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Financial Aid

Mission Statement

The Financial Aid Office at Ãå±±½ûµØ is committed to serving students by providing information to secure the necessary financial resources to meet their educational goals and financial obligations to the university. Our financial aid advisors offer personal attention to help explore a multitude of available scholarships, grants, loans, and payment plans.

The goal of the financial aid program at SMU is to provide financial assistance to students who would not be able to attend college without aid. The university expects that students and parents will contribute to the fullest extent of their ability from income and assets. When considering ways to fund their college education, students should explore all possibilities and adhere to application deadlines. It is the responsibility of the student to complete their and the in a timely manner.

Announcements 

  • 2025 Summer Term Financial Aid Request forms for Undergraduate and Graduate students will be available April 2025. Both forms will be found in the Forms Library.   
  • Financial Aid Notifications for the 2025-2026 Academic Year
    • New incoming & transfer undergraduate students:
    1. Admitted Early Decision 1 (ED1) students will receive aid offers December 2024.
    2. Admitted Early Action students will receive aid offers mid-January 2025.
    3. Admitted Early Decision 2 (ED2) will receive aid offers in late February 2025.
    4. Admitted Fall 2025 Transfer students will begin to receive financial aid offers mid-March 2025.
    5. Admitted Regular Decision will receive aid offers late March 2025.
    • New incoming graduate students:  Aid offers begin late May 2025. Actual start date for awarding varies based on your academic program.   
    • Returning/Continuing students (Undergraduate & Graduate) Begins May 2025.
  • Undergraduate Housing Exemptions: A student's financial aid package may change if seeking an exemption for on-campus housing. Please see the FAQ's page Housing and Food section.  
  • Graduate Student Scholarships, Stipends, and Assistantships are authorized by Academic Departments and incorporated as part of the total financial aid package. If receiving a graduate scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship but it does not appear on the financial aid offer, please contact your academic department for additional information.  
  • Undergraduate Institutional Merit scholarships are reviewed and awarded through Undergraduate Admission Office during the admission process and academic departments based on student's selected major of study. If selected, scholarships will be factored as part of the total financial aid offer. Scholarship renewal requirements vary by scholarship. Scholarship recipients are evaluated at the end of each Spring term for renewal in the following academic year.   
  • Please review your My.SMU Student Dashboard regularly for any outstanding requests or updates to your financial aid information. You will receive a notification via SMU email of any updates or changes to your financial aid package.