How to Apply for Aid

Our mission is centered on you.

We’re here to help you and your family find the resources you need to make an Albion education possible. We will do all we can to take a complex process and translate it into terms that make sense to you.

Once you apply for need-based financial aid, we’ll build you a customized package that includes the different types of aid that are available at Albion. Your package may include academic and talent-based scholarships, grants, low-interest loans, and campus work opportunities.

DateDeadlines & Notifications
December 1Recommended FAFSA filing deadline.
May 1FAFSA filing deadline for Michigan Residents to potentially qualify for State funding.
June 1Deposit Day for first-year students.
July 1Recommended deadline for scholarship thank-you letters.
August 1Deadline for completing your financial aid requirements in order to have aid on your student account before your fall payment is due.

FAFSA First

The first step in determining your family’s financial need is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be filled out after October 1 and we encourage students applying for Early Action to complete it by December 1. Michigan students should file their FAFSA by May 1 to be considered for Michigan-based state grants.

Albion’s FAFSA code number is 002235.

The U.S. Department of Education is encouraging all families to file the FAFSA via the web. Before completing the FAFSA online you must file for an FSA ID. Please note that both you and one of your parents must sign up for an FSA ID. You should also include your e-mail address on your FAFSA. Pre-application worksheets are available on the FAFSA website to assist families in collecting the necessary data prior to completing the FAFSA.

Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA, contributors who do not have a Social Security Number (SSN) will be able to create an FSA ID. Details on how to create a FSA ID for individuals without a SSN can be found linked below:

FAFSA Tips

Understanding Your FAFSA Submission Summary

What’s a FAFSA Submission Summary? It’s the document that summarizes the information you reported on your FAFSA form. You can expect your FAFSA Submission Summary within 48 hours of filing online or within three weeks after filing a paper FAFSA without an e-mail address.

The FAFSA Submission Summary is your official record that the federal processor received and processed your FAFSA. The federal processor will also send a copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary to each of the schools you list on the FAFSA.

If you need additional copies of the FAFSA Submission Summary, visit the FAFSA website or call the federal processor at 800/4-FED-AID. Also, be sure to:

  • Carefully review the summary to make sure all the information is correct. If you find errors, correct them and submit them to the federal processor.
  • Check to see if your FAFSA has been selected for verification. Look under the date for the letters SAI (student aid index) followed by a series of numbers. If there is an asterisk (*) after your SAI, your FAFSA has been selected for verification. If so, you will be asked by the Financial Aid office at each school your FAFSA was sent to to provide more information. Be sure to respond as soon as possible—you could be left without aid if the process is delayed.

Additional Documents

In order to complete our review of your file, we may request additional documents. If you need a copy of a form, you may download it from our Forms page.

If additional documents are needed, we will e-mail you or once you receive your MyAlbion access you may check under the requirements section of your account.