How to Apply for Aid
1. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) On Time
To apply for financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov. The 2024-2025 FAFSA Will be available by December 31, 2023. To receive the best financial aid offer, complete the FAFSA as early as possible. In order for UF Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships to consider you for a financial aid package, you must be a degree-seeking, admitted student.
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Helpful Hints
- Create an FSA ID⤷ before beginning your FAFSA (unless you already have one)
- NOTE: If you have had a legal name change, edit your name on your FSA ID before beginning your FAFSA
- Visit StudentAid.gov⤷ for detailed instructions on completing the FAFSA.
- Read the UF Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships FAFSA Tips.⤷
- Have personal and financial information on hand before you begin.
- List “University of Florida” (001535) on the FAFSA.
- You are strongly encouraged to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to transfer your tax information from the IRS to the FAFSA.
- Look at the help fields along the way if you’re unsure of what information you should enter.
- Be sure to electronically sign your FAFSA at the end of the application. You will use your FSA ID for this.
- Your FAFSA information will not be sent to UF unless your FAFSA has been signed!
- You can return to your FAFSA⤷ after it has been processed to view your information or make corrections.
- Create an FSA ID⤷ before beginning your FAFSA (unless you already have one)
Renewal FAFSA
You must complete a new FAFSA for every academic year in which you will be enrolled. The FAFSA retains some of your information from year to year, so it is quicker to complete a renewal FAFSA than a brand new one. Always be sure to update your personal, financial, and tax information appropriately. Utilize the FAFSA help tips (displayed on the right-hand side of the page) to assist you with inputting your information accurately.
2. Verify Your Information
You will receive a confirmation page upon successful completion of your FAFSA. This page contains important information, including:
- Your unique confirmation number.
- Your unique Data Release Number (DRN).
- A summary of what will happen next in your financial aid application.
- A summary of federal aid for which you MAY be eligible.
- Aid amounts may not be accurate for DMD students – click here for UFCD-specific information.
You should keep the confirmation page for your records.
You will receive your SAR (Student Aid Report) after the Central Processing System finishes processing your FAFSA information. If you provided an email address, you may receive your SAR as soon as 24 hours after your FAFSA is processed.
What Information Is Listed on the FAFSA Submission Summary?
- Your Student Aid Index (SAI)
- Information about the SAI.⤷
- Your SAI is NOT a bill! You do not owe this amount to UF.
- Your SAI does not affect your eligibility for federal unsubsidized and Grad PLUS loans.
- Financial information that you input on the FAFSA.
- As of 2024-25: Tax data will be masked (will show “Transferred from the IRS” instead of actual numbers)
- The schools to which your FAFSA is being sent.
Please review your FAFSA Submission Summary carefully! If you see any mistakes on the FAFSA Submission Summary, go to FAFSA on the Web⤷, log in, and click on “Make a Correction”. You’ll then be able to navigate to the different areas of the FAFSA and can correct any mistakes. Please be sure to sign the FAFSA again when you’re done.
3. Follow Up on Your Financial Aid File
- All financial aid information is available in ONE.UF⤷ (click on “Access other Student Self Services”)
- Expand the Financial Aid menu and locate the appropriate academic year, then utilize the following links as appropriate.
- Aid Status: Shows the status of your file as well as pending & completed documents.
- Awards & Disbursements: Displays cost of attendance information and awarded aid.
- Must accept Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans every semester.
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans automatically accepted (because of the required PLUS application)
- Grants & scholarships automatically accepted.
- Please note: Loans may be reduced or canceled online prior to disbursement.
- If you would like your loans reduced after disbursement, please email sfa-den@mail.ufl.edu with the subject line “Loan reduction”.
- Additional Aid Reporting: Used if you receive any type of financial aid that is not processed through UF Office of Student Financial Affairs
- Email sfa-den@mail.ufl.edu for questions
- Special Note: Verification
- This is a process mandated by the Department of Education to ensure that all information provided on the FAFSA is correct.
- If your file is selected for verification, you will be asked to provide additional documents to Student Financial Affairs
- You will be notified of requested documentation via UF email & your Aid Status page.
- Turn in documents to the UFCD Financial Aid Coordinator or main campus SFA (S-107 Criser Hall)
- Verification may take 4-6 weeks to complete.
- Your financial aid will not disburse until verification is complete!
Optional UFCD Need-Based Scholarship Application (DMD only)
The online scholarship application is available in the spring each year. All current and entering DMD students will be notified via email when the application is available. Complete applications, including all requested documentation, must be received by the deadline listed on the application. Please review the Scholarship FAQ page for additional information. Questions not addressed here nor in the FAQ may be sent to the UFCD Financial Aid Coordinator.⤷.
The above information is for individuals currently in or starting on the DMD Program.