For many students, financial aid can greatly affect their decision about whether or not to attend college, or which institution they attend. Because of its importance, the decision to apply for financial aid, and which programs to accept, should be made only with a complete understanding of the process, requirements, benefits, and responsibilities.
The University of Florida offers four types of financial aid—http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/types-of-aid/grants/grants, http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/scholarships, http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/types-of-aid/loans/loans, and part-time http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/types-of-aid/employment/employment. Grants and scholarships are considered gift aid, as they do not have to be repaid. Loans by definition must be repaid. Student employment is offered in exchange for a service—work.
UF offers financial aid for the express purpose of helping students pay their educationally related expenses. Such aid is usually provided by federal, state, institutional, or private agencies. If you are eligible for assistance, SFA will offer you a financial aid package, which could consist of scholarships, grants, loans, and/or student employment (solely or in combination).
SFA recognizes that each student’s financial situation is unique and strives to develop policies and procedures that treat each student fairly and equitably while taking into account special circumstances.
Who Should Apply for Aid?
All students who think they need financial assistance should apply. The only way to tell if you’re eligible to receive aid is to apply. Many factors are taken into account when awarding aid. Currently, more than seventy percent of students at UF receive some form of financial assistance.
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Who is Eligible to Apply?
For most financial aid programs at UF, you must:
- Be a U. S. citizen, national, or permanent resident alien.
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at least half time in a degree program. Exception: Federal Pell Grants. http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/process/receiving-your-aid/enrollment-requirements/View UF Enrollment Requirements.
- Make satisfactory http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/process/additional-information/satisfactory-academic-progress-policy/http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/process/additional-information/satisfactory-academic-progress-policy/academic progress toward a degree.
- Register with the Selective Service Administration, if required to do so.
- Not be in default on a federal or institutional loan or owe a repayment on a previous financial aid award received at UF or other institution.
Note: Students enrolled in graduate certificate programs are not eligible for federal student aid. Students enrolled in approved graduate certificate programs may be eligible for Alternative loans.
Some http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/types-of-aid/programs will list additional eligibility requirements.
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A Summary of Federal Aid
When Should You Apply?
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 FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/fafsastudentaid.gov. You can file a 2023-24 FAFSA as early as October 1, 2022. You can file a 2024-25 FAFSA as early as December 2023.
In order for us to consider you for a financial aid package, you must be a degree seeking admitted student.
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How Long Can You Receive Aid?
In general, undergraduate students may receive up to ten full-time terms of aid. Students receiving financial aid must be in good standing at UF and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
The maximum number of terms students transferring to UF may receive aid is prorated based on their entering enrollment status. http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/process/additional-information/satisfactory-academic-progress-policy/http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/process/additional-information/satisfactory-academic-progress-policy/View UF’s financial aid academic progress requirements.
Beginning with the 2009-10 academic year, the Florida Legislature enacted a rule, known as the Excess Hours Fee. The rule is an attempt to encourage students to finish their degrees in a timely fashion.
- Students who entered UF as an undergraduate between and including fall of 2009 and summer of 2011 are subject to a threshold percentage of 120%, meaning that for credits beyond 120% of the number of credits required for their degree, they will have to pay an additional surcharge equalling 50% of their tuition.
- Students entering UF as undergraduates in fall of 2011 or thereafter are subject to a 115% threshold, meaning for credits beyond 115% of the number of credits required for their degree, they will have to pay an additional surcharge equalling 50% of their tuition.
The rule considers failed courses, drops, withdrawals (general), repeats, and all accepted transfer credits as hours towards a bachelor’s degree. There are many types of credit hours that are excluded from the calculation of hours, including hours earned through accelerated mechanisms such as AP, IB, dual enrollment, etc. The bill’s full text is available, http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2009/1696/BillText/er/PDFFL Senate bill 1696, 2009 Session.
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Other Sources of Aid
The following are additional sources of aid other than SFA. Students should check their award summary at https://one.uf.eduONE.UF to verify aid from all sources are listed.
- UF Admissions Office
http://www.admissions.ufl.eduThe Admissions Office awards academic achievement scholarships, primarily to incoming freshmen and transfers. - Florida Prepaid College Plan
The Florida Prepaid College Plan allows parents, grandparents, and others to lock in the cost of college today. For more info, see the https://www.myfloridaprepaid.comPrepaid Web site. - Individual UF Colleges
Aid available through individual colleges within the university is listed on the http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/searchScholarship Search Engine. - The State of Florida.
The http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.orghttp://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.orgFlorida Department of Education Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) sponsors many programs, such as the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, the Florida Student Assistance Grant, the Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant, and the Rosewood Family Scholarship. For more information, go to the http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.orghttp://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.orgOSFA Web site.
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Students with Disabilities
Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (SFA) in S-107 Criser Hall and the https://disability.ufl.eduDisability Resource Center work together to assist students with disabilities. Criser Hall and Peabody Hall are both accessible by wheelchair.
Students who need special assistance in applying for aid can contact SFA at (352) 392-2244 for an appointment. When applying for aid through SFA, students
with disabilities may qualify for an increase in their educational budgets
to cover disability-related expenses. DSO helps determine disability-related
expenses not offered or provided by other agencies.
The Division of Student Life Disability Resource Center’s phone numbers are (352) 392-8565 (V) and (352) 392-3008 (TDD). Students with speech or hearing impairments who need to contact an agency on campus which does not list a TDD number may use the http://www.ftri.orgFlorida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD), or by dialing 711.
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Special Categories
Student Financial Aid and Scholarships makes every effort to develop policies and procedures that treat each student fairly and equitably while taking into account unusual circumstances. Visit http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/process/eligibility-2/special-categories/Special Categories for additional information on financial aid for graduate students, transient students, students with disabilities, international students, undocumented students, veterans, post baccalaureate students, transfer students, and flexible learning students.
