FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
UNMC students who wish to be considered for federal, state, and institutional need-based grants and loans are required to complete the FAFSA each year.
The Office of Financial Aid team is happy to answer general filing questions; however, we do not offer in-office assistance to complete the online FAFSA application. We encourage students/families to visit the EducationQuest facilities to obtain assistance in completing the FAFSA. EducationQuest offers free FAFSA filing assistance to students and families. Appointments are required.
FAFSA Application Process
Review these steps as you complete the FAFSA application process. APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR PRIORITY PROCESSING: JUNE 1
- If you are filing the FAFSA for the first time, you must create a StudentAid.gov account. If you are a dependent undergraduate student, your parents will also be required to create a StudentAid.gov account to complete the parent sections of the FAFSA.
- Please use the UNMC School Code 006895 to ensure your FAFSA information is sent to UNMC.
- The 2024-2025 FAFSA will collect 2022 U.S. income and tax information. This information should have been completed/submitted to the IRS by JULY 2024. Filing the FAFSA any time after October 1 should not be an issue for students and/or families. We encourage students/parents to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT); however, it is not required. Please review the Department of Education’s overview of the DRT before you begin the FAFSA completion process.
- If you are currently married and did NOT file a joint 2022 IRS Tax Return, you must include the combined 2022 incomes, taxes paid, untaxed income, and savings/investments for student and spouse when completing the 2024-2025 FAFSA.
Please use the UNMC School Code 006895 to ensure your FAFSA information is sent to UNMC.
All currently enrolled and 2024-2025 applicants for admission should submit the 2024-2025 FAFSA by June 1, 2024. Do not delay your FAFSA filing waiting for an offer of admission to your program. File the FAFSA at the earliest possible date. The data will not be loaded into the student information system until you are admitted; filing early ensures you meet all the FAFSA application deadlines.
UNMC Undergraduate Programs
Undergraduate student FAFSA data received by June 1, 2024 will be considered for campus-based grant aid and, if eligible, the Nebraska Promise tuition guarantee.
The programs listed below are considered undergraduate bachelor degree programs, regardless of having previously received a bachelor’s degree. The FAFSA must be completed in accordance with FAFSA requirements as an undergraduate student
- College of Nursing: Bachelor of Nursing
- College of Allied Health: Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science; Bachelor of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Science Programs
- College of Dentistry: Bachelor of Dental Hygiene
- Students admitted to/or enrolled in these programs must answer: Q 29 with 3 or 4; Q 30 with 1 or 2 (pursing a 1st or 2nd Bachelor’s degree); Q 48 as NO.
Graduate/Professional Programs
ALL other UNMC degree and certificate programs are considered graduate/professional programs. The FAFSA should be completed in accordance with FAFSA instructions.
PARENT information is NOT required on the FAFSA for graduate/professional students unless you are a College of Dentistry or College of Pharmacy student.
Health Professions Student Loan
Dentistry and Pharmacy students who wish to be considered for the subsidized Health Professions Student Loan (interest free while enrolled and 5% interest in repayment) must file their FAFSA by April 1, 2024 and parent income information must be included on the FAFSA for HPSL consideration.
The Office of Financial Aid will notify you when your FAFSA data is downloaded to the UNMC PeopleSoft Student Information System. The Department of Education provides students with a FAFSA confirmation number and date of data transmittal to UNMC. Students are encouraged to keep this transmission data in their records for future reference. In the event the FAFSA data is not received at UNMC, the confirmation record becomes very useful in tracking the FAFSA data. Students can also view this information when they log into MyRecords.
Income Reduction Review
An income reduction review is relevant for undergraduate students only. Graduate and professional students are not eligible for need-based federal aid. The income/tax information plays no role in your eligibility for Direct Unsubsidized/Direct Graduate PLUS loan aid.
The following procedure for income reduction review is as follows:
- The 2024-2025 FAFSA with valid 2022 Income/Tax Information must be on file in the UNMC Financial Aid Office before requesting the review. Our office will not consider income reduction reviews until a valid FAFSA with 2022 income/asset information is on file.
- Submit a written request to finaid@unmc.edu with subject line: INCOME REDUCTION REVIEW. Provide a written explanation for the request. Our office will review the request and advise the student and/or parents of the appropriate documentation required for the income reduction review.
Accepted Circumstances for Income Reduction
The Office of Financial Aid will accept Income Reduction Reviews for the following reasons:
The undergraduate student or parents of a dependent student finalized a divorce in 2022 or 2023 and filed a joint 2022 tax return.
The student/parents must complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA using 2022 US IRS income/tax information from the joint tax return information before a review using 2023 income will be considered. A divorce decree will be required to consider the review. Reviews are not considered for the marital status of SEPARATED.
The parent/parents of an undergraduate dependent student lost a job or had a significant decrease in income for 2023, or the passing of a parent in 2022 or 2023 resulted in significant loss of income.
The student and parent(s) must complete the FAFSA with the 2022 US IRS income/tax information before a review using 2023 income will be considered.
The spouse of an undergraduate student lost a job or had a significant decrease in income in 2023, or the passing of a spouse in 2022 or 2023 resulted in significant loss of income.
The student/spouse must complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA with 2022 US IRS income/tax information before a review using 2023 income will be considered.
Information for College of Nursing Students
Accelerated BSN Nursing
STEP 1: Apply for Federal Aid
Complete the FAFSA for both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 aid years. When completing the FAFSA, you will be pursuing a second bachelor’s degree and not a graduate or professional degree.
FAFSA Schedule
FAFSA #1 2023-2024 | FAFSA #2 2024-2025 |
---|---|
Spring and Summer 2024 | Fall 2024 |
STEP 2: Review Federal Student Loan Eligibility
Since this program is primarily loan aid borrowing, please review your student federal loan debt to determine remaining eligibility.
Undergraduate Federal Loans
Category | Dependent Students | Independent Students |
---|---|---|
Undergraduate lifetime aggregate maximum | $31,000 | $57,500 |
Annual loan limits | $7,500 | $12,500 |
STEP 3: Review Other Student Loan Options
NOTE: During the fall semester, the federal student loan limits are half the annual amount.
Students may need to consider applying for a private loan to cover the costs of this program. Students will need to select a lender and complete an application directly through the lender of their choice. An application will need to be completed each academic year.
STEP 4: Scholarships
Upon admission, students can complete the UNMC scholarship application in your MyRecord To Do List. Review ScholarshipQuest for outside scholarship opportunities, regardless of admission status.
STEP 5: Accept Aid Offer and Complete Loan Requirements
Students will receive an award offer for the spring and summer terms beginning in October and fall semester aid offers will be available starting in April. Students must accept the federal aid offer(s) before UNMC can process the accepted loan funds. All first-time UNMC borrowers will need to complete the Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Loan Entrance Counseling before the loan funds can disburse.
STEP 6: Disbursement and Refunds
Student aid will be disbursed five business days prior to the start of each semester. Any aid that exceeds direct charges will be refunded to the student. Students are encouraged to sign up for direct deposit of the refund.
BSN Traditional: Summer Non-Degree Courses
Students who begin enrollment in the Traditional BSN program and choose to take courses during the summer prior to their admissions are not eligible for federal student aid, grants, or institutional scholarships since you are a non-degree seeking student during the summer term.
If choosing this option, you will need to pay the tuition and fee charges out of pocket or sign up for a payment plan through Student Accounts.