Renewing Financial Aid

Students need to register full-time (12 new credits) each semester, although an average of 15 credits each semester is needed to graduate in four years. Aid may renew in subsequent years if students meet all eligibility criteria, comply with the Code of Student Conduct, comply with Academic Integrity standards, funding levels remain stable, and your FAFSA information does not change.

Changes in family financial circumstance (income, assets, household members) will affect financial need and aid eligibility.

Starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, the Department of Education is implementing changes to the FAFSA, which could alter aid eligibility for some students. Read more about the upcoming changes on this informational page.

Speak with a financial aid counselor

Applications

By the February 1 deadline, complete the following applications to renew federal, state and Syracuse University financial aid. Applications are reviewed annually to determine continued aid eligibility.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (to apply for federal financial aid and Syracuse University Grant)
Complete any items on your MySlice Financial Aid To Do List

Academic Merit Scholarship Renewal

Merit-based scholarships are offered for the academic year only: half for fall and half for spring. They do not extend to non-standard academic terms (summer sessions, Winterlude, etc.). If you enroll for only one semester, you will receive half of the annual award amount.

Scholarships are awarded to first-year students for up to eight semesters of undergraduate enrollment. If you are enrolled in an approved five-year program, you will receive awards for up to 10 semesters.

Syracuse University scholarships are tuition specific and may be combined with other tuition specific awards (including those outside of Syracuse University), not to exceed the amount of tuition for each year. If you are a Syracuse University Dependent Tuition Benefit (DTB) eligible student receiving less than 100 percent benefit, your SU merit-based scholarship may be combined with your Dependent Tuition Benefit, up to the cost of full tuition. If you receive 100 percent tuition benefit from the SU DTB program, or receive a Tuition Exchange award, you will receive a merit-based scholarship in name only, as your scholarship is already included in your Tuition Exchange or Dependent Benefit funding.

The amount of the merit scholarship will remain constant each year for four years (or five years, if enrolled in an approved five-year program), provided that additional resources do not cause the award to exceed the Cost of Attendance. However, full tuition and half tuition scholarships will adjust each year to allow for any tuition cost increases. You do not have to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, or any other application to receive or renew a merit scholarship.

Renewal of scholarships awarded to transfer students is dependent upon program length and status (year in school) at the time of admission to Syracuse. For example, if you enroll in a four-year program at the beginning of your sophomore year, you will be entitled to six semesters of scholarship, while if you enroll as a junior, you will be entitled to four semesters of scholarship.

Academic Criteria

In order to maintain your merit-based scholarship, you must:

Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75.
Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and Academic Integrity Expectations.

You have three semesters to meet the GPA requirements. If your GPA falls below 2.75 after three semesters, the scholarship will not be renewed.

Syracuse University offers many resources to help you improve your academic standing. Contact Tutoring Services or the Writing Center to receive one-on-one or small-group tutoring by graduate and undergraduate students.

Enrollment Status

You must enroll full-time (a minimum of 12 credits per semester) each semester in a University degree program (you will need to take an average of 15 credits each semester to graduate in four years).
If you are graduating in December, you will receive half of the full-year scholarship, disbursed in the fall semester.
If you withdraw or take a leave of absence from the University, your merit award will be cancelled until such time as you re-admit to the University.
Students who return from a leave of absence after less than one academic year will have their scholarship automatically reinstated, provided they meet the academic and enrollment requirements. Students who return from a leave of absence after more than one academic year will be subject to review.

Intra-University Transfer

If you have been awarded an academic merit-based scholarship upon your admission to Syracuse University and are considering an intra-university transfer (leaving the program to which you were originally admitted and moving to another), contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs to determine if your scholarship will transfer with you.

Need-Based Aid Renewal

Every effort is made to renew financial aid awards if:

Funding levels remain stable.
Applications are submitted by the returning student deadline.
Family financial and household information does not change significantly.
Satisfactory Academic Progress criteria are met. You must maintain a satisfactory grade point average and make academic progress toward your degree requirement each semester. Read more on federal, university and state Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies.

Students who fulfill all degree requirements and are eligible to graduate, but continue to enroll in Syracuse classes, are not eligible for federal or University funding renewal.

The following factors play a significant role in determining financial need and renewal of Syracuse University Grant and other need-based aid. Aid is adjusted, both increases and decreases, as a result of changes in financial need.

Parent income and assets: If parent income and assets increase, then financial need is likely to decrease (and vice versa).
Family/house size: If your household size decreases (i.e. sibling moves away from home, etc.) then financial need is likely to decrease.
Starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, the Department of Education is implementing changes to the FAFSA, which could alter aid eligibility for some students. Read more about the upcoming changes on this informational page.

Syracuse University Grant Renewal

Syracuse University Grant will be renewed for up to four years (five years for those in an approved five year program).

Transfer students: grant renewal is dependent on your program length and year in school at the time of admission to Syracuse (e.g. If you are enrolled in a four year program entering your sophomore year, you will be entitled to six semesters. If you entered Syracuse as a junior, you will be entitled to four semesters.).

If you receive a Syracuse University Grant awarded as a result of your appeal:

Not all grants renew. To determine if your Syracuse Grant will renew, review your MySlice Financial Aid Award Letter or contact your Financial Aid Counselor. (SU Grant B and Grant D are awarded for one year only; they do not renew.)
For your Syracuse University Grant to renew, you will need to take advantage of all forms of financial aid and resources (including the federal loan programs) before we consider additional assistance. If federal loans or Federal Work-Study are not fully utilized, your appeal grant may not be renewed in future years.