Special Instructions for Incoming Freshmen

If you plan to attend the College of Charleston, you must complete the following steps in order to be considered for financial assistance:

  1. If you intend to apply for Private, Local, National, and Other Scholarships and Resources you may want to begin that process in October.
  2. Create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID# for student and each parent (https://studentaid.gov).
  3. Current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available October 1. The priority deadline to apply for the fall semester is March 1. Applications submitted after June 1 for the fall semester may not be processed by the first day of classes.
  4. Once FAFSA sends you an acknowledgement email that your FAFSA was successfully processed, review your student aid report (SAR) for errors and make any necessary corrections online. Please double check the following information to ensure that it is correct:
    1. SSN
    2. Date of Birth
    3. First Name
    4. Last Name
  5. CofC Admissions deadlines via https://admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/freshmen/
    1. Early Decision is October 15 and students will be notified of decision by December 1 (If accepted, you agree to deposit by January 5 and withdraw applications to other universities)
    2. Early Action/Honors College Priority the Admissions deadline is November 1 and students will be notified of decision by December 15.
    3. Regular admission is January 15 and students will be notified of decision by March 1.
  6. Institutional scholarship award letters will be included in the acceptance packets from the Office of Admissions. Institutional scholarship awards will be available to view in MyPortal no later than March 1st.
  7. Student must have been admitted to a degree granting program of study at the College of Charleston to be eligible for Federal financial aid.
  8. Review Financial Aid Student Requirements in for missing requirements.
  9. Freshmen should be awarded federal awards through https://myportal.cofc.edu/ by April 1. You will need to accept or decline each award not already marked as accepted.
  10. Deadline to accept admission to College of Charleston and pay deposit is May 1. Your deposit confirms acceptance of the scholarship award.

Undergraduate students enrolled in a degree-seeking program may be considered for financial assistance. Undergraduate students admitted as non-degree students are not eligible for federal or state aid.