The application for federal financial aid is available by October 1 for the following academic year.  It is important for you to apply early. Students who complete their application by the March 15th priority deadline increase their potential to receive the maximum aid available from each of the financial aid programs.

Students often find the financial aid application process confusing. To help you apply for financial aid and understand the process, the major steps are outlined below:

Step 1:  Submit the Free Application for Federal Student aid for 2026-2027

To complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) visit the FAFSA website. You will need to provide information about your 2024 W-2s and federal tax return in addition to personal identifying factors and contact information (Social Security number, date of birth, address, mobile phone number, etc.). ULSD students should use the University of Louisville school code (001999). If you need application assistance, contact the FAFSA help line at 1-800-433-3243. Please use the Financial Aid Direct Data Exchange to import your 2024 tax data into your application whenever possible. 

Step 2:  Confirmation Email and Review your Student Aid Report

• Timeline: After the FAFSA is completed online

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is submitted to the Federal Processing Center for analysis. The processing center will email a Student Aid Report (SAR) to you and the Financial Aid Office. When the University of Louisville Financial Aid Office has received your application, we will also send you a confirmation email to your student account.

Step 3: Verification or Missing Documentation

• Timeline: Generally March - May

In some cases, the U.S. Department of Education requires us to collect additional information from you through a process called verification. We may also need to resolve conflicting information you reported on the FAFSA. 

Please Note: If the school needs additional information from you, a notification will be sent to your UofL email account - you may review your "Tasks" via ULink.

Step 4: Financial Aid Award Notification

• Timeline: Mid-May to June

The Financial Aid Office will calculate your eligibility and forward an email Financial Aid Award Notification (FAN) to you. The email will direct you to ULink to view your financial aid award. To process a federal student loan, you must accept/reduce your offered loans via ULink.

Please note: the University of Louisville does not require a Graduate PLUS loan application to be completed on the Federal Student Aid website. Your FAN will automatically include the maximum Graduate PLUS loan for which you are eligible and you have the option to accept the amount you wish to process for the year.

Step 5: Master Promissory Note(s)/Entrance Counseling

• Timeline: June to July

First-time graduate loan borrowers must complete entrance counseling for graduate or professional students prior to disbursement of any federal student loans. This online counseling will educate you, as the borrower, on your rights and responsibilities.

The Master Promissory Note(s), or MPN, for the Direct Unsubsidized and/or Direct Graduate PLUS loans is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest to the Department of Education. One MPN is required for each type of loan (Unsub/Grad PLUS) that a student borrows prior to the first disbursement in the DMD program.

To complete your federal student loan steps, navigate to the federal student aid website and log in using your FSA ID.

Step 6: Loan Disbursement

• Timeline: First week of classes

The school will divide your loan in two equal disbursements, which are sent to the University at the beginning of each semester.

Step 7: Residual Funding

Once your account is cleared of any charges for the current semester, the residual balance of your loan disbursement will be sent to you based on the refund method that you select through ULink. These funds will need to last you for the entire semester. Be sure to establish your refund method prior to your first semester.

The Financial Aid Office processes aid as quickly as possible but we rely on you, the student, to submit all financial aid forms in a timely manner.