How can I find out more information about the Hope Scholarship and/or the Lifetime Learning tax credit?
To help explain the Hope Scholarship and the Lifetime Learning tax credit, from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), please visit the following link for more information.

http://www.nasfaa.org/publications/2004/
rtaxdeductionguide012004.html

Why is tuition at private colleges higher than at state schools?
Saint Martin's University is one of Washington's independent schools, which means it receives no money from the state for buildings, maintenance, professor's salaries and other operating expenses. These costs are paid by tuition, endowments and gifts. The University's tuition cost for the 2005-2006 academic year is $19,960, one of the lowest among independent colleges in the Pacific Northwest.

Why should I spend the extra money to attend Saint Martin's?
VALUE. Value is the actual cost PLUS the quality of what you are buying. At Saint Martin's, we have a student faculty ratio of 14:1 and an average class size of 14, not 200 or 300, which is common in lecture classes at larger colleges and universities.  Finally, most Saint Martin's students finish their degrees in four years rather than the five or more years now necessary at larger universities, where overcrowding and class availability are issues. That translates not only into saved money on an extra year of school expenses and no lost earnings because your degree took longer to complete. These are major savings for you and your family - and an excellent value.

Do I need to be rich to attend Saint Martin's?
No. Contrary to the stereotypes of rich kids and private schools, most students attending Saint Martin's do not come from wealthy families. In 2004-05, the average family income of Saint Martin's students receiving financial aid was $49,548.

How will I pay for my Saint Martin's education?
At Saint Martin's University, financial aid counselors seldom say "can't." For the past several years, each student who applied to Saint Martin's for financial aid received some form of help. Students usually receive a financial aid package that is a combination of grants and scholarships, work-study and loans.

Scholarships from Saint Martin's 
In 2004-2005, Saint Martin's gave more than $4.7 million of its own money in the form of grants and scholarships to its students, thanks to our generous scholarship donors. With few exceptions, students who apply for financial aid at Saint Martin's automatically become eligible for any Saint Martin's University scholarship whose criteria they meet.  For more information go to the scholarships and grants pages. 

Working your way through college
Saint Martin's spends more than $300,000 each year for students to work on campus through its work-study programs. Students work as office assistants, computer lab assistants, peer tutors and in many other capacities. It's a great way to get acquainted and to learn more about the University!  And as skills grow, many students are given additional responsibility and "real-world" experience. Many students also gain valuable work experience in career-related positions at nearby government offices and non-profit agencies through the need-based off-campus State Work-Study Program.

How do I apply for financial aid?
1.  Explore all your options. Do scholarship searches on the Internet and at your high school counseling office. Apply for scholarships you are eligible for. 
2.  After January 1, complete and mail in a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Be sure to designate Saint Martin's as one of the schools to get your financial aid information by using the University's FAFSA code on your form: 003794. The FAFSA form is key to receiving financial aid at almost all colleges. The forms are available at high school counseling offices, University financial aid offices and online at the U.S. Department of Education's "FAFSA on the Web" site: www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you need help completing your FAFSA, call us toll-free, 1-800-368-8803.
3.  If you are interested in coming to Saint Martin's you will also need to be admitted to the University, for admission information please visit the admissions office website or contact them directly.

How we help you make ends meet
This year, we have given over $20 million in financial aid to our students. Here's a snapshot of our 2004-2005 financial aid statistics: