Financial Services
A private-college education is an investment, and we understand the financial concerns every family faces when choosing a college like CSF. While we expect you to pay your share of the cost, we also believe it is our responsibility to make a CSF education possible for every qualified student.
That's why we commit over $5 million to student financial aid each year -- aid that more than 80% of CSF students receive. That's also why we work with you to help you find the right combination of financial options that will make CSF affordable.
How Financial Aid is Determined
To figure out your family's contribution to the cost of your higher education, we use a standard formula that takes into consideration family income, number of dependents, home equity, assets, and the number of other family members in college. The document used by College of Santa Fe to determine your family's aid eligibility is the FAFSA -- the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
This formula remains the same, no matter what the cost of college. Once the data is analyzed and the family's contribution is determined, that contribution is subtracted from the total cost of your education. What's left over is your "need."
Most families use savings, income or loans to meet their contribution to college costs. You will find information below about ways to meet the "need" part of your expenses.
Types of Financial Aid
Scholarships - CSF offers a range of scholarships based on merit and ability in particular disciplines.
Grants - Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and do not need to be repaid.
Loans - Many programs offer loans such as the Stafford and Perkins loans. The money you borrow generally has a low interest rate and, depending on the terms of your loan, may not require repayment until after graduation.
Student Employment - CSF provides need-based college work-study for students not eligible for the federal work-study program.
Applying for Financial Aid
To get started, you should first fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Copies are available from your high school counseling office, from Student Financial Services at CSF, or from FAFSA's website. CSF's Federal School Code is 002649.
Contact Information
Questions? We can help! We'll be happy to answer any questions you have about the financial aid process. Feel free to call or e-mail us:
Student Financial Services
Phone: (800) 456-2673 or (505) 473-6454
E-mail: sfs@csf.edu
(800) 456-2673 or (505) 473-6133 * Fax: (505) 473-6127 * admissions@csf.edu