Aid & Information Menu
Apply & Next Steps
You know that investing in your education is critical. An important first step toward that investment is applying for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Institutional Aid Application for international and undocumented students.
The 2026-27 FAFSA is scheduled to open by October 1, 2025.
Students entering Meredith in Spring 2026 should submit the 2025-26 FAFSA.
Students entering Fall 2026/Spring 2027 should submit the 2026-27 FAFSA.
New Students - Fall Entry 2026
| Type of Student | FAFSA Priority Deadline | Expected Notification of Financial Assistance |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Early Action | February 1, 2026 | after March 1st |
| First Year Regular Decision | February 15, 2026 | after March 15th |
| Transfer | TBD | after March 15th |
| Graduate | April 15, 2026 | After May 15 |
| Current Undergraduate | April 15, 2026 | After June 1 |
New Students - Spring Entry 2026
| Type of Student | FAFSA Priority Deadline | Expected notification of Financial Assistance |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | November 1, 2025 | By November 15 |
| Transfer | November 1, 2025 | Rolling after November 15 |
| Graduate | November 1, 2025 | By November 15 |
The first step in applying for aid (scholarships, grants, loans or work-study) is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Helpful tips for filling out the FAFSA:
1. Double-check your information – Social Security Number, date of birth, and name (legal name) must be those of the recipient; incorrect information here will severely delay the processing of your application.
2. Enter Meredith’s school code #002945 on your FAFSA to ensure that we receive the data.
3. Leave no blanks – Unless instructed to do so, make sure all blanks are filled in, even if that means entering a “0”. Read the FAFSA instructions carefully.
4. File your FAFSA by the priority deadline (February 15 for new students; File your FAFSA by the priority deadline (February 15th for new students, April 15th for returning students). Ideally, submit your FAFSA as soon as possible after it opens in October.
Videos and Other Resources to Help with the FAFSA
If you have been notified to complete missing information, please do so as soon as possible. If you’ve been selected for verification, you’ll find an explanation of what that means below.
You must be officially accepted by Meredith before any financial aid package (scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study) can be offered.
Next Steps
1. New students whose FAFSA is received by February 15th will be given priority for awards and will be notified of aid eligibility by mid-March.
2. Review your award letter and determine if you are accepting or declining all or part of your financial aid awards. Return your signed statement of award to the Office of Financial Assistance.
Meredith College
Attn: Financial Assistance Office
Johnson Hall East
3800 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27607
Fax: (919) 760-2373
3. If awarded the North Carolina Need Based Scholarship (NBS), please complete the NC RDS (Residency Determination Service) online form to determine your eligibility at www.ncresidency.org.
4. Complete Entrance Counseling and Loan Agreement for a Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan (MPN).
Note: If you are a current student, this step only needs to be completed your first year.
Selected for Verification
Some FAFSAs will be selected by the Federal Department of Education for a process called Verification. When selected, Meredith College is required by law to collect specific documentation from the student/parent(s)/spouse listed on the FAFSA to verify information that was submitted. Being selected for Verification is not an indication that there is a problem, but rather an effort to ensure the accuracy of the Federal Financial Aid System.
When a FAFSA is selected for Verification, the Financial Assistance Office will contact the student about what information is needed for documentation, how it may be obtained, and how it is submitted. If you have been asked to complete a form, please look under Missing Information Forms. The Financial Assistance Office cannot waive the requirement for verification when the student is selected by the Federal Department of Education. Failure to provide documentation may result in the delay and/or loss of Federal, State, and Institutional funds.
Contact Information
1st Floor, Johnson Hall
1-800-MEREDITH
(919) 760-8565
Fax: (919) 760-2373
finaid@meredith.edu