How to Apply for Aid
First Time Applicant Financial Aid Guide
The costs of higher education are significant, and if you are planning to attend college, you may need some form of student financial assistance. The cost of a college education includes not just tuition and fees, but also housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and other personal expenses. If you need help with these costs, you may qualify for student financial aid—money designed to help students pay the expenses of attending college. You can improve your chances of receiving financial aid by knowing the answers to the following questions about what, when, and how.
Office for Student Financial Affairs
At the University of Florida (UF), Student Financial Affairs (SFA) in S-107 Criser Hall is the place to get financial aid information and forms. SFA offers individual counseling and conducts workshops from January to March on applying for aid. Remember, we’re here to help. Don't hesitate to ask for assistance. Stop in, or call.
What is Financial Aid?
Financial aid is money provided by various agencies to help students meet the costs of attending college. Federal, state, and local governments, colleges, community organizations, and private corporations or individuals provide assistance in the form of either “gift aid” (scholarships and grants) or “self-help” programs (loans and employment). Scholarships are awards based either on academic merit alone, or on academic merit and financial need. They do not have to be repaid. Grants are awards to students based on financial need alone and do not have to be repaid. Loans are available to students or their parents at low interest rates (3.37%-9%). Student loans are considered financial aid because they have special interest rates and most are subsidized by the institution, the state, or the federal government. Repayment of most student loans does not begin until after graduation. Student employment lets students earn money toward their education while in school by working part-time through federal or state work programs, generally on campus.
» topWhat is an "Aid Package?"
When you apply for assistance from SFA, you do not apply for a particular type or amount of aid. Each student who applies is automatically considered for all aid programs. One or more types of aid are usually awarded in combination to make up a student's financial aid package. When students receive scholarships from outside agencies, the UF Admissions Office, the Graduate School, or other UF colleges and departments, these scholarships are included as part of the student's total aid package.
Who Should Apply?
The only way to tell if you're eligible to receive aid is to apply. UF takes many factors into account when awarding aid. The number of members in your family and the number attending college can make a difference. You don’t have to be poor to qualify, but you do have to prove you need aid. On the average, 72 percent of students at UF receive some form of financial assistance.
How and When Do I Apply?
- In early January, obtain a Gator Aid Application Guide and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from your high school counselor, community college aid office, or from SFA in S-107 Criser Hall. Fill out the FAFSA and send it to the address indicated in time for the results to reach SFA by our “on-time” deadline; or, we recommend applying online using FAFSA on the Web
- To receive aid at UF, apply for financial aid as soon as possible after January 1. Do not wait to be admitted to UF to apply. The earlier you apply, the better chance you will have of being considered for all aid programs!
- Students interested in state financial aid programs such as Florida Student Assistance Grants and Florida Bright Futures Scholarships should contact their high school guidance office or the Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee in the fall or early spring for information and forms (see Addresses).
How Does the University Determine if I am Eligible for Aid?
Financial information provided by you and your family is analyzed by the federal need analysis processor according to federal methodology. Federal methodology is a standardized need-analysis formula created by the U. S. Congress to enable financial aid agencies to calculate how much individual students and their families are expected to pay for higher education. The federal processor sends your need analysis to the schools you specify, indicating how much you and your family should be able to pay for your education. The university compares this amount with its cost of attendance. If the cost of attendance is greater than what you are expected to pay, the university considers you to have financial need and to be eligible for aid.
Dependent or Independent?
The federal government has established criteria for classifying financial aid recipients as dependent or independent. If you are classified as dependent, your parents' assets and income and your own are evaluated. If you are classified as independent, your financial need is evaluated on your own assets and income.
Award Size
Income is not the only factor considered in determining how much you and your family should be able to pay toward college. Your family's size, assets, and number of family members in college are also factors. The university cannot determine the amount of students’ awards until the results of their FAFSAs/ Renewal FAFSAs are received from the federal processor. SFA begins to mail out student awards in March or April. The best way to find out how much you may qualify for is to fill out the FAFSA early to get the process started. Meanwhile, you and your family might want to use the online EFC Estimators on this site or on “The Financial Aid Information Page” at www.finaid.org.
What Aid Programs are Available at UF?
Scholarships:
Hundreds of scholarships are available for UF students. Some are need-based; others are not. Sources include SFA, the UF Admissions Office, UF colleges and departments, the State of Florida, and private donors and organizations.
Grants:
Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Florida Student Assistance Grants, Turner Grants, and UF Graduate Grants.
Loans:
Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans (for parents of undergraduates), University of Florida institutional loans.
Work Programs:
Federal Work-Study, Other Personnel Services, Off-Campus Jobs, and Co-op Education.
Who is Eligible for Aid?
Eligibility requirements vary by program. At UF, to be eligible for most financial aid programs you must:
- be a U. S. citizen, national, or permanent resident alien;
- be enrolled at least half time in a degree-seeking program;
- make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree;
- not be in default on a student loan or owe a refund on student financial aid received at UF or any other institution;
- register with the Selective Service Administration, if required to do so.
Can I Transfer Aid from Another School?
Generally, financial aid cannot be transferred from one institution to another. In most cases you must reapply for aid. If you plan to transfer to UF:
- Contact both SFA and the financial aid office at your current school to inquire about transfer policies.
- SFA will access financial aid transcript information for you via a national data source. You will be notified if additional information is needed.
- Be sure “University of Florida” (Title IV Code 001535) is listed as a school of your choice on the Federal Student Aid Report (SAR) you receive from the federal processor,
- If you are receiving Florida Bright Futures Scholarship (State Code 011) or other aid program from the State of Florida, contact the Florida Department of Education (FDEP) in Tallahassee for instructions. FDEP has deadlines for notifying them of a change in school.
- If you are receiving a Federal Direct Loan or Federal Family Education Loan at your current school, you must cancel that loan, reapply at UF through SFA, and contact all your previous lenders to update your enrollment status and new location.
What Happens After I Apply?
- You are responsible for following up on your application. You will receive letters from our office (SFA) and the federal processor, and you may be asked for additional documentation. When documents are requested from you, send them promptly.
- About three to four weeks after you submit your FAFSA to the federal processor, the federal processor will send you a federal Student Aid Report (SAR), which indicates your ”Expected Family Contribution” and 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. When we have determined how much and what kind of financial aid you will receive, we will mail you an award letter informing you of your eligibility or ineligibility. If you have applied early, you should receive this in the late spring or early summer.
Does the University Verify Information on Aid Applications?
Yes. About 30 percent of financial aid applications nationwide are “verified,” a process of confirming data supplied by applicants and/or parents on aid applications. Verification is part of the required federal process that determines whether or not students are eligible for aid. If your application is selected, you will receive a letter from UF notifying you and providing instructions.
If I'm Eligible for Aid, When Will I Receive It?
If you apply in early spring and turn in all documents requested by our office, you should receive your money at the beginning of fall semester. Students who apply late or are selected for verification may receive their aid late. These students should be prepared to pay start-up costs from other sources.
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.
Start a Financial Aid File
What to keep in your file:
- Photocopies or printouts of your completed FAFSA.
- Photocopies of your/your parents’ income tax forms and W-2s.
- Your Federal Student Aid Report or a photocopy of it.
- Photocopies of forms or information used to complete your aid application and all correspondence with SFA, and other aid agencies.
- Your financial aid award letter (or a copy) from SFA.
- Your Gator Aid Application Guide and your FAFSA instruction booklet.
- Your Federal PIN
- Your State of Florida PIN and paperwork.
Application Checklist
- Apply Early. Pick up a Gator Aid Application Guide and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in early January each year, either from your high school guidance office or community college financial aid office, or from SFA in Criser Hall. Complete the FAFSA following all instructions and mail it to the federal processor as soon as possible after January 1. Or, apply online at FAFSA on the Web.
- If at all possible, complete your income tax returns FIRST so that you can take financial figures directly from your IRS forms.
- Read Instructions Carefully.
- Respond Quickly to all requests from our office and the other aid agencies to speed up the process and get your money sooner!
- Ask Questions! If you are unsure about any part of the application process, check with your high school counselor or with SFA in Criser Hall.
We Can Help
SFA offers financial aid counseling and information about application to current students, prospective students, graduate students, and parents. Financial aid advisers are available from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday in S-107 Criser Hall. For more information on student aid at UF, write or call SFA.
Computerized Services
At UF’s ISIS (Integrated Student Information System) site, students with an active financial aid file can get online information about the status of their aid file.
Federal Direct Loan and Perkins Loan Entrance and Exit Counseling
To complete loan entrance and exit requirements, go to ISIS. Under "Services" choose "Financial Services," then choose Direct Loan Entrance Counseling or Student Loan Exit Counseling. For more information, contact University Financial Services in S-108 Criser Hall at (352) 392-0738.