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Releasing Financial Aid Information to Third Parties

The U.S. Department of Education has updated its guidelines concerning the release of student information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and related financial aid awards.

Under Section 483(a)(3)(E) of the Higher Education Act (HEA), FAFSA data may only be used for the application, awarding, and administration of:

  • Federal student financial aid programs
  • State student financial aid programs
  • Institutional aid
  • Programs authorized by entities designated by the Department of Education

Note: Institutions are prohibited from releasing FAFSA data or financial aid award information (unless de-identified) for any other purpose—even with a signed consent form. Students must share this information directly with any requesting third party.

What This Means for Students

While the Student Financial Aid Office cannot release your FAFSA or award information directly to outside organizations without consent from the FAFSA applicant, you can still provide it yourself. You may share:

  • Emailed award notifications
  • Your College Financing Plan
  • Screenshots or PDFs from your ULink account

Below are answers to common questions and tips on how to access and share the necessary information.

Frequently Requested Information

How can I show proof of enrollment?

  • The Registrar’s Office (Houchens Building, Room LL31) is the only office that can provide official proof of enrollment.
  • You can also print your current enrollment or unofficial transcript through your ULink account under the Academic Records tile.

What is my tuition cost or semester balance?

  • The Bursar’s Office provides official tuition and fee information.
  • Many organizations accept the billing notice emailed by the Bursar.
  • For a detailed view, access your itemized bill via the Transaction Summary tab under the Financial Account tile in ULink.

What is the Cost of Attendance (COA)?

How do I share my financial aid awards?

  • Many organizations will accept your Financial Aid Award Notification email.
  • You can also view and screenshot your award details from ULink under the Summary tab in the Financial Aid tile.

Consent Requirements for Sharing FAFSA Data

Under Section 494 of the Higher Education Act (HEA), the U.S. Department of Education allows Student Financial Aid Offices to share FAFSA data with third-party organizations, but only if the student gives their written consent and the purpose is to help secure additional financial assistance to lower the student’s cost of attendance. For instance, if an external organization offers scholarships, a college must first get the student’s written permission before sharing FAFSA data with that organization to determine eligibility. According to the HEA, institutions must keep the signed consent form on file for at least three years after the student’s last date of attendance. These records must be made available to the Department of Education upon request.

If an external scholarship organization needs FAFSA-related data such as: Cost of Attendance, total financial aid package, enrollment or other information needed to award scholarship funds, the student must submit a request to the Student Financial Aid Office. 

Requests can be made here; forms must be completed with a written signature (electronic signatures are not accepted) and returned to the Financial Aid Office. Students can return the form in-person to the Financial Aid Office, or as a PDF in an email to finaidop@louisville.edu from their UofL email address. Students must provide a summary of what the organization needs to determine eligibility, and/or forms to be sent back to the organization at the time the request is submitted. 

*This process also aligns with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) standards, ensuring that student information is handled with care and accountability.

Need Help?

Contact the Student Financial Aid Office for questions about your specific situation. 

Consent Requirements for Sharing FAFSA Data