Financial Aid

Apply for Aid

Follow these five steps to submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

Complete the FAFSA

The FAFSA is available Oct. 1 for academic years beginning in fall. Submit your FAFSA at least 60 days before your planned start term to ensure financial aid is offered in a timely manner.

Be sure to include the University of Arizona's school code (001083) when you submit your FAFSA to avoid delays in the processing of your aid.

Become a Student

Apply for admission today!

You need to be admitted before we can review your financial aid eligibility.

Review the National Student Loan Database (NSLDS)

Review the NSLDS to determine the total amount of federal student loans and/or Federal Pell Grant you have already received. This affects your eligibility for future financial aid.

Review the Student Aid Report (SAR)

When you receive your SAR, review it and make corrections if necessary. Also check the comments at the top of the SAR, which will request additional information if needed.

Monitor Your UA Email Account and UAccess Student Center

CatMail and UAccess are where you can find up-to-date information, financial aid notifications and requests from the university.

Bridge Scholarship for Transfer Students

If you are transferring from an Arizona community college, you may be eligible to receive a scholarship of $500 per semester, renewable for up to three years or 60 University of Arizona credits. Bridge offers a clear path to a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona Online—and unlocks this unique scholarship opportunity.

Ready to Apply? Check Eligibility

Helpful Tools

Scholarship Universe

Apply for scholarships and submit a FAFSA to ensure you have plenty of options.

Learn more

Financial Aid Policies

Read up on our policies for additional details about your financial aid options.

Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

What financial aid is available to Arizona Online students?

Federal financial aid is available to Arizona Online students in the form of the Federal Pell Grant and Direct Student Loans. The Pell Grant will be automatically awarded to eligible students. Federal Direct Student Loans must be accepted by students through their UAccess Student Center. Once the loans have been accepted, students must complete both the Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling, which can be completed on studentloans.gov. In addition to federal financial aid, Arizona Online students may also apply for scholarships available through Scholarship Universe.

As an Arizona Online student, when should I complete my FAFSA?

Online students should aim to submit their FAFSA at least 60 days before their specified start date.

What happens once I have completed my FAFSA?

Once the FAFSA is completed on the Federal Student Aid website, it will take 5-10 business days for the University of Arizona to receive your FAFSA submission. Keep in mind, we will only receive your FAFSA after you have officially been admitted to the University. While you are waiting for us to receive your FAFSA, you may want to be sure that you provided the correct school code (001083) and that your FAFSA is free from any errors, such as personal data and electronic signatures.

After the FAFSA has been received, it will take an additional 2-3 business weeks for your award package to be posted on your UAccess Student Center.

Please keep in mind that it is quite common for the Department of Education to request further documentation for verification purposes. If verification is required, you will receive an email, and a notice will be placed on the “To Do List” in your UAccess Student Center. Any requested documentation must be submitted to the “Verify My FAFSA Portal” in UAccess or via www.arizona.verifymyfafsa.com. Processing time is generally 2-3 business weeks from the date of your last submission.

Please note: aid will not be disbursed to your bursar’s account until all verification has been completed.

How can I apply for self-help options such as loans?

You can read more about self-help options and find step-by-step instructions on how to accept loans at: https://financialaid.arizona.edu/types-of-aid/loans.

How much can I receive in student loans?

Federal loan limits can be reviewed on our financial aid website. If you have specific questions in regard to your particular situation, please contact Arizona Online at 520-621-0898 or by email at OnlineFinancialAid@arizona.edu.

How many units do I need to be enrolled in for my federal aid to disburse?

If you are awaiting federal student loans as an Undergraduate student, the minimum requirement for loans to disburse is 6 units for the full semester. If you are a Graduate Student, the minimum requirement is 5 units of enrollment, unless you have an Advanced Standing form on file with the Graduate College.

If you are awaiting the Federal Pell Grant your eligibility will be adjusted to match the number of units you are enrolled in for the full semester.

I accepted my aid. How long will it take to disburse?

If there are no pending “To Do List” items on your UAccess Student Center, such as Loan Entrance Counseling, Master Promissory Note, or Verification requirements, your aid should disburse at least 10-days prior to your earliest class start date. Please make sure to check your Arizona email and “To Do List” periodically for any pending requirements.

If you accepted your loans after the first disbursement of the semester, and your Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note have been completed, it will take approximately 5-7 days for the money to disburse into your bursar’s account.

My financial situation has changed since completing the FAFSA. What can I do?

If a student or their family’s financial situation changes due to special circumstances after filing the FAFSA, a student may request to submit a Family Contribution Appeal. Students must contact our office to request the online form. The student will be required to submit supporting documentation with the Family Contribution Appeal in order to verify the change in circumstances. Learn more about this appeal and the different types of special circumstance appeal on the Special Circumstances portion of our site.

Note: If you already have an EFC of zero (0), you are not eligible to complete this form.

I have been flagged for verification. What does that mean?

It simply means that the Department of Education is in need of additional documentation. Go to the “Verify My FAFSA Portal” in UAccess or www.arizona.verifymyfafsa.com under your “To Do List”, and upload the requested documentation into your portal. The quicker you complete this step, the faster you will receive your aid.

If the Department of Education does not require any further documentation, the normal processing time is generally 2-3 business weeks from the last submission date.

What is a SAP Appeal?

SAP stands for Satisfactory Academic Progress. The Department of Education requires that you maintain a certain academic status in order to be eligible to receive federal financial aid. If you fail a class or withdraw, your academic standing may be in jeopardy.

At the end of the semester, if you have fallen below SAP guidelines, there will be a SAP Appeal “To Do List” item placed on your account. The SAP Appeal will need to be completed with your academic advisor in order to be considered for federal financial aid for the academic term. It is recommended that you complete the SAP form no later than 30 days prior to the semester’s end date. To read more about this policy and download the form, please see the financial aid website.

I am planning to take courses at the University of Arizona and another school during the same semester. Can I use my Arizona financial aid to pay for my classes at the other school?

Federal regulations do not allow students to receive federal financial aid from two schools at the same time. By completing a Consortium Agreement, a student can attend the University of Arizona and another accredited school (referred to as the “visiting institution”) during the same semester and receive federal financial aid funding for the total combined units. This process most benefits Federal Pell Grant recipients who are enrolled in less than 12 units at Arizona.

Find more information in regards to the Consortium Agreement and access the form.

Why did my Pell Grant get adjusted?

Did you drop a class? Add a class? Withdraw from a class? Students with enrollment changes will be impacted. Withdrawals do count as an enrollment change. Read more about the Pell Recalculation Policy (PRD) and the dates that the recalculations will occur.

I am planning to drop one or more class(es). How will my financial aid be impacted?

There are different types of withdrawals that you need to consider. If you are not dropping/withdrawing from all of your classes, the effect on financial aid will be different than if you completely withdraw from all courses.

A complete withdrawal will require what is referred to as an R2T4 (Return of Title IV Funds) recalculation. This recalculation is used by the institution to calculate the earned and unearned portions of Title IV funds when a student withdraws from a postsecondary institution before completing the period for which the student paid. These are completed after a student has withdrawn from all courses and/or officially withdrawn with the institution.

If you are only planning on dropping a portion of the classes in your schedule, keep in mind that each situation will be a bit different. You may be required to pay back money received in student loans and/or grant aid depending on when the course is dropped. In order to “earn” the money taken in student aid for a term, a student must have completed 60% of that course. This is determined by the last date a class was attended, or the last date an assignment was completed.

In addition, the Department of Education requires that you maintain a certain academic status in order to be eligible to receive federal financial aid. If you withdraw from courses, your academic standing may be in jeopardy.

*** It is highly recommended that you check in with both your academic advisor and a financial aid counselor before you drop or withdraw from any courses. ***

Learn more about the financial aid withdrawal policy.

Where can I find a history of all my federal student loans?

The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) keeps a personal history of all the student loans you have borrowed in your lifetime. To view the list, you will need to log in with the FSA ID that you created to complete your FAFSA. This site also provides information regarding lifetime loan limits and lender contact information.

I have documents I need to turn in to the financial aid office. How should I submit them?

You may turn in documents via email or fax.

Send us a document to the Ask Aid Portal.

By Fax: 520.621.9473

For more information, please feel free to contact us at 520-621-0898 or 520-621-1858