that helps pay for a student's educational expenses. Awards might be based on grades, financial needs, talents, or circumstances. They can come from several sources, including federal and state governments and institutional aid.
Financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Salem State offers a combination of need-based (aid that solely takes into account a student's and their family's ability to pay for college) and merit-based (aid based on a student's achievements and academic performance, typically in the form of a scholarship that does not need to be repaid) aid.
Aid types include , , , , and . Aid is divided into two categories: gift aid and self-help aid.
- Gift aid can be need-based or merit-based aid given to a student without the obligation of repayment; most grants, scholarships, and fall into this category.
- Self-help aid is either a award that must be earned through a job on campus or a that must be paid back.
