FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

The FAFSA is an annual application used for students seeking federal, state and some institutional financial aid. The FAFSA should be filed each October 1 for the next year.

We will begin reviewing your FAFSA after it has been processed by the U.S. Department of Education and you are an applicant with the Admission's Office. Starting in November, our office will begin awarding first time freshmen and transfer students. Keep in mind that all communications from the UofL Office of Financial Aid come to your Louisville.edu email.

We encourage you to apply for financial aid as early as possible after the FAFSA is made available in order to allow adequate processing time for the upcoming fall term.

• A good general overview of the federal student aid programs is available in the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov.
• Start a folder of computer print-outs and mail you have received from schools or the U.S. Department of Education.

Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, offers several YouTube videos about the FAFSA application process.

Special Notes

Fall & Spring

The priority date to have a completed file for fall is early July; however, due to limited funding for some programs, students are encouraged to apply and complete their financial aid file as soon as possible. A complete financial aid file includes an official processed FAFSA, all requested documents, and notice of any other financial aid resources which are not listed with the Student Financial Aid Office. If you have not been awarded financial aid or your anticipated financial aid does not cover any potential balance you have with the Bursar's Office, you will need to settle your charges prior to the due date established by the Bursar's Office. Methods for settling your account are available on the Bursar's Office website.

Spring Only

Prior to having federal aid eligibility evaluated, transfer or newly admitted spring-only students must have a completed financial aid file. Students must also:

• Add UofL (school code 001999) to your FAFSA if you previously did not do so.
• Be enrolled in classes at UofL.
• Have canceled any potential pending financial aid at their prior institutions.

Summer

At the University of Louisville, summer is considered a trailer of the preceding academic year. The FAFSA of the preceding academic year will be used to determine your aid eligibility. For example for summer 2025, the 2024-2025 FAFSA is used to determine eligibility. If required, all other verification forms and requested documents must be completed. In addition, in order to request an early review of your summer federal financial aid eligibility, you cannot be waitlisted in any summer course, and you must be currently meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.

The Early Request for Summer Federal Aid will be made available on your ULINK account soon after summer registration begins. Do not complete the request until you have finalized your summer enrollment. If you submit the form before you finalize your summer enrollment for all summer terms, the evaluation of your federal aid eligibility may be delayed, and if already awarded, your aid may have to be adjusted.

During summer, federal financial assistance is available to eligible applicants who have Federal Pell Grant, Federal TEACH Grant, and/or Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loan eligibility remaining for the award year. Graduate and law students will also be evaluated for Federal Direct Graduate/Professional PLUS Loans. Parents of dependent, undergraduate students may also apply for Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans. For undergraduate students with financial need who meet specific award criteria, a limited amount of Federal Work-Study funds will be made available.

In certain situations, an eligible undergraduate student can receive additional Federal Pell Grant funds (up to 150% percent of his/her scheduled Federal Pell Grant award during an award year; year-round Pell). To be eligible for these additional funds, students must be enrolled at least half-time (six hours). To ensure your Federal Pell Grant eligibility is maximized, if you are a Federal Pell Grant eligible student who will be graduating at the end of the summer or upcoming fall term, please email our office, indicating your anticipated graduation date in the 'Comments' section.

In order to have your Pell Grant eligibility evaluated, you must be enrolled as an eligible undergraduate student and have remaining Pell Grant eligibility. Federal grant eligible students who do not submit the Early Request for Summer Federal Aid will have their Pell Grant eligibility evaluated based on their enrollment as of the day following the last day to add/drop with 100% tuition credit for the last regular summer session (Term III).

To receive federal loan funds and/or Work-Study, you must meet all eligibility criteria and be enrolled at least half-time. During summer for federal financial aid purposes, half-time is defined as six hours for undergraduate students and three hours for graduate/professional students. For additional information on loans, please visit our loan page. The Early Request for Summer Federal Aid must be completed to have your federal loan eligibility evaluated.

To receive federal financial aid, you must meet all eligibility requirements. To receive a federal loan and/or work-study funds, you must be enrolled at least half-time. For federal financial aid purposes, during summer half-time is defined as six hours for undergraduate students and three hours for graduate and law students. The Early Request for Summer Federal Aid must be completed to have your federal loan eligibility evaluated.

If you are a degree-seeking, undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time during summer and you were not awarded Federal Work-Study funds during the spring term but would like to be considered for summer Federal Work-Study, please email our office, indicating your interest in summer Federal Work-Study in the 'Comments' section.