Applying for Aid

Questions? Contact Us.


Office of Financial Aid
May Hall, Room 111

dsu.financialaid@dickinsonstate.edu

Text 701-561-0904
Call 701-502-4407

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📢 Attention Students! Important Announcement from Dickinson State University! 📢
We're extending our Financial Aid Priority Deadline to May 1, 2024!

Hey Dickinson State University students! We've got some exciting news to share! We understand that navigating the new financial aid system can be tricky, and we want to make sure you have all the support you need.

That's why we're giving you extra time to complete your FAFSA! The new deadline is May 1, 2024. This extension will help you overcome any glitches and ensure you get the financial aid you deserve.

At DSU, your success is our priority, and we're here to support you every step of the way. Don't hesitate to reach out to our Office of Financial Aid if you have any questions or need assistance. We're here to help you succeed! On April 22 and 23rd, 2024 we will be working 7:45 AM to 7:00 PM MT to answer any questions.  

Spread the word and take advantage of this extended deadline! Your future starts here at Dickinson State University! 

To receive federal financial aid, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen
  • Be fully admitted to DSU
  • Be accepted into a degree-granting program
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  • Not be in default on any Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)
  • Not owe a repayment of any grant funds previously received
  • Have a valid Social Security number
  • Be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for student loans.
    • The Department of Education or Dickinson State University may need you, through a process called verification, to document the information provided on your application. If you do not provide the requested documentation, federal financial aid (Title IV) funds will not be disbursed.
    • You must repay any financial aid received because of inaccurate information. (Any person who intentionally misrepresents facts on the application violates federal law and may be subject to a $20,000 fine and/or imprisonment). 

You must apply for your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. To make sure you have full access to all available financial aid programs, you should apply as soon as possible after October 1 each year.

Priority consideration for the North Dakota State Grant is given to those who have their FAFSA submitted as soon as possible and pending the availability of funds. Priority consideration for campus-based aid (Federal Work-Study and Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant) is given to those who have their FAFSA submitted by May 1 and pending the availability of funds.

You can apply for financial aid after May 1, but funding might only be available for the Federal Pell Grant, Direct Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized), and/or Direct PLUS loans. 

Summer Financial Aid
You must enroll in at least one credit for a Pell Grant, if applicable, or at least six credits to be eligible for other federal financial aid such as loans or work-study. Alternative (private) loans may be available for students enrolled in less than six credits.

If you’ve used all your annual federal aid during the fall/spring semesters, you might not have financial aid funds available for summer. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid to check on your summer aid status.

You will automatically be awarded if you’re eligible, but there are many circumstances that determine this, so please visit with Financial Aid for details.

Steps to Financial Aid At DSU

File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible each year. 

When you complete the FAFSA application, you'll need to indicate that you intend to be enrolled at Dickinson State University. The identification code for Dickinson State is 002989.

You can turn in your FAFSA as early as October 1 for the following academic year. You will use income and tax information from two years behind the year of the FAFSA you are applying for.

School Year You are Attending College FAFSA Filing Opens Year of Income and Tax Information Required
July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 October 1, 2023 2022
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 October 1, 2024 2023
July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027 October 1, 2025 2024

You and one parent (if entering parent information) should get a Federal Student Aid ID. The FSA ID allows you (and your parents) to sign the FAFSA electronically, to access, and to correct the processed FAFSA information. Apply for an FSA ID here.

DSU offers merit-based scholarships like the Presidential Scholarship or the TRHLP Scholarship. Incoming students can receive athletic, fine and performing art, and other scholarships. Please visit our scholarships page to see which ones might work for you.

The DSU Heritage Foundation also has many scholarships you can apply for. For these, there’s a general scholarship application that’s open to all incoming and returning students; it’s simple and allows you to apply for a multitude of scholarships across all our fields of study. The Priority Deadline for this application is January 31. You must re-apply every year.

Click here to apply.

You’ll receive an electronic FAFSA Submission Summary about 3-5 days after you complete your FAFSA online, or you’ll receive a paper copy within 7-10 days (if you didn’t provide an email address on your FAFSA). 

The FAFSA Submission Summary summarizes the information that you provided on the FAFSA. Be sure to review the FAFSA Submission Summary carefully and make any necessary changes by going to the FAFSA website.

If you've applied for admission to DSU and entered our school code on your FAFSA, we will receive your FAFSA information electronically a week after you submitted it. If needed, the Office of Financial Aid will send you a request for more information. 

You may be selected for verification. [NOTE: If you do not provide the required documents, you may not get your financial aid in time and/or you’ll have late fees added to your account. You will not receive your federal aid until verification is complete.]

It is very important not to ignore notifications from the Financial Aid office. If you receive a notice you don’t understand, please call and we’ll help explain what we need and why. You can reach us by phone Monday-Friday 7:45-4:30 p.m. MT at 701-502-4407. 

You’ll be notified when you’ve been awarded various federal, state, and instructional funds.

  • Returning students – through your DSU email
  • First-Time First Year students – by paper letter

You must electronically accept/decline your award(s) in Campus Connection before payment will be made. Click on the Financial Aid tile. Select the correct Federal Aid Year. Click Accept/Decline.

You must notify the Office of Financial Aid of changes in enrollment status or of additional resources received.

If it’s your first time receiving a Direct Subsidized Loan or a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, you must

You must go through entrance counseling before receiving your loan.

You can learn more about student loan programs online at: www.studentaid.gov.