigration enforcement action for a period of two years, subject to renewal. Individuals who are granted deferred action would then be eligible for work authorization. Deferred action does not provide an individual with lawful status, but instead is a discretionary determination to defer removal action of an individual as an act of prosecutorial discretion.

Policies

Satisfactory Academic Progress

The University is required to establish minimum standards of "satisfactory academic progress" for students receiving financial aid. The University applies these standards to federal, and state funds.

The Financial Aid Office will only disburse financial aid to those students who are in good academic standing and are making satisfactory progress toward completion of their degree. A student is not making satisfactory academic progress if any of the following conditions exist:

The student's cumulative grade point average (GPA) is below 2.0 at the end of their second year of his/her academic program. Some programs have a higher GPA threshold. You must meet your program's minimum standard as outlined in the academic catalog. Grade point averages are reviewed by the Registrar’s Office at the end of each semester.

The student completes (finishes with a passing grade) less than 66% of all attempted coursework, as calculated at the end of the spring semester each year. Grades of "W" (withdrawn) and "I" (incomplete) are not considered passing grades.

The student may not exceed the maximum time frame of attempted credits (150%) of the published length of his/her degree program. Satisfactory academic progress is reviewed at the end of each semester. If a student is not making satisfactory academic progress he or she will be placed on financial aid warning. A student then has one semester to make satisfactory progress. If after one semester on financial aid warning, a student is not making satisfactory academic progress, the student becomes ineligible for aid.

Students who are ineligible for financial aid because they are not making satisfactory academic progress may appeal. Appeals are considered when a student has been able to complete coursework in a fashion that corrects the reason that caused him/her to lose financial aid eligibility, or when extraordinary circumstances (for example, student illness, the illness or death of a family member) have prevented the student from achieving satisfactory academic progress. Students considering a satisfactory academic progress appeal should contact the Financial Aid Office to make an appointment.

Admission Standards

SMU does not teach the 1st and 2nd years of its bachelor's degree programs. Students are admitted as juniors who have completed 2 years of college-level coursework and/or a 1st bachelor’s degree. As such, SMU admits as regular students only persons who have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in California.

Return of Federal Financial Aid for Withdraws, Suspension, & Leave

Return of Title IV Financial Aid When a Student Withdraws, is Suspended, or Takes a Leave of Absence

The amount of federal student aid that you must repay is determined by the Federal Formula for Return of Title IV funds (Section 484B of the Higher Education Act). This law also specifies the order in which funds are to be returned to the financial aid programs from which they were awarded, starting with federal student aid loan programs (e.g. Direct Loans) and then all federal student aid grant programs (e.g. Federal Pell Grant, SEOG, etc.).

• The earned amount is determined by multiplying the total federal student aid (other than FWS) for which you were eligible to receive by the percentage of time enrolled for a term up to your official withdrawal date or Last Date of Attendance (LDA) in an academic related activity, whichever comes first.
• If more aid was disbursed than was earned, the amount of Title IV aid that you must return (i.e. not earned) is determined by subtracting the earned amount from the amount actually disbursed.
• If less aid was disbursed than was earned, you may submit a request to receive a late disbursement for the difference. Your notice will include instructions on how to arrange for a Post Withdrawal Disbursement (PWD).

In Detail:

The law specifies how SMU must determine the amount of Federal Student Aid (FSA) assistance that you earn if you withdraw (includes all forms of separation from SMU) from school. The federal financial aid programs that are covered by this law are: Federal Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, PLUS Loans, Other Federal Loans, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs), and in some cases, certain state grant aid.

When you withdraw during your payment period or period of enrollment the amount of federal financial aid program assistance that you have earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula. If you received (or SMU or parent received on your behalf) less assistance than the amount that you earned, you may be able to receive those additional funds. If you received more assistance than you earned, the excess funds must be returned by SMU and/or you.

The amount of assistance that you have earned is determined on a pro rata basis. For example, if you completed 30% of your payment period or period of enrollment, you earn 30% of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive. Once you have completed more than 60% of the payment period or period of enrollment, you earn all the assistance that you were scheduled to receive for that period.

If you did not receive all of the funds that you earned, you may be due a post withdrawal disbursement. If the post withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, you may choose to decline the loan funds so that you don't incur additional debt.

SMU may automatically use all or a portion of your post-withdrawal disbursement (including loan funds, if you accept them) for tuition and fees. For all other school charges, the SMU needs your permission to use the post-withdrawal disbursement. If you do not give your permission, you will be offered the funds.

If you receive (or SMU or parent receive on your behalf) excess federal financial aid program funds that must be returned, SMU must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of:

1. your institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of your funds, or
2. the entire amount of excess funds.

The school must return this amount even if it didn't keep this amount of your federal student aid program funds.

If SMU is not required to return all of the excess funds, you must return the remaining amount. Any loan funds that you must return, you (or your parent for a PLUS Loan) repay in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. That is, you make scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time.

Any amount of unearned grant funds that you must return is called an overpayment. The amount of a grant overpayment that you must repay is half of the unearned amount. You must make arrangements with your school or the Department of Education to return the unearned grant funds.

The requirements for federal student aid program funds when you withdraw are separate from any refund policy that SMU has. Therefore, you may still owe funds to SMU to cover unpaid institutional charges. SMU will also charge you for any federal financial aid program funds that the SMU was required to return.

If you have questions about your federal financial aid program funds, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243). TTY users may call 1-800-730-8913. Information is also available on Student Aid on the Web at www.studentaid.ed.gov.

Financial Aid Related Policies

Admission Standards  

SMU does not teach the 1^st and 2^nd year of its bachelor degree programs. Students are admitted as juniors who have completed 2 years of college level coursework and/or a 1^st bachelor’s degree. As such, SMU admits as regular students’ only persons who have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in California.

All students admitted to SMU are beyond the age of compulsory attendance in the State of California.

Emergency Financial Aid

SMU has offered emergency scholarships for the last few years. We are fortunate to have alumni and staff that donate to the emergency fund. An emergency is a sudden, urgent usually unexpected occurrence requiring immediate action. Tuition and other expected expenses that are covered by existing financial aid and loan programs are generally not eligible. The scholarships that we are currently offering students are:

• Emergency scholarships for unexpected costs that impede your ability to be successful as a student. This includes funds to help with temporary housing, food, home repairs, car repairs that will assist a student in getting to a job or clinical site, out-of-pocket medical expenses, child care, etc. We don’t have enough money to pay for all of these expenses for every student every month but can help on a case-by-case basis with some funds in most cases.
• Technology assistance for helping students transition to online. We are repairing or replacing laptops and funding internet access options as needed. Also, we are providing assistance for students who need accommodations as determined by the Disabilities office
• Scholarship funds to assist displaced students from preceptor and clinical sites that prevent or delay graduation

Please note that new students cannot be awarded funds prior to the start of the program. 

SMU also applied for emergency student money from the CARES Act and was approved. We will use that money to continue to fund our emergency scholarships. These awards are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and awarded depending on individual circumstances and fund availability.

To apply, log into: https://mysmu.samuelmerritt.edu - click on the box “CL Scholarship Applications website”. Complete the application under SMU Emergency Scholarships. 

Food Assistance

We know that about one-third of students are worried about having sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food. The food pantries are here so that students have access to healthy and nourishing food that promotes health and well-being so you can successfully focus on your studies.

Who is eligible? 
Any student who needs food can come by the food pantry. 

Where is the Pantry? What are the hours? Who is the contact?

Oakland Campus
Campus Service Center 3100 Telegraph Ave, Suite 110, Oakland, CA

Check-in at the security desk
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sacramento Campus
Pantry is in Suite 300
Contact Robyn Heise (rheise@samuelmerritt.edu)
Hours: By appointment only

San Francisco Peninsula
Pantry is in Room 306
Contact Michael Wong (mwong@samuelmerritt.edu)
Hours: By appointment only

How does it work?
The pantry is set up like a mini-grocery store. With assistance from the Food Pantry Coordinator, you will select the food you want. Reminder emails are sent each week (for the Oakland Campus), along with a link to the online pantry intake form (required for each visit) for your completion. To help us plan for your visit, the pantry intake form should be submitted no later than 9:30 a.m. on the scheduled pantry access day. We recommend that you bring your own bag(s) as our on-hand supply may be limited from time to time. 

What kind of food is available?
We have a wide variety of shelf-stable food. Grains, cereals, canned fruit and vegetables, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, stews, soups, seasonings, canned fish and meat, and shelf-stable milk. We do not have refrigerators or freezers so we cannot stock perishable food. The Oakland campus food pantry is operated in partnership with Alameda County Community Food Bank. The San Francisco Peninsula campus food pantry is operated in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank.

Are non-food items available? Yes! In February 2021, personal care items were added as regular inventory to the food pantry. Available items include: body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo & conditioner, razors, shaving cream, and feminine hygiene products.

Are there limits on food I can pick up?
There are limitations on the quantity of food a student may select. The Food Pantry Coordinator will assist you during your visit. 

Students can visit the pantry once per week. If have special circumstances, please email Roni Wallace (vwallace@samuelmerritt.edu).

What kind of information do I need to give?
We have a short, private intake form we ask students to complete for each visit so that we know how many students we are serving. 

Financial Aid Contacts

Kimya Williams - Schedule an appointment with Kimya; kwilliams@samuelmerritt.edu / 916.646.2792
Financial Aid Counselor - ABSN and Online FNP; Federal Work-Study;

Binh Hua -Schedule an appointment with Binh; bhua@samuelmerritt.edu / 510.879.9200 Ext. 7311
Financial Aid Counselor - BSN; DNP, ADNP (CRNA), Podiatry, Occupational Therapy, RN-BSN ;

Christina Gray - Schedule an appointment with Christina; cgray@samuelmerritt.edu / 510.879.9227 
Financial Aid Counselor - FNPDNP; ELMSN; Physical Therapy; Physician Assistant;

Shavonna Fox - Schedule an appointment with Shavonna; sshoemake@samuelmerritt.edu / 510.879.9200 Ext. 7315
Financial Aid Counselor - BSN,

Tyler Pruett - 510.879.9200 - Psych Mental Health DNP; MSN-CLE, MSW, MHA, and Certificate Programs
Director of Financial Aid - Schedule a Financial Aid Advising Appointment
tpruett@samuelmerritt.edu

Saeng Saephanh - 510.879.9200 Ext. 7313
Financial Aid Technician
ssaephanh@samuelmerritt.edu

Kristi Kindberg - 510.879.9200 Ext. 7312
Loan Administrator - Direct Loan Processing, Emergency Loan Processing, Loan Returns
kkindberg@samuelmerritt.edu

Tyler Pruett - 510.879.9200
Director of Financial Aid
tpruett@samuelmerritt.edu

How to Apply

We’re excited to guide you through the application process. Here you'll find the information you’ll need to apply for admission to Samuel Merritt University, from program requirements to what happens after you submit your application. Each program has a specialized application on a third party platform. 

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