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Apply for Aid

Annual Process

Applying for Aid – Applying for financial aid is an annual process beginning January 1 for the year of planned enrollment.  The priority application deadline to be considered for all types of financial aid is March 1st in the year prior to the fall semester.  For full consideration, please be sure to submit your initial application materials prior to this date!

Award Notification – Award notifications will begin in early March and continue throughout the spring.  Once application materials have been submitted, you may visit your my.unc.edu ConnectCarolina Student Center pages at any time to check your application status.   Once an award is posted, an email will be sent to your official UNC-Chapel Hill ONYEN email address informing that you may view your financial aid award at your my.unc.edu ConnectCarolina Student Center pages.

If Additional Documentation Is Needed – In certain circumstances, more information is needed from you to determine your financial aid eligibility.  If this is the case, you will be notified by an email sent to your official UNC-Chapel Hill ONYEN email address.  It is your responsibility to monitor your official UNC-Chapel Hill ONYEN email address and to provide requested information.  Your financial aid award will not be final until all required information has been received and reviewed.

Undergraduate Students

There are two applications to be completed by undergraduate students:

  1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – This is the federal form used nationally by all schools. This form is available at fafsa.gov.
  2. CSS/PROFILE – This form is available at profileonline.collegeboard.com. Undergraduates who choose not to submit a CSS/PROFILE application will not be considered for University scholarships and grants.

Both of these forms must be submitted on or before March 1st to meet the priority application deadline.  Late applications will be accepted, but certain financial aid resources, especially those from University funds, may be depleted and not available depending on the time of application.

Once these applications are submitted, financial aid eligibility will be determined.  If you are new to UNC-Chapel Hill and additional documentation of income is required, you may receive a preliminary estimate of eligibility based on your application materials.  You will be notified of any needed documentation, and your awards will then be made final once income is confirmed.

Graduate and Professional Students

Only one application is required for graduate and professional students:

  1.  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – This is the federal form used nationally by all schools.  The form is available at fafsa.gov.

This form must be submitted on or before March 1st to meet the priority application deadline.  Late applications will be accepted, but priority processing time and funds are reserved for those meeting the priority deadline.

Once your application is submitted, financial aid eligibility will be determined.  In rare circumstances, additional information will be requested from you prior to determining eligibility.

Aid Application Process Information and Advice

  • If you are new to the University, do not wait for a final admission decision to complete your application. The FAFSA and CSS/PROFILE forms are typically available online January 1 for the upcoming academic year. You may complete the forms as soon as they are available whether or not you have received your UNC admission decision.  Award eligibility will then be determined once you are admitted.
  • All awards will initially be made on the assumption that you will enroll full-time for both the fall and spring semesters.  If you will not be full-time, please notify our office and your awards will be adjusted.
  • You must reapply for financial aid each year and prior to March 1st.  The application process is annual.  If your income or family circumstances change from year-to-year, then your financial aid will also change from year-to-year.   If your circumstances do not change dramatically, then eligibility should also not change dramatically.  But, the application process is annual, is based on available budgets, and is evaluated based on the environment in any given year.