UF Financial Aid Office Information
The Office for Student Financial Affairs (SFA) is the financial aid office at the University of Florida (UF). SFA provides financial aid advising, as well as information about financial aid programs and the application process, to students, prospective students, and their parents.
Financial aid is any grant, scholarship, loan, or work-study job offered for the express purpose of helping students pay education-related expenses. This aid is usually provided by federal, state, university, or private agencies. SFA offers one or more of the various types of aid as a "financial aid package" to students who apply by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and are found eligible.
Financial Aid Programs
- Scholarships: A scholarship is a source of funding that has an academic requirement and/or financial need requirement and does not need to be repaid.
- Grants: A grant is a source of funding based upon need that does not need to be repaid. Sources of grants can be federal, state, or institutional. Loans: A loan is a source of funding that can be based either upon financial need or cost of attendance. Loans are generally federal or private and must be repaid.
- Student Employment: At UF, student employment consists of part-time jobs obtained through the need-based Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) or the non-need-based Other Personnel Services (OPS) program.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Applying correctly for financial aid is critical to receive all aid for which you qualify. For the vast majority of students, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in the financial aid process. Students must apply using both parental and student tax information from the previous year—the 2007— 08 FAFSA requires 2006 tax information. FAFSAs can be obtained at any high school guidance office, community college or university financial aid office, via the Internet at www. FAFSA.ed.gov, or by calling 1-800-433-3243. To apply online students and parents must first request a federal PIN (Personal Identification Number) at www.pin.ed.gov. The federal PIN serves as the student´s identifier to access personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. In addition to completing the FAFSA, we highly recommend that students apply for scholarships through high schools, churches, and civic organizations in their local community.
When to Apply
APPLY EARLY, EVERY YEAR! Most grant programs and certain loans have limited funds. For the best opportunity to receive this type of financial aid, check with the financial aid office in the fall to find out the "on-time" financial aid deadline. It is always best to fill out the FAFSA in January and no later than mid-February, of every year. UF considers an application to be "on time" if the results of the FAFSA are received by the deadline and if any required internal application is also on file. "Late" applications will be processed; however, "on-time" applications receive priority during financial aid packaging. UF´s "on-time" financial aid deadline for the 2007- 08 FAFSA is March 15, 2007 and covers fall, spring, and summer semesters. High school seniors who want financial aid during summer term 2007 should file the 2006-07 FAFSA in addition to the 2007-08 FAFSA. Please Note: The UF Admissions Office application deadline is different from the "on-time" financial aid deadline. Don´t wait to be accepted to UF to apply for aid.
What Happens After I Apply?
About three to four weeks after you submit your FAFSA to the federal processor, the processor will send you a federal Student Aid Report (SAR), which indicates your "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC). Your EFC is used to determine your eligibility for aid. If you do not receive your SAR within a reasonable amount of time, contact the federal processor. After receiving the first of your financial aid documents, SFA will contact you if additional documentation is required. Once we have received your FAFSA results, we will send you an award letter (via both email and the U.S. Postal Service) notifying you of your eligibility. If you have applied early you should receive this in late spring or early summer.
Florida Bright Futures Program
The Florida Bright Futures program is a State of Florida program that offers scholarships to academically qualified students. You must be an upcoming graduate of a State of Florida high school to be eligible. Applying is a separate process from applying for federal aid programs. Eligible students receive money through both programs.
To apply for a Bright Futures Scholarship, submit a complete Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) during your last year in high school. You may apply online at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org. The application gives the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) permission to evaluate your high school transcripts for eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship and will initiate your evaluation for other state scholarships and grants as well. In addition, you will receive a Florida System ID and PIN with instructions on how to access your Bright Futures record on the Internet. For questions, call 1-888-827-2004.
Financial Aid Disbursement
Typically, financial aid is not disbursed until after the semester begins. Students need to make sure that they have adequate "start-up money" available to purchase books, pay rent, etc. Depending on where you attend college, the student accounts office may withhold debts owed to the university from your financial aid disbursement.
Reapply Each Year
Financial aid is not renewed automatically. Federal requirements and/or your family´s financial situation may change. If you were ineligible in a previous year, apply again. You may have become eligible.
Critical Web Site & Phone Numbers
- University of Florida
- UF´s ISIS (Integrated Student Information System)
- FAFSA on the Web (to apply for financial aid online)
- Bright Futures
- U.S. Department of Education
- NSLDS (National Student Loan Data System)
- Free Scholarship Searches
Download this Financial Aid Office information as a pdf.