Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota works with the Federal Stafford Loan Program which includes both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Subsidized loans are need based, and the interest is paid by the government while the student is in school and during the grace period. Unsubsidized loans are non-need based, and the student is responsible for the interest while in school.

The first step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which can be found online at www.fafsa.ed.gov and register for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov. The PIN will be used as an electronic signature on the FAFSA form. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will receive a copy of the FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) electronically, when our school code 002380 is added. After verifying the student is fully admitted, degree-seeking and registered for enough credits to be considered half-time, an award letter will be issued from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

700 Terrace Heights #37
Winona, MN 55987-1399
(507) 457-1501
(877) 304-4273, Ext. 1501
Fax: (507) 457-6698
jfox@smumn.edu

Twin Cities Campus Contacts

Annette Collins
Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Twin Cities campus
(612) 728-5153
(866) 437-2788 ext 153
acollins@smumn.edu

Tina Koecheler
Financial Aid Coordinator, Twin Cities campus
(612) 728-5212
(866) 437-2788 ext 212
kxkoech04@smumn.edu

Donna McKenna
Administrative Assistant, Financial Aid
(866) 437-2788 ext 516
(612) 238-4516
dmckenna@smumn.edu

Winona Campus Contacts

Jayne Wobig
Director of Financial Aid, Winona campus
(507) 457-1438
jwobig@smumn.edu

Dawn Speltz
Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Winona campus
(507) 457-6950
dspeltz@smumn.edu

Tammy Vondrasek
Assistant Director of Financial Aid - Undergraduate Students
(507) 457-8733
tvondrasek@smumn.edu

Ann Kujak
Administrative Assistant, Financial Aid
(507) 457-1437
akujak@smumn.edu

Saint Mary's offers a limited number of scholarships annually. Information regarding those scholarships will be announced in the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs Newsletter.

Listed below are some free scholarship websites:

www.finaid.org

www.fastweb.com

www.gocollege.com

www.collegeboard.com

www.srnexpress.com

It is best to email Tracy McRae directly at tmcrae@smumn.edu regarding changes to an existing direct deposit account.

Twin Cities Campus Enrollment: Please contact Janet Barringer, Assistant Registrar, at jbarring@smumn.edu to make changes with Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. If you have received a Stafford Loan, you must also contact Great Lakes Educational Loan Services at (800) 366-0032 to report name and addresses changes. Great Lakes will notify your lenders of the change in information.

Winona Campus Enrollment: Please contact Georgia Curran, Assistant Registrar, at gcurran@smumn.edu to make changes with Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. If you have received a Stafford Loan, you must also contact Great Lakes Educational Loan Services at (800) 366-0032 to report name and addresses changes. Great Lakes will notify your lenders of the change in information.

A student needs to be registered at least half-time, typically 4 graduate semester credits for graduate students in order to be eligible for financial aid.

Please allow six to eight weeks from the time the student has been fully admitted as a degree-seeking student, registered for enough credits to be considered half-time and the FAFSA form has been completed.

As a first-time borrower, a student must complete the Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note online. In addition, the student must return the signed original Award Letter and, if desired, the Refund Direct Deposit Authorization form.

Financial aid is a process that takes 6-8 weeks to complete. It is best to apply early and to review your SAR report to make sure the information is correct. Financial aid is year specific, so it is necessary to apply each year. The application is free and our office strongly encourages students to apply even if unsure financial aid will be needed to cover education costs.

A student is responsible for payment for any classes after the financial aid refunds have been sent.

The first bill is due the 15th of the month following the start of the class. For example, if a class starts the first week in September, the bill is not due for that class until October 15th. If a payment is late, there will be a 1% finance charge per month applied to the student tuition billing account. The student is responsible for the account balance if financial aid has yet to be applied. If the tuition bill is paid in full before the financial aid is applied, the student will receive a refund from financial aid. Applying early for financial aid will help to have funds in place before tuition is due.

No, students must pay for their own textbooks and reimburse themselves after their financial aid refund is received.