Apply for Financial Aid

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. 

We encourage students/parents to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) when completing the form; however, it is not required. Please review the Department of Education’s overview of the DRT before you begin the FAFSA completion process.

Use the UNMC School Code 006895 to ensure your FAFSA information is sent to UNMC.

Important Information for the 2024-2025 academic year

If you need assistance paying for the 2024-2025 academic year, access the FAFSA website and use the links under the "Need the 2024–25 FAFSA form?" heading. The 2024-25 FAFSA must be completed to be considered for federal aid for fall 2024, spring 2025 and summer 2025 semesters.

• The 2024-25 FAFSA requires student and parent (for dependent students) 2022 income information.
• 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.
• To be considered for campus-based grant aid and the Nebraska Promise grant, the FAFSA application deadline is June 1, 2024.
• All graduate and professional students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA by June 1, 2024 to ensure ample processing time prior to fall disbursements.
• Students admitted starting in spring 2025 should complete the FAFSA by December 1, 2024.
• Pharmacy and Dental students requesting consideration for the Health Professions Student Loan Program will be required to submit a 2024-25 CSS Profile to provide parental information by April 15, 2024. UNMC’s CSS Profile school code is 6896.

Important Information for the 2025-2026 academic year

If you need assistance paying for the next academic year (2025-2026), access the FAFSA website and use the links under the "Start a 2025–26 FAFSA Form" heading. 

• The 2025-2026 FAFSA will collect 2023 U.S. income and tax information. 
• If you are currently married and did NOT file a joint 2023 IRS Tax Return, you must include the combined 2023 incomes, taxes paid, untaxed income, and savings/investments for student and spouse when completing the 2024-2025 FAFSA.
• All currently enrolled and 2025-2026 applicants for admission should submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA by June 1, 2025. 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, and filing early ensures you meet all the FAFSA application deadlines.
• To be considered for campus-based grant aid and the Nebraska Promise grant, the FAFSA application deadline is June 1, 2025.

FAFSA Details for UNMC Undergraduate Programs

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 - see special financial aid information for your program
• 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 these FAFSA questions as follows:
  • Q 29 with 3 or 4
  • Q 30 with 1 or 2 (pursing a 1st or 2nd Bachelor’s degree)
  • Q 48 as NO

• For the 2024-25 FAFSA, undergraduate students must select either "Second year undergraduate" or "Other undergraduate" for Question 4. 

Information for College of Nursing Students

Please be aware of these unique aspects of financial aid for your program.

Accelerated BSN program

• You will need to complete two FAFSA forms for your program.
  • The 2024-2025 FAFSA covers spring 2025 and summer of 2025.
  • The 2025-2026 FAFSA covers fall of 2025.
• When completing the FAFSA, you will be pursuing a second bachelor’s degree and not a graduate or professional degree.
• Review your federal student loan eligibility. Because this program is primarily loan aid borrowing, review your student federal loan debt to determine remaining eligibility. Undergraduate federal loans have the following limits:
  • Undergraduate lifetime aggregate maximum
    • Dependent Students $31,000
    • Independent Students $57,500
  • Annual loan limits
    • Dependent Students $7,500
    • Independent Students $12,500

• Review your other student loan options.
  • 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.
• Complete the Scholarships application. 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. 

• Accept your aid offer and complete the 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. 

• Understand the disbursement schedule 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. 

Traditional BSN program

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.

FAFSA Details for Graduate/Professional Programs

ALL other UNMC degree and certificate programs other than those listed above as undergraduate are considered graduate/professional programs. The FAFSA should be completed in accordance with FAFSA instructions. You must select "Master’s" or "doctorate program" for Question 4 on the FAFSA.

PARENT information is NOT required on the FAFSA for graduate/professional students unless you are a College of Dentistry or College of Pharmacy student. All other graduate/professional students cannot provide parental information on the 2024-25 FAFSA. 

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.

After Completing the FAFSA

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.

To complete the UNMC Scholarship Application, you must have a UNMC ID and Password. Once you have received your login information, we encourage you to submit your UNMC Scholarship Application through MyRecords. After logging in, click on "View My Financial Aid." In the links menu, click on "Apply for Scholarships" and follow the instructions provided. The Scholarship Application deadline is May 1 or 30 days after you are accepted by your academic program.

Learn more about scholarships here.

Your To Do List on MyRecords provides you with a list of tasks that must be completed. Items are posted by multiple units across campus, including academic programs, Academic Records, Student Health, Student Accounts, and Financial Aid. Follow the provided instructions for each item and complete the task by the due date. Once a task is completed, allow 72 hours for items to clear from your list. If a Financial Aid item is not cleared from your To Do List within 72 hours, please contact our office.

Our primary method of communication is through your UNMC email address. Your award notification email will provide general aid information and direct you to review your award package on MyRecords. Aid is offered on an academic year basis depending on which semester. Some offered awards are contingent upon full-time enrollment (12 credits per term for undergraduates). If your enrollment changes, we will adjust your awards through the first week of classes.

Access MyRecords to accept your financial aid award. You may decline any loans you do not plan on borrowing. If you would like to make changes to your loan amounts after accepting them in MyRecords, you must request the changes by emailing our office.

After you have accepted loan offers, you may need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN), Loan Entrance Counseling, and Truth-in-Lending Statements. These requirements may direct you to several loan based websites to complete the tasks. Once a task is completed, allow 72 hours for items to clear from your list.

View the Award Processing Tutorial here.

UNMC encourages students to sign up for direct deposit. This allows UNMC to request the state treasurer’s office to disburse directly to the bank account of your choice. This process usually takes 5-7 business days.

To sign up for direct deposit, log into MyRecords and click on the Student Accounts tab. In the bottom right corner is the link “Enroll in Direct Deposit,” where you may add or verify Bank Info. Direct deposit avoids the risk of lost or delayed mailed refund checks and gets your refund to you more quickly.

Refunds will be held for 7 days for students who are not already enrolled in direct deposit to allow them time to enroll. After the 7-day window, the refund will be requested in the form of a check.

Visit the Student Accounts office if you have questions regarding your direct deposit enrollment.

To receive financial aid, you must be registered for classes, have accepted your awards for the academic year at least two weeks before the start of the semester, and have submitted all To Do List requirements. Please allow at least two weeks from acceptance for loans to be processed and To Do List items to be updated. 

Financial aid disbursement will begin no sooner than seven days before the start of each semester. The disbursed amount will be determined by the amount accepted, type of aid, and the number of credits you are enrolled for the semester. Some types of aid, such as the Pell Grant, will be adjusted based on your enrollment.

Your financial aid will be applied to your UNMC charges first. If financial aid is canceled or does not cover all tuition and fees, you will be responsible for the remaining charges.

Billing information will be sent to your UNMC email account. You may view your account balance, sign up for a payment plan, and make payments in MyRecords. If your aid exceeds your university charges, you will receive a financial aid refund either by direct deposit or by check. See Student Accounts for more information.

As a financial aid recipient, you are required to continue eligibility by maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), filing the FAFSA each year, completing all requested financial aid items on your To Do List on MyRecords and maintaining all other eligibility criteria.

If you fail to meet one or more of the SAP standards, you will be ineligible to receive financial aid and will be notified by email.