Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA is an annual application for federal and state financial aid. The 2011-2012 FAFSA is the application for fall 2011, spring 2012, and summer 2012. The 2012-2013 FAFSA is the application for fall 2012, spring 2013, and summer 2013.

Steps for First-Time Applicants

1. Assemble your tax and asset information, such as your W2s and 1040s.
2. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to file your FAFSA. Be sure to apply for your PIN (and your parent if parent information is required) during the FAFSA filing process. Use the PIN to electronically sign your FAFSA. Our FAFSA school code is 001999.
3. Once your FAFSA if processed by the U.S. Department of Education, you will be sent a Student Aid Report. If you filed electronically, the SAR will sent to you via email. If you filed by paper or did not provide an email address, the SAR will be sent to you by mail.
4. Review the SAR for comments and incorrect information. If accurate, keep the SAR for your records. If you find any errors, you can correct this by returning the paper SAR or by making corrections to a processed FAFSA online. If you used estimated tax return information when completing the FAFSA, remember to update your FAFSA with actual tax information by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool after you file your federal income tax return.

Review our Financial Aid: Start-to-Finish to learn the financial aid process at U of L.  My Award Letter is also a great resource for information on the award notification process.

You can file the FAFSA while you are filing for admission to U of L.

The following link is a 25 minute video presentation that summarizes the steps to complete the 2012-2013 FAFSA.   http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL763F446AD91D5E03

Fall & Spring

Fall 2011 -Spring 2012 Award Information is available in My Award Letter.

For 2011-2012, it is critical for students dependent on financial aid for account settlement and living expenses to apply early. A processed FAFSA and all required verification documents, or notice of any outside or departmental scholarships must be on file in the U of L Financial Aid office by July 6, 2010 in order for you to receive actual or anticipated aid. If you submit documents after July 6, 2010, then you may not have actual or anticipated aid in time to settle your fall 2010 bill, and will need to settle their charges through other means. Descriptions of other methods for account settlement are available on the Bursar's Office website.

Spring

Fall 2011 -Spring 2012 Award Information is available in My Award Letter.

If you are a transfer student starting spring 2012, then you may have already filed a FAFSA for your previous school. If this is the case, then you need to confirm that the U of L school code (001999) is listed on your FAFSA.

For students starting spring 2011, it is critical for students dependent on financial aid for account settlement and living expenses to apply early. A processed FAFSA and all required verification documents, or notice of any outside or departmental scholarships must be on file in the U of L Financial Aid office by October 19, 2011 in order for you to receive actual or anticipated aid. If you submit documents after October 19, 2011 then you may not have actual or anticipated aid in time to settle your spring 2012 bill, and will need to settle their charges through other means. Descriptions of other methods for account settlement are available on the Bursar's Office website.

Summer

The application for summer 2012 federal financial aid will be made available on your ULink account around the beginning of April. You must have a complete 2011-2012 Financial Aid File, which includes a 2011-2012 FAFSA and all requested documentation to apply.  During summer, federal financial assistance is only available to eligible applicants who have Pell Grant eligibility, TEACH, and/or Stafford Loan eligibility.  Undergraduate students can also apply for the Parent PLUS Loan, and graduate students can apply for the Graduate/Professional PLUS Loan. Please familiarize yourself with the federal annual aid limits.

The mandatory application for summer 2011 federal financial aid will be made available on your ULink account April 6th.  Do not apply on ULink until you have finalized your summer enrollment.  If you submit the online summer application before you finalize your summer enrollment, your awards may be delayed and may have to be adjusted.

Financial Aid: Start-to-Finish

For detailed instructions on applying for aid at the University of Louisville, be sure to view our Financial Aid: Start-to-Finish to help you navigate the financial aid process.