Apply for Financial Aid

Financial Aid

FAFSA® (Free Application for Student Aid) information that you need to be aware of:

  • The 2023-2024 FAFSA will be available starting October 1, 2022
  • You will use your 2021 tax information
  • The priority deadline to be eligible for state grants has changed to February 1, 2023.
  • You can complete the FAFSA online at www.studentaid.gov
  • Our school code is 013877.

Step 1: Request an FSA ID.

Start your financial aid process by requesting a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID at www.studentaid.gov

An FSA ID is a username and password that you can create and use to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites. The FSA ID identifies you as someone who has the right to access and or change your own personal information on ED websites.

Parents of a dependent student must have their own FSA ID. If you want to sign your child or children’s FAFSA electronically.

Each FSA ID user is required to have a unique e-mail address. Your FSA ID serves as your electronic signature and provides access to your personal records, so you should never give your FSA ID to anyone, including commercial services that offer to help you complete your FAFSA. Be sure to keep your FSA ID in a safe place to prevent identity theft.

Step 2: Complete the FAFSA.

Free applications for Federal Student Aid are available at www.studentaid.gov

You must file your FAFSA by February 1 to be eligible for certain types of state aid such as the Missouri Access Grant. Please include the respective school code when filing your FAFSA electronically. See the code you’ll need at the end of this section.

When you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) back from the FAFSA Federal Processing Center, check it carefully for any errors. If corrections need to be made, please do so as soon as possible at www.studentaid.gov

Cox College Code: 013877

Step 3: Picked for verification by the U.S. Department of Education.

Verification is a process that confirms that the information entered on the FAFSA is correct.

If you are NOT selected for verification, please skip to step 4.

For questions about this step, see our FAQ section below.

Step 4: Get your award notification.

Registered students will receive financial aid offer sent to their Cox College email with instructions for accepting/declining financial aid.

Step 5: Steps for a Federal Direct Student Loan.

If you only want federal grants, skip to Step 6.

The Federal Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and the Federal Direct Grad PLUS and PLUS Loans will be processed through the U.S. Department of Education. Note that all undergraduate annual loan amounts are subject to proration.

First-Time Borrowers

All first-time undergraduate and graduate student loan borrowers at Cox College are required to complete the following steps:

  1. Entrance counseling at the Department Of Education website at www.studentaid.gov
  2. A Federal Direct Master Promissory Note for the Lester E Cox Medical Center at CoxHealth at the Department Of Education website at www.studentaid.gov.

Federal Direct Graduate Student Loans

Loan amounts for graduate loans are $20,500.00 unsubsidized per academic year. Aggregate limits for graduate students are $138,500.00.

If you have any questions or are not able to access the federal websites listed above, please contact a Financial Aid Counselor at 417-269-3008, 417-269-3160, or 417 269-3458 for assistance.

Apply for a Plus Loan

A Federal Direct Plus Loan is a parent loan for undergraduate students. A parent (defined as a biological or adoptive mother or father and in some cases a step-parent) of an undergraduate student may borrow up to the estimated cost of attendance of an academic year minus any financial aid that the student is awarded.

Parents Plus Loan for undergraduate students (PLUS LOANS) may be applied for by going to www.studentaid.gov

Apply for a Graduate Plus Loan

Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loan is a plus loan for graduate and professional students only. Direct Graduate Plus Loans are available to eligible graduate and/or professional students. Students may borrow up to the estimated cost of attendance of an academic year minus any financial aid that the student is awarded.

Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loans may be applied for by going to www.studentaid.gov

If you have any questions or are not able to access the federal websites listed above, please contact a Financial Aid Counselor at 417-269-3008, 417-269-3160, or 417-269-3458 for assistance.

Step 6: Get your certification and disbursement of Financial Aid.

Once you have accepted your offer, the financial aid department will begin processing your aid. Funds are disbursed after the drop/add period. All steps must be completed to facilitate the delivery of funds to your student account and any credit balance refunded. Disbursement notification is sent to your student email. If a credit balance occurs, funds will be refunded within 14 days of this notice.

Net Price Calculator

To access the net price calculator, click here.