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 https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsaFAFSA. SFA encourages students to complete their FAFSA online.
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 2025-26 aid, you can file a FAFSA as early as December 2024 at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsastudentaid.gov.
To apply for 2024-25 aid, you can file a FAFSA as early as December 2023 at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsastudentaid.gov.
In order for us to consider you for a financial aid package, you must be a degree-seeking, admitted student.
https://uf.financialaidtv.com/play/45863-2019-2020-fafsa-tutorial/fafsar-getting-started-2021-22FAFSA videos are available on how to apply for aid, creating an FSA ID, Dependency Status, and more!
Step 1: Complete the 2025-26 FAFSA as early as possible
Applying for financial aid at UF begins with the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Complete the FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsastudentaid.gov. You can file a 2025-26 FAFSA as early as December 2024. You can file a 2024-25 FAFSA as early as December 2023.
On the 2025-26 FAFSA, students and parents will report their 2023 income and tax information.
Apply each year — financial aid is not renewed automatically.
Most people complete the FAFSA in less than 1 hour.
*In order for us to consider you for a financial aid package, you must be a degree-seeking, admitted student.
We strongly recommend students start the FAFSA and complete their section first to save time and prevent errors.
- Create your StudentAid.gov account at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-accountstudentaid.gov.
- Gather your documents! You will need your parents’ social security numbers (if they have social security numbers) and if you’re a dependent student.
- Start your 2025-26 FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsafafsa.gov.
- List the University of Florida as a school of choice.
- If you’re a dependent student, provide contact information for your parent contributors.
- Submit your application.
- Follow up to ensure your parents complete their portion. Check the status under the “My Activity” section after you sign in.
Get free assistance and answers to your FAFSA questions at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsastudentaid.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. http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/process/additional-information/undocumented-students/DACA students should refer to their academic unit or our http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/search/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) or Student Aid Index (SAI), 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 https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsahttps://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsaFAFSA 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 https://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduONE.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 https://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduONE.UF, or on SFA’s http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/forms/Forms page.
The Financial Aid Offer and the College Financial Plan (Shopping Sheet)
Your award notification comes in two forms—the Financial Aid Offer and the College Financing Plan.
The Financial Aid Offer contains important information about your financial aid, including specific information about your obligations when you receive aid. It provides the names of your expected financial aid along with their expected amounts, itemized by semester. You will learn how to accept this offer, how to report additional outside resources, and important facts about how you will receive your financial aid.
The College Financing Plan 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 Financial Aid Offer, but describes the same financial aid. 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 send you a financial aid offer based on your demonstrated need.
- All financial aid offers and other correspondence will be sent to you by e-mail.
- Your Financial Aid Offer will state the terms and conditions of aid programs offered. Carefully read the information accompanying your financial aid offer and follow all instructions.
- Accept or declined the offered aid, using https://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduONE.UF.
- Grants and Scholarships are considered to be automatically accepted; loans and employment must be expressly accepted on https://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduhttps://one.uf.eduONE.UF.
