Getting Financial Aid | St. John's College of Nursing

Step 1

Complete the FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is your gateway to all federal, state, and institutional aid. Complete it as early as possible each year.

School Code: 030980 (St. John’s College of Nursing)
Priority Deadlines:
- For Fall applicants, the FAFSA deadline for Illinois MAP Grant and institutional aid is March 1st.
- For Spring applicants, the FAFSA deadline for institutional aid is October 1st.

Complete the FAFSA

Unusual Enrollment History

If your FAFSA is flagged by the U.S. Department of Education for unusual enrollment history, typically when you have attended multiple institutions but earned little or no academic credit, the Financial Aid Office is required to review your record. You may be asked to provide additional documentation, such as official transcripts from all prior colleges attended, and to explain the circumstances surrounding your enrollment patterns. If your request for aid is denied due to UEH, you may regain eligibility after successfully completing two consecutive terms at St. John’s College without withdrawing or failing courses.

Step 2

Monitor Your Student Email

After submitting your FAFSA, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). The Financial Aid Office will use this to determine your eligibility for grants, loans, and scholarships. Important next steps and requests for additional documentation will be sent to your @sjcs.edu email.

Step 3

Review Your Aid Offer

Once your FAFSA is processed and your file is complete:

You’ll receive a financial aid offer outlining your award package.
Review and accept (or decline) your aid through the portal or by following the instructions provided.
If you're taking out loans, you’ll also need to complete:
- Master Promissory Note (MPN)
- Loan Entrance Counseling
Log into your JFA Student Portal with SSO and accept/deny/reduce your financial aid offer.

Log Into Your JFA Student Portal

Step 4

Set Up a Payment Plan (If Needed)

If your aid doesn’t cover the full balance, you can enroll in an interest-free monthly payment plan through the Bursar’s Office.

Learn About Payment Plans

Maintaining Your Aid

To keep your aid from year to year, you must:

Submit a new FAFSA annually. The FAFSA opens October 1 each year. Be sure to apply early to maximize your eligibility.
Remain enrolled at the required level for your aid program:
- Full-time (12+ credits) is required for most scholarships and full federal grant eligibility.
- Half-time (6 undergraduate / 5 graduate / 3 summer credits) is the minimum for Federal Direct Loans and many state aid programs.

Withdrawing & Your Aid
- If you withdraw from all classes before completing 60% of the semester, federal regulations require the College to calculate the portion of aid you earned. Any unearned funds must be returned to the U.S. Department of Education, and you may owe a balance to the College. Institutional aid and state awards may also be adjusted.
- Always contact the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing to understand the impact on your current and future aid.

Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements
To continue receiving financial aid, you must meet all SAP standards:
- Maintain the minimum cumulative GPA required for your program
- Successfully complete a required percentage of attempted credits each term
- Finish your program within the maximum time frame allowed
  Students who fail to meet SAP will lose financial aid eligibility until they meet the standards again or successfully appeal.

View SAP Policy

Notify the Financial Aid Office of changes
Let us know if your enrollment level, income, or dependency status changes—it may impact your aid eligibility.

Financial Aid Disbursement
Financial aid is applied (disbursed) to your student account no earlier than 10 days after the start of each semester. Before your aid can be disbursed, all of the following conditions must be met:
- Your financial aid file is complete (all requested documentation submitted)
- You are enrolled at least half-time (6 undergraduate / 5 graduate / 3 summer credits)
- You have signed all required Master Promissory Notes (MPNs) for loans
- You meet enrollment requirements for any scholarships awarded
- Aid will only be applied to the term in which it was awarded

Refunds & Enrollment Changes
Refunds are processed after aid is applied and charges are covered. Direct deposit requires an ACH Authorization Form. Aid amounts may be adjusted if your enrollment changes after the add/drop period.

Full Financial Aid & Disbursement Policy