Information for Transfer Students

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  1. Fill out your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

  The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) can be completed online, and should be completed as soon as possible.. We’re happy to walk you through it if you have any questions. Or, if your parents are helping pay for your education costs, we’d be happy to guide them through the process as well.

  Federal Student Aid Identification

  Before beginning the FAFSA, you should create a Federal Student Aid Identification (FSA ID) for all communication with the U.S. Department of Education at the FSA ID website. The FSA ID will allow you to sign your FAFSA electronically, and to correct your processed FAFSA information online. You will also need to use your FSA ID to complete requirements for loans. If you are providing parent information on the FAFSA, one of your parents must also sign your application. To sign electronically, your parent must also apply for their own FSA ID. Please note that this information will need to be verified with the Social Security Administration, a process that can take up to 72 hours. Until this process is complete, use of the FSA ID will be limited.

  When creating your FSA ID, we recommend that you use an email address that you will always have access to, for this is how they will authenticate you. Also, make your password something easy to remember but hard for others to guess. Please don't share your FSA ID or password with anyone.

  If a student completes the FAFSA online without the appropriate FSA ID(s), the application will not be processed unless the student submits the signature page with the appropriate signature(s) via mail, which will significantly delay the processing time.

  Filling out the FAFSA

  The United States Department of Education manages the FAFSA process. It is their request that the FAFSA be completed on the web at studentaid.gov, which only takes five days to process. If you prefer to complete a paper application, you can call 1-800-433-3243. However, please keep in mind that the paper application takes six weeks to be processed and may cause the student to be ineligible for some time-sensitive state aid.

  After you have completed the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) via email from the United States Department of Education with instructions on how to view it. If you did not provide an email address, you will receive a SAR in the mail.

  First School Choice: 002323 (Detroit Mercy School Code)

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  2. Learn about Michigan resident-exclusive grants and scholarships

  Michigan Tuition Grant (MTG)/Michigan Competitive Scholarship (MCS)

  University of Detroit Mercy is a private university, and therefore Michigan residents who attend Detroit Mercy may be eligible to receive a grant from the State of Michigan called the Michigan Tuition Grant (MTG) or Michigan Competitive Scholarship (MCS). Students are only eligible for one of these, not both. To apply for one of these grants, the student and parent(s) must be Michigan residents, the student must complete the FAFSA by the state deadline, and the student must list Detroit Mercy school code 002323 as the first school choice on the FAFSA.  Students demonstrating financial need may be awarded grants up to $3,000 each academic year during their undergraduate study.  

  The state deadline for the 2023-24 FAFSA is May 2, 2024.

  The Michigan Tuition Grant is available annually to students who meet these requirements: U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status, Michigan residency, continuous residence in the state of Michigan for at least one full calendar year (beginning July 1 of the year prior to the year of application), demonstrated financial need, and satisfactory academic progress.  

  Michigan Tuition Grant (MTG)/Michigan Competitive Scholarship (MCS) applies to undergraduate students only.

  MTG and MCS Requirements

  Program Name	Location	Basis	Requirements	Notification
  MTG/MCS	On Detroit Mercy award (eligibility is estimated)	Need based	Michigan resident & FAFSA driven	Estimated Award from Detroit Mercy; Official notice from State of Michigan

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  3. Transfer Grants and Scholarships

  Detroit Mercy Transfer Academic Scholarship 
  

  Academic scholarships are awarded to all incoming transfer students based on their cumulative grade point average from previous colleges attended.

  Transfer academic scholarships are automatically renewed each year for four years (eight semesters, Fall and Winter). Students must maintain a solid grade point average based on the University’s Scholarship and Grant Renewal Policy and continuous, full-time enrollment. Scholarships are awarded based on the following transfer GPA model:

  2024-25 (Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025)
                  2.0 – 2.49 GPA           $6,000
                  2.5 – 2.99 GPA           $11,000
                  3.0 – 3.49 GPA           $12,000
                  3.5 – 4.00 GPA           $14,000

  Jesuit Founders Scholarship

  Full Tuition

  The Jesuit Founders Scholarship, one of our top scholarships, rewards new transfer students who have been academically successful and show promise of continued excellence. Full tuition will be met with a combination of Jesuit Founders Scholarship and other federal, state, and private grants and scholarships. This scholarship covers tuition only and does not include books, additional fees or housing. You must be admitted to be invited to compete for this scholarship and must complete a FAFSA. Minimum requirements include standard admission with no conditions, 3.5 cumulative GPA, 24+ transferable credits, a scholarship essay, two letters of recommendation, and full-time enrollment. Unfortunately, students who already hold a bachelor’s degree are not eligible. You can only be invited one time to compete for this scholarship and can not defer your admission to another term or change your major. Deadlines and admission criteria are the same as the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship. 

  Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

  Full Tuition

  The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship is also one of the top scholarships offered by Detroit Mercy. It is available to new transfer students who demonstrate exceptional academic credentials and who are also members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Full tuition will  be met with a combination of PTK Scholarship and other federal, state and private grants and scholarships. This scholarship covers tuition only and does not include books, additional fees or housing. You must be admitted to be invited to compete for this scholarship and must complete a FAFSA. Minimum requirements include standard admission with no conditions, a 3.5 cumulative GPA, 24+ transferable credits, a scholarship essay, two letters of recommendation, membership in PTK, and full-time enrollment. Unfortunately, students who already hold a bachelor’s degree are not eligible. You can only be invited one time to compete for this scholarship and can not defer your admission to another term or change your major. 

   

  Catholic Education Grant

  $1,000 per year

  Requires full-time enrollment and is awarded to transfer students who graduated from a Catholic high school. This grant is renewable for up to two years.  

  Engineering & Science Scholarships 

  Visit the Engineering & Science scholarship page to learn about internal and external scholarships generally available for engineering and science students.

   

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  4. Access your Financial Aid Award and understand the terminology

  Overview

  The Financial Aid My Portal award contains a list of the financial aid sources that you qualify for, based on the information submitted on the FAFSA. This aid is outlined to demonstrate how transfer students may qualify to cover the cost of a Detroit Mercy education. Instructions to access your Financial Aid Award in My Portal.

  Scholarships & Grants - these funds are free and do not have to be paid back.

  Loans - these funds must be paid back. 

  Federal Work-study - these funds are linked to a work program. Students who qualify, may work on campus, or at select off-campus locations, in between classes and earn work-study funds. The earnings are not automatically applied toward the student's outstanding charges, but rather, paid as a bi-weekly check to students. However, students can work to earn these funds and apply them toward their bill, and may elect to have a payroll deduction directly to their account.

  Definitions

  Cost of Attendance - not necessarily the amount you will have to pay to attend Detroit Mercy, but an estimate of possible expenses. Actual costs will vary by student.

  Expected Family Contribution (EFC)- calculated from the information reported on the FAFSA. This does not reflect the amount you will have to pay out of pocket. The EFC will be used, along with the cost of attendance, to determine how much "need based" aid you will qualify for.

  Initial Need - Cost of Attendance minus Expected Family Contribution equals the Initial Need.

  Outside Resources - funds received from outside sources to help pay educational expenses. These are funds not processed by financial aid, but payments negotiated through the Student Accounting Office. Typically, these represent payments from employers, tuition payment plans, etc.

  Need - Cost of Attendance minus Expected Family Contribution, minus Outside Resources equals Need.

  Status - the student classification that this aid level applies to

  Fall 2023 - September through December aid to help pay Fall 2023 costs, as determined by the 2023-24 FAFSA

  Winter 2023 - January through April aid to help pay Winter 2024 costs, as determined by the 2023-24 FAFSA

  Summer 2023 - May through August aid to help pay Summer 2024 costs, as determined by the 2023-24 FAFSA

  Total - total amount of aid to help pay Fall, Winter and/or Summer costs

  First Five (5) Steps

  Our transfer award packages are very generous and they are customized to fit each student's financial situation. Below you will find the first five steps to paying for your Detroit Mercy education.

  1. Review the Cost of Attendance and determine your cost for the year. Please plan ahead for books and supplies. Detroit Mercy does not issue book vouchers.
  2. Review your My Portal financial aid award which is accessible from your My Portal account. It outlines the financial aid funds that you qualify for, based on the FAFSA. These funds are to help you pay your cost.
  3. Review the Detroit Mercy Financing Options, which summarizes the different loan programs found on the My Portal financial aid award. It also summarizes our 9/10 month interest-free payment plan option.
  4. Determine if you have any out of pocket cost.
  5. Now that you have determined the financial aid sources that you would like to use, please select "accept" or "decline" for each source listed on your My Portal Award Screen. You also have the opportunity to select an amount less than the total offered.
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  5. Loan and Grant Lifetime Limits

  Federal loan and grant programs have annual and cumulative maximums.  Students can view their borrowing history at studentaid.gov.  Students can view total debt as well as each Direct Stafford Loan amounts; including contact information for each lender and servicer.  Students can also view the total amount of Pell Grant they have received for each year they were enrolled and review their remaining lifetime eligibility.  Studentaid.gov is a great tool in managing your federal financial aid.  

  To view your loan and grant limits, log into studentaid.gov, then accept the terms and conditions in the pop up box.  Your loans and grants usage will be found on your dashboard when you sign in, under "My Aid".  If you click "View Details", you will be able to view your remaining loan and grant eligibility by clicking on the Loans and Grants tabs under "My Aid".  

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  6. Follow these steps if you have a Direct Loan

  Now that you have accepted your award, further steps may be required. These steps may or may not apply to you and your family. These steps are only required if the student is planning to borrow their Direct loan(s) and/or the parent is planning to borrow the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) for the academic year.

  Direct Loans

  Once you have accepted a Direct loan, you must complete the following two requirements before the loan funds will post to your account.

  1. After July 1, the student should complete online Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling.
  2. After July 1, we will process your direct loan request. You will be required to complete an online Master Promissory Note (MPN).

  Parent Loans Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loans)

  Once the parent has accepted the Parent PLUS loan, one parent must complete the following two requirements before the loan funds will post to your account.

  1. After July 1, the parent should complete an application for the credit-based PLUS Loan. The parent must log in using their FSA ID, not the student's, to begin the application. You will receive an immediate credit decision.
  2. After July 1, we will process your parent PLUS loan. If approved for this loan, you will be required to complete an on line Master Promissory Note (MPN).

  Related Links

  Federal Education Right to Privacy Act (FERPA) form allows us to discuss your financial aid with other parties you have designated. No information about your financial aid can be shared without this form of written consent.

  Financial Aid E-Guide provides click-by-click navigation through our My Portal

  Financing Options discusses the various loan programs, as well as our Tuition Management System