Timelines for applying for financial aid are listed here with links for more information about each step in the application process.

For prospective and entering students entering in the fall, the financial aid application process begins during the school year before the student hopes to enroll at the university.  See New & Prospective Students for more detailed information about applying for aid.

• SEPTEMBER—JUNE:

• Apply for scholarships from private sources such as banks and churches, local companies and organizations, and special interest organizations. See Private Scholarships for more information.

• JANUARY—FEBRUARY:

• Submit a CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE to apply for need-based U-M grants and scholarships. Use U-M CSS Code 1839. Download the PROFILE Student Guide from the PROFILE website for information about how to apply. The CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE is available beginning on October.
• Apply for a U.S. Department of Education Personal Identification Number (PIN). 
• Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for need-based and non-need-based federal and state grants, scholarships, Work-Study, and loans. Use U-M Federal School Code 002325. See the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet for the information you will need to provide on the FAFSA. The FAFSA is available beginning January 1. (Note: If you wait to file your FAFSA until after annual income tax returns are filed, you may be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which allows you to automatically populate FAFSA fields with your IRS data. More details can be found at www.fafsa.gov.)

• MARCH—APRIL:

• The U-M Office of Financial Aid begins notifying entering students by email when U-M financial aid award notices are available on Wolverine Access. You will need a U-M uniqname or Friend Account to access your award notices online.
• U-M must receive your PROFILE and FAFSA records by April 30 to consider you for all financial aid programs.

• MAY—JULY:

• Complete loan promissory notes (if applicable). You will receive emails with directions.
• If you plan to attend U-M, you must pay your enrollment deposit by May 1.
• If you were required to submit additional documents to apply for aid, U-M must receive them by June 1 to consider you for all financial aid programs.

• AUGUST—SEPTEMBER:

• Students receive their bills for Fall term.
• Students receive their financial aid for Fall term.

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Continuing students should begin planning for the next year in the fall of the current academic year.

• SEPTEMBER—JUNE:

• Apply for scholarships from private sources such as banks and churches, local companies and organizations, and special interest organizations. See Private Scholarships for more information.

• JANUARY—MARCH:

To apply for aid for the next academic year (Fall and Winter terms):

• Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1 and no later than April 30.  See Current Undergraduates under How to Apply for Aid for information about reapplying for aid.

To apply for aid for Spring and/or Summer terms of this year:

• Complete a Spring/Summer Request for Funds (RFF). See Current Undergraduates under How to Apply for Aid for more information and links to the RFF. Generally the application deadline is in early to mid March.

• APRIL—MAY:

• OFA must receive your processed FAFSA from the federal processor by April 30 in order to consider you for all aid programs (allow three to four weeks for processing). 
• Check Wolverine Access to see if you need to submit additional application documents.
• If OFA requests that you submit additional application items for verification  purposes, OFA must receive them by June 1 (they must be received, not just postmarked by this date) to consider you for all aid programs.
• Complete loan promissory notes (if applicable). You will receive emails with directions.

• MID-JUNE:

• Financial aid award notification begins.

• AUGUST—SEPTEMBER:

• Students receive their bills for Fall term.
• Students receive their financial aid for Fall term.

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