Applying for Federal Student Aid

New students wishing to enroll at CSU for the first time using Federal Student Aid (FSA) should complete the steps listed below at least four weeks prior to the last day of registration. Please note that some student applications for financial aid take longer to process than others as a result of factors beyond the control of CSU. Students who do not receive their aid award by the last day of registration will need to pay out-of-pocket and be reimbursed or delay registration for the following term.

  • Prospective students who have already received an Academic Evaluation Report from CSU, please go to: http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/financial/apply-evalnoenroll/.
  • Submit the CSU Application for Admission. Please check the box indicating that you desire to use Federal Financial Aid as your payment method.
  • Complete the Transcript Request Service forms. Using this service will allow CSU to request your official transcripts. These official transcripts are needed to be accepted at CSU and qualify for FSA. First-time college students do not need to use this service but must submit copies of their high school diploma or high school transcripts.
  • Obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN).  Prior to applying for FSA, you should obtain a PIN online at www.pin.ed.gov. This number serves as your electronic signature and may be used to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), make corrections to your Student Aid Report (SAR), and monitor federal loans that you receive. If you are a dependent student, a parent should also request a PIN, which can be used as their electronic signature on the FAFSA.
  • Fill out and submit the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Make certain to indicate the CSU school code of 041215 on the FAFSA.  If you have already completed a FAFSA, retrieve it and add the CSU school code.
  • Monitor your email for important notifications concerning your SAR. The CSU Office of Financial Aid will receive your FAFSA information and will contact you if necessary.
  • Once your application is processed and all official transcripts received and evaluated, you will receive an Academic Evaluation Report by email along with instructions for logging into the CSU Financial Aid Portal to complete the financial aid process.
  • Once you have completed all the necessary steps within the portal and are ready to submit your file for review, you will be reminded to submit your Term Enrollment Agreement. Although your file will be reviewed and confirmed without this form being submitted, you will need to submit it prior to the end of the registration period. In the event you later decide to cancel your enrollment, you may do so without penalty prior to the end of the drop period.

The FAFSA4caster site can provide an estimate of your eligibility for FSA.  The information entered will later transfer to your FASFA if you decide to apply for FSA.  You'll need tax information on hand to complete this process. 

If you have any questions about applying for FSA, please contact the CSU Admissions Department at admissions@columbiasouthern.edu or 800-977-8449.


Columbia Southern University - 800.977.8449 - FERPA