Federal Financial Aid

Federal financial aid is available to students who are interested in receiving federal grants, federal loans or both to pay for tuition.

A list of federal financial aid programs is available on the U.S. Department of Education Student Aid website under Types of Aid. To begin the federal financial aid process, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When applying for federal financial aid, use our school code: 001535.

In addition to the FAFSA, students who anticipate using federal financial aid may also complete and submit these documents:

• Master Promissory Note (MPN)
• Entrance Counseling
• Loan Request Form

You are responsible for payment of tuition and course materials fees not covered by federal financial aid at the start of each semester.

Distance programs in the College of Journalism and Communications are not eligible for graduate assistantships, fellowships, state tuition waiver, or the Santa Fe College waiver (Florida).

UF faculty and staff: Distance programs in the College of Journalism and Communications are not eligible for the Employee Education Program (EEP).

Please note: Federal financial aid is not available for certificate students.

Federal Financial Aid Programs

For more information regarding how to apply, eligibility, and maximum award amounts, please select a program below and proceed to the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website:

• FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY GRANT (FSEOG)
• DIRECT LOANS
• DIRECT PLUS LOANS
• TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION (TEACH) GRANT
• IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN SERVICE GRANT
• PELL GRANT

Students who choose to receive federal financial aid may be allowed to defer tuition payment while the application is being processed. Contact the financial aid office for details. Response time may vary depending on the volume of requests the financial aid office is currently receiving.

Scholarships

Other scholarships are awarded by various organizations such as the university, the state, individual colleges and departments, and private entities. UF’s Scholarship Search Engine is a searchable database with a variety of scholarship opportunities. Confirm that you are eligible for a scholarship before applying. You can also search for externally sourced scholarships.

UF CJC Online Financial Hardship Award

Each semester, UF CJC Online offers students the opportunity to receive need-based financial assistance. Assistance is provided to current students in several ways like tuition discounts and credits to a student’s university financial account. For more information and deadlines check out onlinemasters.jou.ufl.edu/financial-hardship-awards.

Financial Aid FAQ and Information

What is Financial Aid?

Financial aid is defined as money provided to students and their families as either “gift aid” or “self-help” to assist in paying college costs. “Gift aid,” as the name implies, is free money such as scholarships and grants, which students do not have to repay. “Self-help” programs include loans and employment and are so named because students must repay loans and work for money awarded through employment programs. Awards to students consist of scholarships, grants, loans, and employment—singly or in combination.

Search for scholarships available for graduate students here http://graduateschool.ufl.edu/prospective-students/funding/financial-aid-bulletin-board/.

Financial Aid Deadlines

Although you must be accepted for enrollment at UF before you are considered for financial aid, you should apply for aid before being admitted. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov.

To apply for 2021-22 aid, you can file a FAFSA as early as October 1, 2020 at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA opens on October 1 of each year.

To apply for 2022-23 aid, you can file a FAFSA as early as October 1, 2021 at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA opens on October 1 of each year.

In order for us to consider you for a financial aid package, you must be a degree-seeking, admitted student.

Financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis so apply as early as possible to be considered for the most, and best aid. In order for UF Student Financial Affairs to consider you for a financial aid package, you must be an admitted student and have met the “On-Time” deadline.  UF Federal School Code 001535.  MORE INFO.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

This section lays out the application process in a simple, clear, and easy to understand timeline. At the University of Florida, the cornerstone of your financial aid application is your FAFSA. SFA encourages students to complete their FAFSA online, carefully, and in time to make UF’s “On-Time” Application deadline.

Although you must be accepted for enrollment at UF before you are considered for financial aid, you should apply for aid before being admitted. 

To apply for 2021-22 aid, you can file a FAFSA as early as October 1, 2020 at fafsa.ed.gov. UF’s 2021-22 “On-Time” deadline to receive the results of your FAFSA from the federal processor is December 15, 2020. Apply well before December 15 to ensure that the federal processor has time to analyze and send the results of your FAFSA to our office.

You may apply for financial aid in the year before you need it. Please check the UF Office of Student Financial Affairs website for additional dates and deadlines.

Financial aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis so apply as early as possible to be considered for the most, and best aid.

In order for us to consider you for a financial aid package, you must be an admitted student and have met the “On-Time” deadline.

Get free assistance and answers to your FAFSA questions at www.fafsa.ed.gov or 1-800-433-3243.

Step 1: Complete the 2021-22 FAFSA

The FAFSA and Applying for Aid at UF – View on YouTube

Applying for financial aid at UF begins with the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Complete the FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov. You can file a 2021-22 FAFSA as early as October 1, 2020. UF’s “On-Time” deadline to receive the results of your 2021-22 FAFSA from the federal processor is December 15, 2020. Apply well before the deadline to ensure that the federal processor has time to analyze and send the results of your FAFSA to our office. Financial aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis so apply as early as possible to be considered for the most, and best aid.

*In order for us to consider you for a financial aid package, you must be an admitted student and have met the “On-Time” deadline. We must receive the results of your 2021-22 FAFSA with a valid EFC (Expected Family Contribution) by December 15, 2020 for you to be considered “On-Time.”

• Create an FSA ID at the Federal Student Aid’s FSA ID site. Follow the instructions on the site. An FSA ID gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature. If you’re a dependent student, your parents must also obtain an FSA ID.
• Go to FAFSA on the Web. Follow the instructions on the site.
• List the University of Florida and the UF Federal School Code (001535) as a school choice in Step Six of the FAFSA.
• Sign your FAFSA. Students can sign electronically using their FSA ID. Parents of dependent students may sign electronically but must first obtain their own FSA ID.
• Don’t forget to reapply each year, financial aid is not renewed automatically.

Get free assistance and answers to your FAFSA questions at www.fafsa.ed.gov or 1-800-433-3243.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status is conferred by the USCIS office in the Department of Homeland Security. While students granted DACA are normally assigned a Social Security number, they are not eligible for Title IV aid. DACA students should refer to their academic unit or our scholarship search engine for possible scholarship options.

Step 2: Verify the Information

Once you have submitted your FAFSA successfully, be aware of the confirmation page that displays. This page contains important information, including:

• Your unique confirmation number
• Your unique Data Release Number (DRN)
• A summary of what will happen next in your financial aid application
• A summary of federal aid that you MAY be eligible for, including amounts.

You should print the confirmation page and keep it for your records.

Once your FAFSA has been successfully processed by the federal processor, you will receive a Federal Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor after you submit your FAFSA, either by email or by USPS. If you provided an e-mail address, you should receive your SAR as soon as 24 hours after your FAFSA is processed.

• The SAR indicates your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is used to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
• The SAR also lists information you recorded on your FAFSA. Review the SAR for any inaccuracies. If no corrections are needed, keep the SAR with your financial aid records.
• If any corrections are necessary, go to FAFSA on the Web and select “Make Corrections to a Processed FAFSA.” If UF is not listed in the SAR’s “College Release Section,” correct your SAR to include UF. UF’s school code is 001535.
• If your e-mail or mailing address changes, update it with the federal processor using FAFSA on the Web. This will ensure that you get your Student Aid Report, electronic PIN, Renewal Reminder, and other important correspondence.

Step 3: Follow Up

• Check the status of your aid application and award on ONE.UF
• If your application is selected for Federal Verification, you will be required to provide documentation before aid is disbursed to you. Respond promptly to requests for information or documentation.
• Most forms for this process are available to print from your “financial aid status” page on ONE.UF, or on SFA’s Forms page.

The Award Letter and the Shopping Sheet

Your award notification comes in two forms—the Award Letter and the Shopping Sheet.

The Award Letter contains important information about your financial aid award, including specific information about your obligations when you receive aid. It provides the names of your expected awards along with their expected amounts, itemized by semester. You will learn how to accept this award, how to report additional outside resources, and important facts about how you will receive your financial aid.

The Shopping Sheet is a consumer tool that is designed to simplify information about costs and financial aid in an easy-to-read format. It is formatted and configured differently than the Award Letter, but describes the same financial aid award. It will help you in comparing institutions in terms of grant and scholarship amounts, net costs, graduation rates, loan default rates, median borrowing and estimated monthly loan payments after graduation.

Step 4: Review and Respond to Your Award

Once your Financial Aid file is complete and you have been admitted to UF, SFA will award you an aid package based on your demonstrated need.

• Only first time in college students receive an initial award letter in paper form through the USPS. All other award notifications and other correspondence will be sent to you by e-mail.
• Your Financial Aid Award Letter will state the terms and conditions of aid programs awarded. Carefully read the information accompanying your award and follow all instructions.
• Accept or declined the offered aid, using ONE.UF.
• Grants and Scholarships are considered to be automatically accepted; loans and employment must be expressly accepted on ONE.UF.

How Need is Determined

The financial information you and your family provide on your FAFSA is used to determine your expected family contribution or EFC — how much you and your family are expected to contribute toward your educational expenses. Once your EFC has been determined, the financial aid office will calculate your financial need. Financial need is the cost of attendance minus your EFC.

• UF Net Price Calculator: Estimate the aid you are eligible to receive

Your Financial Aid Award

When UF receives your application information from the federal processor and you have been admitted to UF, SFA will award you an aid package based on your eligibility. Students who complete a FAFSA and list UF as a “college of choice” are considered for all aid programs administered by SFA. One or more of the four types of aid (grants, scholarships, part-time employment, loans) are usually offered to eligible students to make up their financial aid package.

By early April, admitted students who have filed the FAFSA will receive an official award notice via U.S. mail and online at ONE.UF. The Notification of Financial Aid Award states the terms and conditions of aid programs awarded to you. Read it carefully, and follow any instructions that pertain to you.

Review your Financial Aid Status

Follow up on your aid application. It may be selected for Federal Verification.

• You are responsible for following up on your aid application.
• Check the status of your aid application and award at ONE.UF
• Do not wait until school begins to submit required documents. Ask questions if you are unsure about any part of the application process.
• If your application is selected for Federal Verification, you will be required to provide verifying documentation before aid can be disbursed to you. Respond promptly to requests for information or documentation.