Pop quiz, students: Did you know this fact about the Fall 2020 Semester? All totaled, 98% of undergraduate students at Stetson received some kind of financial aid, according to the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Of course, that means almost every undergraduate. 

Yet, financial aid doesn’t happen by accident. Plus, the earlier you take action, the more you could receive. In other words, don’t delay — reapply now for financial aid for 2023-2024 school year and receive an early-filing award.

That’s the message from Joanne Brown, Stetson’s director of Financial Aid.

“FAFSA [Free Application for Federal Student Aid] filing opened October 1 for the 2023-2024 award year. Continuing students are encouraged to apply early to receive the most generous aid package!” Brown said.

Brown noted that FAFSA requires income information from 2021, and returning students must submit the FAFSA by March 15, 2023.

Repeat, returning students must submit the FAFSA by March 15, 2023 — at the latest, although earlier is better.

Brown continued: “Returning domestic students are encouraged to submit an updated CSS Profile [College Scholarship Service Profile] each year, but it is not required. However, if you have had a change in your financial situation or a loss of income, you may want to file the CSS Profile and discuss your situation with a Financial Aid Counselor. International students are required to submit a CSS profile each year.

“Also, remember you must meet certain satisfactory academic progress standards to qualify for your aid to be renewed.”

“FAFSA [Free Application for Federal Student Aid] filing opened October 1 for the 2023-2024 award year. Continuing students are encouraged to apply early to receive the most generous aid package!”

-Joanne Brown, Office of Student Financial Aid

For guidance, the FAFSA is a form completed by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine eligibility for student financial aid. The FAFSA needs to be filed every year to apply for aid.

The CSS Profile is an online application that is used by nearly 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal financial aid. The CSS Profile is required at Stetson for all incoming domestic students and all international students for consideration of institutional, non-federal aid. 

Stetson’s FAFSA school code is 001531. Stetson’s CSS profile school code is 5630.

Here’s another noteworthy fact: Stetson financial aid met, on average, 82% of undergraduate student need for the Fall 2020 Semester.

Obviously, there’s much at stake. 

Brown offers these final words: “We don’t want to encourage students to delay! Apply today!”

-Michael Candelaria