SXU Responds to FAFSA Challenges with Resources and Support for Students and Families
In the wake of continued delays from the U.S. Department of Education for the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, Saint Xavier University (SXU) is responding to the rocky rollout with a carefully assembled collection of informative resources for students and families.
Over the coming weeks, Saint Xavier will host several information sessions, virtually and in person in both English and Spanish. A FAFSA drive-though will be held Saturday, March 9, at 9 a.m. A virtual Spanish presentation will be held on Tuesday, March 12, at 6 p.m., and an on-campus financial aid information session will be held Tuesday, March 26, at 6 p.m.
In an effort to provide students and families a "one-stop shop," the Offices of Financial Aid and University Relations curated a comprehensive webpage that includes key changes to the new FAFSA, instructions on how to file, a collection of how-to videos published by the U.S. Department of Education, and important news about the FAFSA.
Students who have filed the FAFSA are waiting for the data to be delivered to colleges in mid-March, and colleges may need additional time to test their packaging systems before producing official award letters. With SXU's Fast Access to Financial Aid initiative, students and families can send the results they received from the U.S. Department of Education upon FAFSA submission and SXU will provide an aid estimate.
Though the delays have made it difficult for students and families to know whether or not an institution will be an affordable option for them, SXU's net price calculator has been updated to provide the best estimate for financial aid eligibility.
The University also created an income/aid chart that articulates, by family income band, the average SXU merit award, average incremental beyond merit, and average total grant aid for last year's incoming class. Saint Xavier is the largest financial investor in its students' education, and significant incremental aid is available for most students through federal and state resources.
SXU has also communicated with its high school partners to offer service and support to area students and families, sharing information about qualifications for Pell and MAP Grants as well as the average amount awarded for each grant.
"This year's class of seniors started their high school careers under challenging conditions during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, they're completing their senior years with FAFSA issues and delays. We know this year's senior class and their families are resilient, and we're here to help them navigate this latest challenge. Our mission calls us to provide a quality educational experience that is valuable and affordable, and our small campus community offers personalized attention when students and families need it most," said Brian Hotzfield, vice president of Enrollment.
Mission-focused and student-centered, Saint Xavier is proud to leverage every available resource to provide transformative education opportunities that improve the lives of students and is a top performer in social mobility according to U.S. News & World Report. Over 70% of Saint Xavier's largest ever first-year class in 2023 were eligible for the Pell Grant, along with 45% of new transfer students and 60% of all undergraduate students. Over 75% of the 2023 first-year class and nearly 60% of entering transfers are first-generation students.
The New York Times Build Your Own College Rankings list names SXU as No. 1 in Illinois for small and medium-sized schools for students and families who equally prioritize low net price, economic mobility, campus safety, and high earnings after graduation. According to College Navigator, the national center for education statistics, SXU is the most affordable Catholic college in Illinois. SXU has also received the Affordability badge from Colleges of Distinction and is one of fewer than 150 institutions across the U.S. ranked within the designation.
To learn more or register for an information session, visit the SXU website.