Financial aid basics
Many students never find out that they are qualified to receive state grants, federally-subsidized student work-study and/or loans. You won't know either, unless you complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Here's what you can expect to happen:Fill out a FAFSA
Your first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), regardless of your family's financial status. Your FAFSA information determines your eligibility for a broad range of financial aid. Even if you do not have financial need, according to your FAFSA results, everybody qualifies for some form of financial aid.
Use school code 003969
Include the University of Minnesota school code, 003969, so your FAFSA information is sent here.
Apply every year
Apply as soon after January 1 as possible and no later than July 1 of the academic year in which you want to receive the aid. If you submit your FAFSA by priority deadline for incoming freshmen of March 1 or, if you are a returning student, April 1, you increase the likelihood that you will receive grants and/or scholarships that do not have to be repaid.
Be admitted
Be sure you have been accepted into a degree program at the University, otherwise, see special information for non-degree students.
Check your Financial Aid Status
The University of Minnesota provides this online tool to help you track progress in the financial aid process.
Student Aid Report
The federal government sends you a Student Aid Report. It shows your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), as determined by FAFSA analysis. This information is also sent directly to the University (provided you entered the school code on your FAFSA).
Financial Aid Award Notification (eFAAN)
You will recieve an e-mail notice that an electronic Financial Aid Award Notification (eFAAN) is available online. Indicate which of the aid awards you accept after you receive your eFAAN.
Verification.
Your application may be selected at random for a process called Verification. Submit all requested documentation so your application can be verified as accurate and truthful.
Special Circumstances
If you or your family have unusual circumstances (e.g., loss of employment or income, separation, death in the family); you believe that an exception should be made to your dependency status; or you have unusual expenses that were not considered in your standard school budget, financial aid staff urge you to review the following appeal options:
- Special Circumstances Appeal for Dependent Students
- Special Circumstances Appeal for Independent Students
- Independent Status Appeal
- Child/Adult Dependent Care Expense Appeal
- Cost of Attendance Appeal--Undergraduate
- Cost of Attendance Appeal--Graduate
The documentation for these appeals differs per "aid year". Please download the form for the year you wish to appeal from the Finances section of One Stop Forms On-line. We invite you to speak to a One Stop counselor before filing an appeal to be sure that your circumstances match appeal criteria.
Promissory note
You must complete a promissory note for any loans you accepted. A promissory note is the legal agreement that you will repay your loan(s).
Enrollment
You need to be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credits to qualify for most financial aid. See enrollment verification for program specific exceptions.
You must meet all other eligibility criteria before your aid is disbursed to your University student account.
Financial aid estimator
An online tool from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education estimates the amount of federal, state, and University-based grants, along with federal education tax benefits, that may be available to you to attend the University of Minnesota. Actual grant amounts, including other types of financial aid (scholarships, work-study, loans), will be awarded only after you submit a FAFSA.