All Youngstown State University students who complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be awarded the Federal Direct Loan based on grade level upon date of aid packaging. YSU awards student loans after eligibility for grants, scholarships and Federal Work-Study (FWS) is considered and student loans must be repaid.

Youngstown State University participates in the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program.  Stafford loan disbursements will be funded directly through the Department of Education; there is no involvement from third party lenders or guarantors.

A grant is a type of gift aid that does not require repayment. Eligibility for need-based grants is determined using federal, state and institutional formulas that utilize data received from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All aid listed below requires completion of the FAFSA.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based grant awarded by the Department of Education.

The YSU Foundation, with an endowment of over $321.5 million, is committed to providing this "edge of excellence" for the University and the students it serves.  The Foundation, whose sole purpose is to benefit Youngstown State University, provides more than $11 million in scholarship assistance annually for its students.  Students must submit the YSU Undergraduate Admission Application (with transcripts) by February 15 to be considered for scholarships through the Scholarships for Excellence Program at Youngstown State University.  With the exception of the Univers

Financial Aid Document Upload

The Financial Aid Document Upload Tool allows students to securely upload documents specific to Verification, Student loans, SAP, Scholarships, and Ad Hoc Consortiums to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Please click on the link to begin submitting your documents for review. Please note, it may take a minimum of 48 hours for your documents to be received by the office, especially during peak processing periods.

Youngstown State Resources

Penguin Service Center
Housing and Residence Life
University Bursar
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Registration Resources
School of Graduate Studies
Student Employment Postings

The application steps to apply for financial aid at Youngstown State University are listed below.  It is important to note the priority deadlines of February 1 for new students, and February 15 for continuing students.  Most campus-based aid is awarded to students that have met the February 1 or February 15 deadlines.  Late applicants should make an appointment to speak with a financial aid counselor.

Application Steps

Former Undergraduate Students:

As a new freshman applicant to Youngstown State University, there are several resources that will help you while preparing to attend our college. To learn more about each, choose the dropdown areas below. 

Check out our Admissions Viewbook for the 2024-2025 academic year.

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