Don’t let financial barriers stop you from pursuing your education! At Bemidji State, we have various options to help you pay for college. We offer grants, scholarships, loans and even employment opportunities.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Here’s your easy-to-follow guide on how to apply for financial aid. If you encounter any problems, please contact financialaid@bemdijistate.edu.
Step 1: Apply for Admission
Before you can apply for financial aid, you need to be admitted as a degree-seeking student. You can apply online or through the BSU Admissions Office. BSU does not charge an application fee, so feel free to apply at any time.
After applying, remember to send your final high school transcript and official transcripts from any colleges you’ve previously attended.
Step 2: Fill Out the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is your gateway to federal and state aid programs. Completing the FAFSA is free, easy to complete and gives you access to the largest sources of financial aid to pay for college.
You’ll need to use the BSU Federal School Code: 002336 when you fill out the FAFSA.
The FAFSA is available every year starting on October 1 for the next academic year.
- Login: You will need to log in with your FSA ID (or create a new ID if this is your first time). This can be used to log in to many different Department of Education sites, so make sure to remember this ID and password.
- Submit Early. Financial aid funds are limited, so the earlier you can submit your FAFSA, the better!
- Submit Every Year. Remember, you need to complete the FAFSA every year to continue receiving financial aid.
- Transfer students. If you’ve already submitted a FAFSA for another school, add the BSU code to your FAFSA and ask your previous school to cancel any pending financial aid.
Step 3: Wait for Your Financial Aid Letter
After you’ve submitted your FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office will send you an email when your financial aid offer is ready to view in e-Services. Activate your BSU student email and be sure to check it regularly.
You can view and track your financial aid application progress and offers online through the e-Services site. You can also see your bill there. We recommend printing these documents for your records.
Step 4: Understanding Your Financial Aid Offer
Once you get an email notification about your financial aid offer, you can view it on the e-Services site under the Financial Aid section.
- Log into MyBSU and select e-Services.
- Select Financial Aid from the menu on the left.
- The award year will be displayed. You can change the semester if necessary.
- Select Award Notification.
Check the BSU Guide to Financial Aid for more information on understanding your awards and types of aid.
- Enrollment Changes. If your enrollment plans change, contact the Financial Aid Office to reprocess your application. If you withdraw from one or more of your classes within the first 30 days of the semester, your Pell Grant will be reduced to the new level of enrollment.
- Grants. If your financial aid offer contains grants, please be aware that your exact credits determine your eligibility for certain programs.
- Work Study. If your financial aid offer includes work study, you can search for job openings within student employment. Departments will list a brief description of the job duties and contact information.
- Report Other Aid. If you are receiving additional private scholarships, third-party agency payments, or waivers, please indicate this information when prompted to “Report Other Aid” in e-Services. An email will be sent to you if revised awards have resulted in a change to your eligibility for federal or state financial aid.