The financial aid timeline provides an overview of the financial aid process from when you first apply for financial aid to receiving your financial aid each term before classes start. These dates are generally the same each term. More specific financial aid dates can be found in the tables below.
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| October* | The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming academic year opens. We encourage you to prepare for the FAFSA and complete the FAFSA early when it becomes available. The University will review your information and start sending you notifications by the end of December. |
| Mid-October | Explore scholarships for the upcoming academic year and apply for the ones you are eligible for based on your student profile. |
| March | Estimated Financial Aid Notices begin going out to first-year and transfer undergraduate students. If you are admitted to the University and have completed the financial aid process, you will receive an Estimated Financial Aid Notice from One Stop Student Services to your University email account. The preliminary figures in the Estimated Financial aid Notice are based on the Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA). Returning students will not receive an Estimated Financial Aid Notice. |
| Mid to Late July | One Stop Student Services sends financial aid offers. You will receive an email from One Stop Student Services with instructions on how to review your financial aid offer for the upcoming academic year. The email will be sent to your University email account. Please review your offer. If your offer includes loans or work study, you can accept, decline, or reduce the amount you’ve been offered. You need to complete required loan documentation before you receive any loans that are accepted with your financial aid offer. Gift aid, which includes any grants or scholarships, is auto-accepted and does not need a review. |
| Early to Mid August | Explore additional funding for the upcoming fall semester if necessary. The private loan process can take up to six weeks to be finalized. To ensure on time payment of your student account, private loan applications should be completed by mid-August. |
| Approximately one week before class starts (fall and spring semesters) | During the week before classes start, your financial aid will be applied to your University student account. If you have excess funds after your tuition, fees, housing, and other authorized charges are paid, that money will be sent to you via check or direct deposit. If you have additional tuition, fees, housing or other charges that are not covered by your financial aid, you will receive a bill for those charges. Financial aid continues to be offered and disbursed throughout the term as students accept and respond to their offers. Please contact One Stop Student Services if you have already responded to your aid offers and need to make changes. |
Important financial aid dates
Use the tables below to find dates regarding financial aid disbursement, loan and grant deadlines, and additional information about financial aid eligibility.
Fall 2024
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| August 26, 2024 | Fall financial aid disbursement begins. |
| September 3, 2024 | Fall 2024 term begins. |
| September 16, 2024 | Census date: Your enrollment is reviewed for financial aid eligibility. If your enrollment has increased or decreased by this date, your aid eligibility will be adjusted to the appropriate amount based on your revised enrollment. Learn more about financial aid eligibility. |
| November 30, 2024 | Minnesota State Grant and Minnesota Dream Act deadline. If you did not already fill out a FAFSA or MN Dream Act Application, this is the last day to complete a FAFSA or MN Dream Act application and still be considered for the Minnesota State Grant for the fall term*. You must be a Minnesota resident to qualify. *2024-25 FAFSA submissions after November 30, 2024 will not be considered for MN State Grant eligibility, including the summer 2025 term. |
| December 1, 2024 | The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2025-26 opens. |
| December 6, 2024 | Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal deadline for fall semester. If you need to submit an appeal, it must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the end of the term in which you are seeking aid. |
| December 11, 2024 | Last day to submit your application for tuition reciprocity with your home state/province if you are a ND, WI, or Manitoba resident and you are being charged non-resident tuition through the U of MN. Last day to submit the South Dakota Tuition Application for fall 2024 admits. |
| December 18, 2024 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only PLUS loan. |
| December 19, 2024 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Spring 2025
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| January 13, 2025 | Spring 2025 financial aid disbursement begins. |
| January 21, 2025 | Spring term begins. |
| February 2025 | Special circumstance appeal forms are available for the 2025-26 aid year. |
| February 3, 2025 | Census date: Your enrollment is reviewed for financial aid eligibility. If your enrollment has increased or decreased by this date, your aid eligibility will be adjusted to the appropriate amount based on your revised enrollment. Learn more about financial aid eligibility. |
| May 2, 2025 | Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal deadline for spring semester. If you need to submit an appeal, it must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the end of the term in which you are seeking aid. |
| May 5, 2025 | Last day to submit your application for tuition reciprocity with your home state/province if you are a ND, WI, or Manitoba resident and you are being charged non-resident tuition through the U of MN. Last day to submit the South Dakota Tuition Application for spring 2025 admits. |
| May 12, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only PLUS loan. |
| May 13, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Summer 2025
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| May 2025 | The University sends financial aid offers for May and summer sessions. You will receive an email with instructions on how to review your financial aid offer for the upcoming academic year. The email will be sent to your University email account. Please review your offer. If your offer includes loans or work study, you can accept, decline, or reduce the amount you’ve been offered. You need to complete required loan documentation before you receive any loans that are accepted with your financial aid offer. |
| May 19, 2025 | May session and summer 13-week classes begin. |
| June 2, 2025 | Summer financial aid disbursement begins. |
| June 9, 2025 | Summer session begins. |
| June 23, 2025 | Census date: Your enrollment is reviewed for financial aid eligibility If your enrollment has increased or decreased by this date, your aid eligibility will be adjusted to the appropriate amount based on your revised enrollment. Learn more about financial aid eligibility. |
| June 30, 2025 | Last day to complete your 2023-24 FAFSA for the current academic year |
| July 18, 2025 | Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal deadline for summer. If you need to submit an appeal, it must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the end of the term in which you are seeking aid. |
| July 31, 2025 | Minnesota State Grant and Minnesota Dream Act deadline. *2025-26 FAFSA submissions after July 31, 2025 will not be considered for MN State Grant eligibility. You may be eligible for other state aid if you submit your FAFSA after this deadline. It has not been determined if MN State Grant funding will be available for the summer 2026 term. |
| August 12, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a summer PLUS loan. |
| August 13, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a summer subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Fall 2025
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| August 25, 2025 | Fall 2025 financial aid disbursement begins. |
| September 2, 2025 | Fall term begins. |
| September 16, 2025 | Census date: Your enrollment is reviewed for financial aid eligibility. If your enrollment has increased or decreased by this date, your aid eligibility will be adjusted to the appropriate amount based on your revised enrollment. Learn more about financial aid eligibility. |
| October 1, 2025 | The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2026-27 opens. |
| December 4, 2025 | Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal deadline for fall semester. If you need to submit an appeal, it must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the end of the term in which you are seeking aid. |
| December 8, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a fall only PLUS loan. |
| December 9, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a fall only subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
| December 10, 2025 | Last day to submit your application for tuition reciprocity with your home state if you are a ND, WI, or Manitoba resident and you are being charged non-resident tuition through the U of MN. |
Spring 2026
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| January 12, 2026 | Spring 2026 financial aid disbursement begins. |
| January 20, 2026 | Spring term begins. |
| February 2026 | Special circumstance appeal forms are available for the 2026-27 aid year. |
| February 3, 2026 | Census date: Your enrollment is reviewed for financial aid eligibility. If your enrollment has increased or decreased by this date, your aid eligibility will be adjusted to the appropriate amount based on your revised enrollment. Learn more about financial aid eligibility. |
| May 1, 2026 | Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal deadline for spring semester. If you need to submit an appeal, it must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the end of the term in which you are seeking aid. |
| May 4, 2026 | Last day to submit your application for tuition reciprocity with your home state if you are a ND, WI, or Manitoba resident and you are being charged non-resident tuition through the U of MN. |
| May 5, 2026 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only PLUS loan. |
| May 6, 2026 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Summer 2026
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| May 2026 | The University sends financial aid offers for May and summer sessions. You will receive an email with instructions on how to review your financial aid offer for the upcoming academic year. The email will be sent to your University email account. Please review your offer. If your offer includes loans or work study, you can accept, decline, or reduce the amount you’ve been offered. You need to complete required loan documentation before you receive any loans that are accepted with your financial aid offer. |
| May 18, 2026 | May session and summer 13-week classes begin. |
| June 1, 2026 | Summer financial aid disbursement begins. |
| June 8, 2026 | Summer session begins. |
| June 22, 2026 | Census date: Your enrollment is reviewed for financial aid eligibility If your enrollment has increased or decreased by this date, your aid eligibility will be adjusted to the appropriate amount based on your revised enrollment. Learn more about financial aid eligibility. |
| June 30, 2026 | Last day to complete your 2025-26 FAFSA for the current academic year |
| July 31, 2026 | Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal deadline for summer 2024. If you need to submit an appeal, it must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the end of the term in which you are seeking aid. |
| August 6, 2026 | Last day to request and accept a summer PLUS loan. |
| August 7, 2026 | Last day to request and accept a summer subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |