Step 1 – Apply
- Apply for admission to The University of Alabama Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions.
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens in December.
- Know criteria for Federal Student Aid (i.e. Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans).
- Know eligibility criteria for UA Scholarships.
- Plan your budget for the upcoming academic year.
- Review helpful hints for applying for aid.
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the applicable term each year.
Step 2 – Complete
Now that you have completed the FAFSA and have been admitted to UA, the next step is to ensure that your FAFSA is complete.
In some cases you may have to provide additional information on the FAFSA or submit documentation to our office.
Respond to any requests for additional information quickly!
Responding to the FAFSA:
The FAFSA that you submitted is processed by Federal Student Aid and generates a Student Aid Report (SAR). The following are some helpful hints to ensure that you have a valid SAR.
- Review your SAR for accuracy.
- If corrections are required, revisit studentaid.gov and select “make corrections to a processed FAFSA.”
- If you do not receive an email directing you to view your SAR within four weeks, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 to check on the status of your application.
Responding to The University of Alabama:
Based on your responses to the questions on the FAFSA, we may need additional information to validate your FAFSA. If additional information is requested, you will receive a notification from our office indicating the item(s) needed to complete your file.
Some common documentation requests include:
- Verification of income
- Verification of Social Security information
- Verification of previous Federal loan amounts borrowed
- Verification of Immigration and Naturalization status
Step 3 – Review
Once all student financial aid requirements are complete, you will receive a notification that contains the steps to reviewing and accepting your offer of federal financial assistance.
- Review your award offer carefully.
- If your financial assistance includes Federal Direct loans, you will need to complete and submit the applicable promissory note(s) and entrance counseling.
Step 4 – Receive
If you accept your offer and completed all student financial aid requirements, your funds are ready for disbursement to your student account.
If your semester funds are in excess of your semester charges, you will receive a refund by direct deposit. You may create a student direct deposit bank account on myBama with Student Account Services. Refunds resulting from Parent PLUS Loans may, in some circumstances, be provided by a check mailed to the parent borrower.
Some unsatisfied requirements that prevent your aid from being disbursed to your student account:
- Master promissory notes and Entrance Counseling have not been completed.
- Student has not yet registered for minimum required hours (enrollment must be at least half time)