The Office of Financial Aid provides financial assistance to qualified students in pursuit of their educational objectives. Assistance is available through federal, state and institutional programs which include grants, loans, student employment and scholarships. All programs are administered in accordance with governing regulations.
SAU school code
001107
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov. Students may obtain paper FAFSA’s by calling 1-800-4FEDAID.
Financial aid process
How financial aid works at SAU
- Apply for Admission at saumag.edu/apply. Please make sure you complete all questions completely and respond to requests immediately so you will be admitted quickly. If you have completed this step and have been fully admitted to Southern Arkansas University, welcome, Mulerider!
- Create your Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) at fafsa.gov AND complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Make sure to add our school code – 001107 Southern Arkansas University.
- Check Mulerider student email regularly. You will receive updates and requests from Financial Aid by email and text message for cell number on file.
- Federal Pell Grant eligible students will be awarded based on the need analysis from the FAFSA.
- Financial Aid will automatically award Direct Student Loans to eligible students. You will need to accept or decline the loan electronically by logging in to your MySAU account. Check the “How to” section below for instructions.
- Federal College Work-Study will be awarded to eligible students if requested or undecided. Work on-campus positions are limited and not guaranteed. Awarded funds must be earned and will be paid based on the number of hours worked.
- Financial Aid and scholarships are awarded daily. Athletic scholarships are generally awarded after the regular semester begins. Please email financialaid@saumag.edu to inquire about scholarships expected but not reflected.
Office of Financial Aid
OVR 300
100 East University
MSC 9344
Magnolia, Arkansas 71753
100 East University
MSC 9344
Magnolia, Arkansas 71753
Online students
If you are registered in SAU on-line only classes, most financial aid applications and processes are available electronically for your convenience. If you need additional assistance, please contact financial aid by clicking the “Contact Us” button.
Types of financial aid
Grants, scholarships, work study, and loans
Federal Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant is an award to help eligible undergraduates pay for their education after high school. The Pell Grant does not have to be paid back.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
An FSEOG is an award to help eligible undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Funding is limited. Priority is given to Federal Pell Grant recipients. An FSEOG does not have to be paid back.
Federal College Work Study
The Federal College Work Study program provides eligible undergraduate or graduate students an opportunity to work at an on-campus job. Funding is limited. A work study award does NOT guarantee the student employment on campus.
Subsidized Federal Direct Loan
Subsidized Federal Direct Loans are low-interest loans made to students attending school at least half time. Students who are continuously enrolled at least half-time make no payments of the loan. This is a loan and it must be paid back.
Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan
This loan is available to students who might not be eligible for a subsidized loan. Unlike subsidized Direct and Perkins loans, interest begins accumulating immediately. This is a loan and it must be paid back.
Resources
Forms, guides, and policies
How to
Student loans
Verification forms
Verifications forms are available upon request by emailing financialaid@saumag.edu.
Financial aid policies
- Student Financial Aid Information Guide [pdf]
- Program Participation Agreement [pdf]
- SAU Student Direct Deposit Form [pdf]
- Academic Progress Policy for Students
- Financial Aid Appeal Request for Satisfactory Academic Progress Exception
- Student Worker Employment Policy
- Title IV Code of Conduct
- Awarding Process Overview [pdf]
- Policies and Procedures for Awarding
- Financial Aid Procedures [pdf]
- Return to Title IV Policy [pdf]
- Drug Conviction Issues
- Professional Judgements in Financial Aid [pdf]
Loan management
- Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt
- While you are in school [pdf]
- Student Loan Checklist [pdf]
- Find your student loan information and loan servicer (NSLDS)
- In-school deferment form for student loans [pdf]
- In-school deferment form for parent loans [pdf]
- Loan Servicers Contact Information
- Consolidate Loans
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness information
- Public Service Employment Verification forms
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness information
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness forms
- State Teacher Education Program (STEP), Arkansas Department of Higher Education
Cost of attendance
Student worker payroll information
Financial aid timeline
Month by month
Events and deadlines through the year, from the Financial Aid Process page.
- October
- File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) www.fafsa.gov by October 1st
- December
- End of semester scholarship continued eligibility check
- February
- Check student email and department websites for scholarship application deadlines for the upcoming academic year
- March
- Summer financial aid applications available. Priority deadlines for beginning freshman
- May
- Lock in upcoming semester schedule reminder
- June
- Confirm Fall financial aid awards. Priority FAFSA deadline
- July
- Lock in upcoming semester schedule reminder
- August
- Lock in upcoming semester schedule reminder BEFORE Fall semester begins
