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Aid Process

How to Apply for Aid

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 FAFSA. 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 October 1, 2024 at studentaid.gov. 

To apply for 2024-25 aid, you can file a FAFSA as early as December 2023 at studentaid.gov.

In order for us to consider you for a financial aid package, you must be a degree-seeking, admitted student.

FAFSA videos are available on how to apply for aid, creating an FSA ID, Dependency Status, and more!

Applying for financial aid at UF begins with the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. You can file a 2025-26 FAFSA as early as October 1, 2024. The FAFSA usually opens on October 1 of each year.

You can file a 2024-25 FAFSA as early as December 2024. The FAFSA opens on October 1 of each year.

*In order for us to consider you for a financial aid package, you must be a degree-seeking, admitted student.

  • Create an FSA ID at the Federal Student Aid’s FSA ID site. Follow the instructions on the site. An FSA ID gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature. If you’re a dependent student, your parents must also obtain an FSA ID.
  • Go to FAFSA on the Web. Follow the instructions on the site.
  • List the University of Florida and the UF Federal School Code (001535) as a school choice in Step Six of the FAFSA.
  • Sign your FAFSA. Students can sign electronically using their FSA ID. Parents of dependent students may sign electronically but must first obtain their own FSA ID.
  • Don’t forget to reapply each year, financial aid is not renewed automatically.

Get free assistance and answers to your FAFSA questions at studentaid.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. DACA students should refer to their academic unit or our scholarship search engine for possible scholarship options.

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 FAFSA 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.
  • Check the status of your aid application and award on ONE.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 ONE.UF, or on SFA’s Forms page.

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 ONE.UF.
  • Grants and Scholarships are considered to be automatically accepted; loans and employment must be expressly accepted on ONE.UF.