Apply for Financial Aid

Step 1

The first step to apply for scholarships and financial aid is to be admitted to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

• Undergraduate students should submit an application for admission, high school transcript, college transcripts (if applicable), and application fee to the Office of Admissions. Returning students who must be readmitted must also submit all application materials necessary for readmission.
• Graduate College and Law College students must submit all application materials to their college admissions office and be admitted in a degree program prior to being awarded financial aid.

Step 2

To apply for all need-based financial assistance (Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, Nebraska State Grant, University Tuition Assistance Grant, Tuition Assistance Program Grant, UNL Opportunity Grant, FWSP, Federal Perkins Loan, and Federal Student Loans), you and usually your parents must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA may be filed electronically at www.fafsa.gov.

To avoid any delays in processing your FAFSA, please follow these helpful hints:

• File your 2011 tax returns electronically.
• File the 2012-2013 FAFSA using IRS data retrieval process (IRS data will be available two weeks after filing your tax return electronically).
• Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. Federal Perkins Loans, FWSP, Federal SEOG, Nebraska State Grants, University Tuition Assistance Grants, Tuition Assistance Program Grants, and UNL Opportunity Grants are awarded on a first-come basis to needy students with completed financial aid files as long as funds are available. Due to fund limitations there is no guarantee that applicants will receive all or any of these funds.
• Read the instructions carefully.
• Always use your correct Social Security number. Your Social Security number is the primary means of identifying your records.
• Designate the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a recipient of the information on your FAFSA (federal school code is 002565).
• Independent student status? You are automatically considered an independent student if:
  • you are at least 24 years of age by December 31 of the award year (e.g., by December 31, 2012, for 2012-2013);
  • you are a United States Armed Forces veteran or serving on active duty for other than training purposes;
  • you are an orphan or ward of the court, or were a ward of the court until age 18;
  • you have children who receive more than half of their support from you;
  • you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you now and through June 30, 2013;
  • you are married prior to filing the FAFSA;
  • you will be a graduate or law student during the first term of the academic year; or
  • you are an emancipated minor, are in legal guardianship, or are an unaccompanied homeless youth.

  Students who do not meet any one of these criterion are considered dependent for financial aid purposes and are required to list parental information on the FAFSA. A financial aid administrator can exercise professional judgment on the basis of unusual circumstances such as dysfunctional family situations or if the custodial parent is deceased and the student has no contact with the remaining natural parent. Situations such as a student choosing to put him/herself through college rather than rely on (step)parent(s) support or (step)parent(s) who have chosen not to assist the student with college expenses, do not qualify for professional judgment overrides, however students may complete the FAFSA without parental information to be considered for limited loan eligibility. Students who wish to apply for dependency overrides should contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) for an application.

• Parents divorced and remarried? If the natural parent for whom you are listing information on the FAFSA has divorced but is now remarried, you must include information about your stepparent on the FAFSA as well.
• Planning to get married? You should complete your FAFSA as early as possible with the correct marital status as of that date. If you will be married before the start of the academic year (1st day of classes in the fall semester), you may contact our office to update your marital status.
• Students who receive free room and board as compensation for serving as a Student Assistant or Conference Assistant at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln or any other college/university should report the value of the room and board received in 2011 as untaxed income on the FAFSA.
• Properly sign the application.
• Don't leave anything blank unless the instructions specifically tell you to do so.
• When filling out the income, earnings, and benefits section with a 2011 federal income tax return, use the appropriate line number references. It is recommended to use the IRS data retrievial process when completing the FAFSA.

Step 3

Current undergraduate students may apply for scholarships by following the scholarship application procedures for currently enrolled undergraduate students.

Step 4

Respond quickly to all requests from our office and other agencies to avoid processing delays.

Step 5

Keep good records. Make photocopies of all forms before you mail them. Keep a careful record of when you mail forms. Keep and date financial aid correspondence sent to you.

Step 6

Follow up. Check on the status of your application.