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 undergraduate transfer 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 to eligible students. 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 2026
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| August 31, 2026 | Fall financial aid disbursement begins. |
| September 8, 2026 | Fall 2026 term begins. |
| September 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. |
| October 1, 2026 | The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2027-28 opens. |
| October 7, 2026 | Minnesota State Grant and Minnesota Alternative State Grant deadline. If you did not already fill out a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application, this is the last day to complete a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid application and still be considered for the Minnesota State Grant for the fall term. You must be a Minnesota resident to qualify. Note: The deadline for North Star Promise was on June 1, 2026. |
| December 4, 2026 | 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 16, 2026 | 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. |
| December 21, 2026 | Last day to request and accept a fall only PLUS loan. |
| December 22, 2026 | Last day to request and accept a fall only subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Spring 2027
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| January 11, 2027 | Spring 2027 financial aid disbursement begins. |
| January 19, 2027 | Spring term begins. |
| February 2027 | Special circumstance appeal forms are available for dependent and independent students for the 2027-28 aid year. |
| February 2, 2027 | 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. |
| February 17, 2027 | Minnesota State Grant and Minnesota Alternative State Grant deadline. If you did not already fill out a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application, this is the last day to complete a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid application and still be considered for the Minnesota State Grant for the fall term. You must be a Minnesota resident to qualify. |
| April 30, 2027 | 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 3, 2027 | 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. |
| May 10, 2027 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only PLUS loan. |
| May 11, 2027 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Summer 2027
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| May 2027 | 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 17, 2027 | May session and summer 13-week classes begin. |
| May 31, 2027 | Summer financial aid disbursement begins. |
| June 7, 2027 | Summer session begins. |
| June 15, 2027 | Minnesota State Grant and Minnesota Alternative State Grant deadline. If you did not already fill out a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application, this is the last day to complete a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid application and still be considered for the Minnesota State Grant for the fall term. You must be a Minnesota resident to qualify. |
| June 21, 2027 | 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, 2027 | Last day to complete your 2026-27 FAFSA for the current academic year |
| July 30, 2027 | 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. |
| August 11, 2027 | Last day to request and accept a summer PLUS loan. |
| August 12, 2027 | Last day to request and accept a summer subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Fall 2027
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| August 30, 2027 | Fall 2027 financial aid disbursement begins. |
| September 7, 2027 | Fall term begins. |
| September 21, 2027 | 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, 2027 | The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2028-29 opens. |
| October 6, 2027 | Minnesota State Grant, North Star Promise, and Minnesota Alternative State Grant deadline. If you did not already fill out a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application, this is the last day to complete a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid application and still be considered for the Minnesota State Grant and North Star Promise for the fall term. You must be a Minnesota resident to qualify. |
| December 9, 2027 | 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 15, 2027 | 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. |
| December 21, 2027 | Last day to request and accept a fall only PLUS loan. |
| December 22, 2027 | Last day to request and accept a fall only subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Spring 2028
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| January 10, 2028 | Spring 2028 financial aid disbursement begins. |
| January 18, 2028 | Spring term begins. |
| February 2028 | Special circumstance appeal forms are available for dependent and independent students for the 2028-29 aid year. |
| February 1, 2028 | 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. |
| February 16, 2028 | Minnesota State Grant, North Star Promise, and Minnesota Alternative State Grant deadline. If you did not already fill out a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application, this is the last day to complete a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid application and still be considered for the Minnesota State Grant and North Star Promise for the spring term. You must be a Minnesota resident to qualify. |
| April 21, 2028 | 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 1, 2028 | 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. |
| May 8, 2028 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only PLUS loan. |
| May 9, 2028 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Summer 2028
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| May 2028 | 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 15, 2028 | May session and summer 13-week classes begin. |
| May 29, 2028 | Summer financial aid disbursement begins. |
| June 5, 2028 | Summer session begins. |
| June 13, 2028 | Minnesota State Grant, North Star Promise, and Minnesota Alternative State Grant deadline. If you did not already fill out a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application, this is the last day to complete a FAFSA or MN Alternative State Financial Aid application and still be considered for the Minnesota State Grant and North Star Promise for the summer term. You must be a Minnesota resident to qualify. |
| June 19, 2028 | 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, 2028 | Last day to complete your 2027-28 FAFSA for the current academic year |
| July 21, 2028 | 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. |
| August 9, 2028 | Last day to request and accept a summer PLUS loan. |
| August 10, 2028 | Last day to request and accept a summer subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |