Financial Aid
Applying
The University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will use Social Security numbers to verify your identity and match data. You are not required to provide your Social Security Number when completing your application for admission to the University, however it is a critical data element used in our processes. Omission of your Social Security number may eliminate you from consideration for funding. Federal reporting requirements also require a physical mailing address for each student. By filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students apply for need-based federal, state, and institutional grants, loans, and work-study.
Students can file the 2020-21 FAFSA as early as October 1, 2019. Students will use 2018 tax information for the application. To complete the FAFSA, visit www.fafsa.gov.
Application Dates and Deadlines
The Financial Aid Priority Date is February 1 of the calendar year prior to the academic year for which you want aid (Example: For aid during the 2020-2021 academic year, you must have a complete financial aid file by February 1, 2020). Applications completed after this date are still accepted and awarded based on eligibility and availability of funds. Most aid programs have limited funding; applicants who have a complete file by the Priority Date are considered first for aid.
Some forms of financial aid are available year-round. If you do not apply for need-based aid before the ideal file completion date, you may still do so at any time during the academic year, as long as the information from the federal processor reaches the University of Utah before the last day of class for the semester that you are requesting aid.
Applications can take some time to process, depending on individual circumstances. However, tuition and fees must be paid on time. It is recommended that if you want to receive aid for a certain semester the application must be sent to the federal processor at least 120 days before the beginning of that semester.
Eligibility
Eligibility for most financial aid is based on need. A student’s financial need is equal to the difference between what the University of Utah estimates it will cost to attend this institution and the amount of the expected family contribution from the FAFSA, as determined by the U.S. Department of Education.
A student must be admitted and matriculated in a degree-granting program to be considered for financial aid. A student is not eligible until their financial aid file is complete.
A student must be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree in order to be eligible for financial aid. Students are expected to maintain a minimum GPA, as defined in the University’s General Catalog, and complete a four-year degree within the equivalent of six (6) years of study. Students are also expected to complete at least 67 percent of credits attempted during their career at the University of Utah.
Notification Process
The application review process begins in February of the processing year. If it is determined that additional information is needed you will be notified by email to your UMail account. Once your file is complete, you will be notified of your eligibility to receive aid. Qualified applicants receive a Conditional Financial Aid Notification (Award Letter) with information about the amount and kinds of financial aid offered, as well as procedures for accepting the aid. You may view the Award Letter through the Campus Information Services. Our office may begin the review process before a student is fully admitted in to the University of Utah. As a result, you may not have access to UMail or the Campus Information Services. If this is the case, please contact our office directly for information on your file.
Contact Information
University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
Student Services Building, Room 105
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
Phone: (801) 585-6211
E-mail: financialaid@sa.utah.edu Website: financialaid.utah.edu