First-Year Free Tuition Program

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College is closer than you think. With the Gustavus First-Year Free Tuition Program, you'll receive renewable scholarships and grants equal to your full first-year tuition that you don't have to pay back. If you qualify, this award will continue for all four years of your education.

Are You Eligible?

To qualify, you must check all of the following boxes:

Be admitted to Gustavus and start in the fall
Be a first-time, full-time student
Be a Minnesota resident
File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Have a family adjusted gross income, as reported on the FAFSA or Minnesota Dream Act Application, below $80,000
Be eligible for the Minnesota State Grant or Minnesota Dream Act

If you continue to qualify, you may be able to receive tuition support all four years.

Don’t meet all the criteria? The Gustie Guarantee promises every student, no matter the size of your family’s bank account, at least $30,000 in scholarships every year.

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Tuition Support for Four Years

As long as you maintain your eligibility, the First-Year Free Tuition program will renew for your sophomore, junior, and senior years. You could get over $220,000 in scholarships and grants towards your education.

Future Cost Increases

Based on historical averages, we anticipate an annual tuition increase between 2% and 4%.

You’ll pay any tuition increases after your first year, plus housing, meals, and fees each year.

Don’t stress! You could also qualify for other grants, scholarships, student employment, or federal loans to help cover housing, meals, fees, and tuition increases. The details depend on your family’s unique financial circumstances.

FAQs

Where Do I Start?

First, apply for admission to Gustavus Adolphus College using the Common App or the Gustavus Application.

Once your file is complete, you will receive an admission decision within two weeks.

Admitted students should then file the FAFSA.

Be sure to list Gustavus as one of the schools you would like to receive your financial information.

How Do I Find Out If I Qualify For the First-Year Free Tuition Program?

If you are admitted and we receive your financial information via the FAFSA, we will create a full financial aid award for you. This award will be released within your Applicant Portal and mailed to your home address. Your financial aid award will list all forms of funding for which you are qualified—scholarships, grants, loans, student employment—and will indicate if your first-year tuition will be covered through multiple funding sources. Financial aid awards will begin to be released mid-December.

Please note: For eligible students, first year tuition will be covered by Gustavus through scholarships and grants, also known as gift aid. Merit-based scholarships (Excellence, President’s, Dean’s, Three Crowns, Gold) are not awarded in addition to the First-Year Free Tuition program.

What Happens After the First Year?

If you continue to meet the criteria listed above, the First-Year Free Tuition program will renew each year. You will be responsible for any tuition increase, typically 3.5% each year.

Gustavus First-Year Free Tuition Program