Apply for Financial Aid

New Students

Financial Aid Applications – Currently Being Accepted

Financial aid from Principia is usually a combination of grants and loans. Each low-interest loan (5%) is payable over 10 years, beginning nine months after graduation or withdrawal from the College.

Submit your financial aid application as soon as possible to enable the Financial Aid Office to process your application as soon as you've been admitted.

Notice regarding federal funding and VA benefits

Principia does not use or accept federal funding of any kind, including VA benefits. We do not accept VA benefits on behalf of our students and are unable to certify a student’s enrollment in order to release these benefit funds. Instead, Principia offers financial aid packages using institutional grant and loan funding. In addition, Principia offers a privately funded Veteran’s Scholarship to those who have served any branch of the United States military and their children who are pursuing an undergraduate degree. For more information, please see the Scholarships page on our website.

Steps to Complete:

1. Complete your College Scholarship Service (CSS) PROFILE online.

   Principia works with CSS, which offers an impartial, confidential evaluation based on information you provide on the PROFILE form, to determine a student's need for assistance. Note: Principia does not use the FAFSA.

   For families with separate households, the custodial parent is responsible for completing the CSS PROFILE. The noncustodial parent is responsible for completing the Noncustodial PROFILE.
    

2. Email your parents' and your most recent federal tax returns (Form 1040 and all schedules). If you are unable to scan your documents, you may fax them to our office at 618.374.5929.

E-Sign Loan Process

Principia partners with ECSI (Educational Computer Systems, Inc.) to provide an electronic loan process. Students (new and continuing) can access and electronically sign loan documents anytime and do not have to track paper notes. Additionally, students can complete the TILA (Truth in Lending Act) Disclosures all in one step.

Click here to E-Sign my loan promissory note

After you have e-signed your documents, you can print them for your records or access them anytime. During this process, you are also given the opportunity to opt out and print your notes. (Note: If you do this, please send your signed notes to the Financial Aid Office.)

Continuing Students

Deadline: May 1

Steps to Complete

1. Each returning student must access Principia’s BannerWeb to complete the Principia Application for Financial Aid. The application provides each student the opportunity to make his/her financial aid request and to sign our office’s financial aid agreement. Students can also track their application checklist and view their financial aid and scholarship award.
    
2. If possible, please email your parents' and your most recent federal tax returns (Form 1040 and all schedules) to Financial Aid. If you are unable to scan your documents, you may fax them to our office at 618.374.5929.
    
3. All returning students must submit a thank-you note for the aid they received the prior year. Please submit your thank-you note through our BannerWeb online form.

Note: Students are only required to submit the College Board CSS PROFILE the first time they apply for need-based financial aid (instead of submitting it each year). For students who have withdrawn their enrollment for more than one year, we require a new PROFILE submission.