How to Apply for Financial Aid

Students should first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), and list the University (School Code: 001881) as a college to receive basic eligibility information. In order to receive a financial aid offer, a student must complete an Institutional Financial Aid Application, a Master Promissory Note (if applicable), and Entrance Loan Counseling (if applicable). The University may also require additional documents to verify aid eligibility (for additional information, please see the Verification for Federal Student Aid Eligibility in this section of the Catalog). It is highly recommended that the student, spouse (if applicable), and/or parent(s) of a dependent student (if applicable) apply for the Federal Student Aid Identification Number (FSA ID) through the U.S. Department of Education at any of the following websites:

The FSA ID serves as the student’s electronic signature and can be used to electronically apply for federal student aid and access Federal Student Aid records online. The FSA ID should be kept in a safe location and should not be shared with anyone.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)

The FAFSA® is available online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. The completed form should be signed electronically with the applicant’s FSA ID so that the student’s financial need can be evaluated.

Verification for Federal Student Aid Eligibility

The federal government requires colleges and universities to verify, or confirm, the data reported by students and/or their parent(s) on the FAFSA®. The verification process ensures that eligible students receive all the financial aid to which they are entitled and prevents ineligible students from receiving financial aid to which they are not entitled. A subset of financial aid applications are randomly selected by the U.S. Department of Education for verification. If a student is selected for verification, there is an asterisk next to the Student Aid Index (SAI) the FAFSA® Submission Summary (FSS). The FSS may be viewed online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Applications selected for verification are placed into a Verification Tracking Groups (V1, V4 or V5). The university will be notified which group the student has been selected. Items to be verified are based on the specific Verification Tracking Group. If a student is selected for verification, the Financial Aid Office notifies the student of required documentation.

The student (and spouse or parent(s) of dependent students, as applicable), is required to provide appropriate and legible supporting documents to the Financial Aid Office. Depending on the Verification Tracking Group selected, one or more of the following documents may be requested:

Verification Worksheet;
For tax filers - IRS Tax Return Transcript or use of FUTURE Act - Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX) Process;
For non-tax filers - W-2s from each employer/statements regarding income earned from work and verification of non-filing; and
Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose, if applicable.

Please note that additional documents regarding family size and income may be requested at the Financial Aid Office’s discretion to complete the verification process.

Participation in the verification process is not optional. Students with V1 verification category, who do not submit the required documentation within 30 days of request may experience financial aid processing delays, and may be administratively withdrawn until all supporting verification documents have been received by the University’s Financial Aid Office.

New online students who are selected for the customized verification categories of V4 or V5 must submit the required Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose documentation prior to progressing beyond conditional admission status or they will be administratively withdrawn prior to attending week four of their first course. Any other required documentation must be completed within 30 days of request.

Continuing students who are selected for the customized verification categories of V4 or V5 must submit the Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose within 30 days of notification as well as any other requested documentation. In the event the 30th day falls within the last week of the course, students will be permitted to complete that course. In the weeks following the deadline, if all requested documentation is not received, students will be withdrawn from the University and any Title IV aid previously disbursed must be returned on students' behalf.

If clarification is needed on a verification document or the FAFSA® Submission Summary, an advisor from the Financial Aid Office will contact the student for additional information. Possible corrections may be required on the FSS. If a student’s financial aid offer in any way changes as a result of verification, a new offer letter is generated and available via the Student Portal to view or print. Verification Worksheets can be obtained on the Student Portal. Financial aid will not be processed or disbursed if an applicant fails to provide the appropriate and legible verification documentation.

Fraudulent Activity

If the University of Arizona Global Campus obtains any credible information indicating that an applicant for federal student financial assistance may have knowingly engaged in fraud or other criminal misconduct in connection with their application for federal student financial assistance, that individual will be referred to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Education. Examples of this type of misconduct may include, but are not limited to:

False claims of independent student status;
False claims of citizenship;
Use of false identities;
Forgery of signatures or certifications; and
False statements of income.

Code of Conduct and Federal Student Aid Eligibility

In addition to being referred to the OIG, students suspected and being investigated for Academic Dishonesty and/or knowingly furnishing false, falsified or forged information to the University will be placed on a hold and unscheduled from future courses. For those students utilizing financial aid, this hold will prevent a financial aid disbursement until the issue is resolved through either the appeal process or through a Student Community Standards Formal Hearing.

NSLDS Fraud Loan Flag and Federal Student Aid Eligibility

Students who have been convicted of fraudulently obtaining federal loans are no longer eligible for Federal Title IV aid. Students will be notified of this via their FAFSA® Submission Summary (FSS). Students with this notification must refer to the loan holder for resolution. A financial aid hold will be immediately placed on the students account and students will be unscheduled from all future courses. For those students utilizing financial aid, this hold will prevent a financial aid disbursement until the issue is resolved. If a student is still within the first week of their course, or within the Promise/Conditional Admission Period (CAP), those students will be removed from their current course as well. Students will be administratively withdrawn from the University after 14 days of non-attendance.

Identity Reject Flag and Federal Student Aid Eligibility

Students who meet certain conditions related to identity issues will be notified of this via their FAFSA® Submission Summary (FSS) and are no longer eligible for Federal Title IV aid until resolved. A financial aid hold will be immediately placed on the student's account and students will be unscheduled from all future courses. For those students utilizing financial aid, this hold will prevent a financial aid disbursement until the issue is resolved. If a student is still within the first week of their course, or within the Promise/Conditional Admission Period (CAP), those students will be removed from their current course as well. Students will be administratively withdrawn from the University after 14 days of non-attendance.

Identity issues can only be overridden by the Department of Education. Students should contact Federal Student Aid at 202-377-4600 or applicationsystemsdivision@ed.gov for resolution. The Department will work with students regarding requesting documentation directly to clear the issue. If the identity issue is determined to be in error or is resolved, the school will receive an updated FAFSA® Submission Summary (FSS).

Unusual Enrollment History and Federal Student Aid Eligibility

Students who are flagged on the FAFSA® Submission Summary (FSS) and did not successfully complete coursework during an academic year(s) in which they also received a Pell grant and/or a Federal Direct Loan (not including a Direct Consolidation Loan or parent PLUS loan), may be required to submit a letter of explanation and appropriate college history documentation for review by the University of Arizona Global Campus. The letter and explanation must show that there were extraordinary or unusual circumstances that occurred which prevented the student from being successful in their studies. All requested documentation related to Unusual Enrollment History for new students must be submitted and approved by the University of Arizona Global Campus prior to a student progressing beyond conditional admission status or the student will be administratively withdrawn prior to attending week four of their first course. For continuing students, if requested, the Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose must be submitted and approved within 14 days of notification or the student will be administratively withdrawn; any other requested documentation must be submitted and approved within 30 days. Financial aid will not be processed or disbursed if an applicant fails to provide the requested documentation.

Total and Permanent Disability Discharge

If a student has had previous student loans discharged due to total and permanent disability and wishes to borrow new loans, students may be required to submit additional documentation to be eligible to receive financial aid funding. If a student is in the process of having previous student loans discharged and is applying for financial aid, their application for dismissal of loans could potentially be rejected by the loan servicer and loans may go into repayment. Students who are currently have their loans discharged due to total and permanent disability or in the process of applying for a discharge are strongly encouraged to contact their loan servicer to understand any potential impacts of borrowing new loans.

General Financial Aid Reapplication Process

It is the student’s responsibility to reapply for funding as necessary by completing the FAFSA® and any subsequent document requested by the Financial Aid Office. Students must reapply 90 days prior to the start of each academic year.

If a student does not complete the financial aid process in advance of their last date of attendance, they forfeits eligibility for financial assistance that might otherwise have been available during that period of enrollment, and becomes fully responsible for all remaining balances.

Undergraduate Programs

Renewed Loan Eligibility: A student enrolled in an undergraduate program may renew their financial aid for the next academic year once these conditions have been met:

If required, submission of a new award year FAFSA® and any subsequent documents requested by the Financial Aid Office;
The student has completed the initial 40-weeks of instructional time and the loan period has ended;
The student has successfully completed 24 undergraduate-level credits; and
The student is registered for another course.

Master's Programs

Renewed Loan Eligibility: A student enrolled in a Master's program may renew their financial aid for the next academic year once these conditions have been met:

If required, submission of a new award year FAFSA® and any subsequent documents requested by the Financial Aid Office;
The student has completed the initial 36-weeks of instructional time and the loan period has ended;
The student has successfully completed 18 graduate-level credits; and
The student is registered for another course.

Doctorate Programs

Renewed Loan Eligibility: A student enrolled in a graduate program may renew their financial aid for the next academic year once these conditions have been met:

If required, submission of a new award year FAFSA® and any subsequent documents requested by the Financial Aid Office;
The student has completed the initial 36-weeks of instructional time and the loan period has ended;
The student has successfully completed 18 graduate-level credits; and
The student is registered for another course.

Students’ completing their Dissertation/Applied Doctoral Project or Practicum courses must complete 36 weeks of instructional time and 4 successfully earned credits based on their program requirements.

Entrance Counseling for Federal Loan Recipients

All first-time Federal Direct loan recipients who have received a Financial Aid offer and have accepted the Federal Direct Loan(s) are required to complete online Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and to sign a Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note prior to the school receiving the funds. First-time borrowers of federal loans at the University of Arizona Global Campus must complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling as mandated by federal regulations. This requirement is met by completing a Direct Loan Entrance Counseling through studentaid.gov. Direct Loans cannot be released to a student’s account until this federal requirement is satisfied. Students will be provided information on how to complete the required counseling exercises along with their financial aid offer information. A PLUS loan applicant (either a parent of a dependent student, or a graduate/professional student) that has an adverse credit history must complete additional required PLUS loan counseling via the studentaid.gov website.

Types of Financial Aid

In general, financial aid is provided in the form of grants and loans. Part-time Federal Work-study programs may also be available for enrolled students. While some students may qualify for one type of financial assistance, others may qualify for a combination of two or more programs. The financial aid packaging process is offering aid without exceeding the student’s financial need. This packaging of financial aid allows the University of Arizona Global Campus to assist a larger number of students and to offer aid suited to the student’s individual needs. Each student may be expected to make a financial contribution toward educational costs based on family circumstances and ability to pay. The family’s share of the cost and eligibility for aid are determined through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).

State Aid Programs

Please visit the Federal Student Aid Website at https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/state-aid for a list of state grant agencies. Students may contact these agencies directly for information regarding state grants that may be available.

Federal Aid Programs (Title IV)

Federal Pell Grants: Federally funded grants for undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. These grants are based on financial need and enrollment status at the University. Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid for many students to which other aid may be added. To determine eligibility for Federal Pell Grants, the US Department of Education uses a federal methodology formula to evaluate the information on the student's FAFSA®. This formula produces aStudent Aid Index (SAI). The amount a student receives for a Pell Grant depends on a student’s SAI, cost of attendance, and enrollment intensity. Pell Grants are limited each award year in amounts depending upon program funding and a maximum per-student amount. Grants are currently offered up to a maximum of $7,395 per academic year (award year 2025-2026). The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over their lifetime is limited to the equivalent of six years or 600% of Pell Grant funding.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG): Grants funded by the federal government and the University to aid undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. The University determines who will receive FSEOG based on factors such as need, Pell Grant eligibility, and availability which may vary by payment period. The aid offer amount could be up to $600 per academic year at the University of Arizona Global Campus based on allocations.

Federal Direct PLUS Loans (PLUS): Long-term, low-interest rate loans made available to eligible parents of dependent students to help pay student expenses at an approved postsecondary educational institution. These are loans that must be repaid. An eligible parent may borrow up to the dependent student's cost of attendance, minus all other financial aid resources. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education. Repayment begins once the loan is fully disbursed. The parent borrower may contact their loan servicer to request a deferment. These loans are subject to credit approval and are available only to aid dependent students.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans (Available for Graduate/Doctoral Programs Only): Long-term, low-interest rate unsubsidized loans for graduate students. These are loans that must be repaid. The student may borrow up to the cost of attendance, minus the Unsubsidized Direct Loan (if applicable), all other financial aid received, and any other aid resources. An eligible student may borrow directly from the Federal government. Repayment begins six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. These loans are subject to credit approval.

Federal Direct Loans: Direct Loans are low-interest rate loans for students to help pay for the cost of a student’s education when attending post-secondary education after high school. These are loans that must be repaid. The lender is the US Department of Education. Students may borrow directly from the federal government through the Direct Loan servicer. While the federal government is the lender for Direct Loans, the application and origination process occurs through the University. To be eligible for a Direct Loan, a student must be enrolled in an eligible degree program on at least a half-time basis. The Direct Loan Program offers a lower interest rate than most commercial loans. The federal government pays the interest on a Subsidized Direct Loan* for undergraduate students while attending at least a half-time program or during a period of deferment, as long as the student shows a demonstrated financial need. An origination fee may be deducted from the student’s loan amount that is disbursed. If a student does not demonstrate a financial need or is a graduate student, the Unsubsidized Direct Loan may be available and begins to accrue interest while the student is in school. Please refer to the Federal Direct Annual Loan Limits and Federal Direct Aggregate Loan Limits tables in this section of this Catalog. If a student received federal student financial aid funds, and withdraws from the institution, after review of the student’s account to determine if there are payments in excess of charges, the student is entitled to receive a refund of funds not paid from federal financial aid funds. The standard repayment plan begins six months after the student graduates or is no longer enrolled at least half-time, and up to 10 years may be allowed to repay the loan(s). Students who meet eligibility requirements may request a deferment or forbearance of their loan payment. The following are circumstances under which a student may qualify for a deferment/forbearance: currently enrolled in school on at least a half-time basis; undergoing cancer treatment, graduate fellowship; rehabilitation training; unemployment; economic hardship; a parent PLUS borrower with a student enrolled in school; performing qualifying military service; or post-active duty service member. Please refer to www.studentaid.gov for more information about current loan interest rates, how to apply for a Direct Loan, and other repayment options.

Federal College Work-Study Program (FWS): Funded by the federal government and the University. To be eligible, a student must complete the FAFSA®, have a documented financial need and maintain satisfactory progress, as defined for financial assistance. Students may be employed by the University or off-campus federal, state, and local public agencies. They may also be employed by certain private nonprofit organizations. Work-Study offers do not guarantee a student employment with an eligible employer. In addition, funds earned through the FWS program do not automatically count against the student’s billed tuition. Contact the Financial Aid Office for additional information.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) and Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship (CFH) Act: Beginning with the 2024-25 award year, the IASG and CFH are no longer offered as separate programs. Eligible dependents of deceased service members and public safety officers may qualify for the maximum Federal Pell Grant under a Special Rule from the FAFSA Simplification Act.

To receive a Pell Grant based on eligibility under the Special Rule, a student must be:

The child of a parent or guardian who died in the line of duty while (a) serving on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001; or (b) actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer; and
Less than 33 years old as of the January 1 prior to the award year for which the applicant is applying (e.g., for the 2025-26 award year, a student must be less than 33 years old as of January 1, 2025, to be eligible).

Students who indicate that they may be a dependent of a deceased service member or public safety officer on their FAFSA® may be required to submit additional documentation to the Financial Aid Office to determine Federal Pell Grant eligibility.

Federal Direct Annual Loan Limits

Federal Direct Annual Loan Limits:	Dependent Undergraduate Students	Independent Undergraduate Students*	Graduate Students
First Year Students Online Programs: 0–24 credits	Total: $5,500 Max Subsidized: $3,500	Total: $9,500 Max Subsidized: $3,500	Total Unsubsidized: $20,500
Second Year Students Online Programs: 25–48 credits	Total: $6,500 Max Subsidized: $4,500	Total: $10,500 Max Subsidized: $4,500	Total Unsubsidized: $20,500
Third Year Students and Beyond (each year) Online Programs: 49 credits or greater	Total: $7,500 Max Subsidized: $5,500	Total: $12,500 Max Subsidized: $5,500	Total Unsubsidized: $20,500

Students who successfully complete the weeks and credits required in an academic year will be eligible to be packaged for the next grade level for registered coursework following completion of the academic year. Transfer students who are awarded credits equal to or greater than the number required for completion of an academic year are eligible to be packaged for the next grade level, where applicable (e.g., undergraduate students transferring in 24 credits or greater are eligible to be packaged as a second year student). Students completing an Associate degree may only be eligible to borrow loan amounts up to a second-year student grade level, regardless of the number of credits transferred in.

Federal Direct Aggregate Loan Limits*

	Dependent Undergraduate Students	Independent Undergraduate Students**	Graduate Students
Maximum Total Aggregate Loan Limits	$31,000 Max Subsidized: $23,000	$57,500 Max Subsidized: $23,000	$138,500 Max Subsidized: $65,500 (includes undergraduate borrowing)
A borrower who has reached their aggregate borrowing limit may not receive additional loans until they have reduced their aggregate loan amount. *A dependent student whose parent is denied a PLUS loan is allowed to borrow additional Unsubsidized Direct amounts equal to the amount that independent borrowers are able to borrow.

Professional Judgement

Eligibility for financial aid is determined by the information provided on a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) using prior-prior year tax income information. The Financial Aid Office recognizes that a student’s circumstances may have changed and may not be reflected on their most recent FAFSA®. Federal Student Aid regulations allow for Financial Aid Offices to review a student’s current situation if it has changed on a case-by-case basis to adjust the information on the FAFSA® and/or Cost of Attendance to more accurately reflect the student’s current situation. Additional supporting documentation may be requested from the student to validate the information provided. Please note that a parent of a dependent student unwilling to provide financial support/financial data on the FAFSA® alone is not a valid reason for unusual circumstances.

Professional Judgement decisions are considered final and may not be appealed. Students requesting additional consideration on their financial aid offers should contact the Financial Services Department for more information on their current aid offers and to determine if any additional action is required.

Other Available Financial Aid

Students should check with their high school, area civic groups, businesses, and/or religious institutions to determine availability. See ScholarshipUniverse and Private Loan in this section of the Catalog for additional resources.

How to Apply for Financial Aid