Financial Assistance
Financial aid is available to all qualified students. Financial need may be met through a combination of federal loans and institutional aid. Graduate students can receive aid if enrolled with half-time status or 3 credit hours.
The Lindenwood University financial aid program helps students with financial need who would otherwise be unable to receive a graduate education. Financial need is calculated as the difference between the cost of attendance and aid received.
Financial aid is provided in the form of an award that will help meet this need. Lindenwood University uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for federal student loans and institutional assistance. Upon completion of all documentation necessary to establish eligibility, financial assistance will be posted to the student's account at least once each term.
To be considered for financial assistance, a student must complete the FAFSA online at https://studentaid.gov/. The Lindenwood school code is 002480. If students have any questions about the application process, they are encouraged to call 1-800-433-3243. Lindenwood University does not require students to fill out any supplementary fee-based forms to determine eligibility for institutional financial aid.
Lindenwood University offers a 50 percent scholarship to all persons age 60 and over. The university also offers partial institutional grants for employees of selected companies, municipalities, and school systems. These grants may only be applied toward courses taken for credit and do not apply to courses that are audited. Classes taken at the doctoral level are only eligible to receive the educator grant. Any other funding may first replace the Lindenwood University funding. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the admissions counselor of any scholarship opportunities for which the student may be eligible.
The purpose of the Lindenwood University grant program is to make it possible for the student to earn a degree when it would otherwise be financially prohibitive to do so. In short, a Lindenwood grant (institutional partnership, merit- and need-based gift aid) is intended to fill a funding gap and enable a student with need to pursue further education. The gap is the difference between the total cost of tuition and the sum of all personal and outside funding available to the student. The Lindenwood grant is based on an academic partnership memorandum and merit- and need-based financial aid, after all personal and outside underwriting sources are accessed. When the student becomes eligible for additional outside support, that revenue reduces the student’s “funding gap,” and the Lindenwood grant is reduced by the amount of the additional funds, per the policy above. The intent is for Lindenwood and the student to share equitably in covering the cost of the student’s education.
Lindenwood University currently applies institution granted scholarships/grants to student accounts in the following order: 1) tuition, 2) fees, 3) books, 4) room, and 5) board. If a student receives scholarships during the calendar year that exceed the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment, the amount that exceeds those costs should be reported by the student as taxable income. The university is required to send information to students and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about the student’s payments toward tuition charges, grants, and scholarships on Form 1098T. Students are responsible for using this information as well as their own records to complete their tax returns.
Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent resident aliens may be subject to U.S. taxation. The university uses Sprintax to gather required information about international students in order to facilitate the tax-withholding determination. Any portion of institution granted scholarships/grants that exceed the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment may be subject to a taxation rate of up to 14 percent for students who have an F, M, J, or Q visa, while all other visa types may be subject to a taxation rate of up to 30 percent. Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent resident aliens may contact the non-resident employee compliance specialist at (636) 219-1273 to discuss questions about Sprintax or taxation.
Lindenwood University employs students through regular part-time and full-time jobs and through the Federal Work Study Program. Jobs are offered at 10, 15, and 20 hours per week for part-time workers, and 40 hours per week for full-time workers. Some student worker opportunities are skill based and others are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Wages vary by position and skill level.
Lindenwood’s Student Employee Program operates on a three-tier model. Each tier is designed to serve a particular function and is paid an hourly wage in accordance with that function. Employment lengths vary by position. Lindenwood University is an “at-will” employer and student employees may be released prior to their service end date without cause or notice.
Student workers are paid on a bi-weekly payroll cycle and receive their checks through direct deposit. All student workers are required to set up a payment plan with the Bursar's Office within five days of their hire date. Those who fail to do so will not be eligible to participate in the program.
To be considered for the Student Employee Program, students must be “unconditionally” admitted into the university, enrolled in classes, and in good standing with the university.