February is for Financial: How This Month Can Help You Pay for School

Feb. 22, 2022
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Office of Financial Aid photo

February is an exciting time in the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid (OSFA). The weather in Tucson is absolutely beautiful (when the groundhog sees his shadow and predicts six more weeks of winter, we Tucsonans celebrate!). We are also celebrating National Financial Aid Awareness Month, which promotes the value of higher education, as well as awareness of federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. I have been very fortunate to work with students and families for over 20 years, and have seen firsthand how these programs remove barriers, provide hope for a brighter future, and strengthen families and communities in wonderful, significant ways.

This month is also prime FAFSA and scholarship season, when thousands of our current and prospective students begin planning for the 2022-23 school year by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and applying for scholarships through Scholarship Universe, the University of Arizona’s centralized, online tool to help admitted students find scholarship opportunities. If you are not yet familiar with these tools, I encourage you to review the information at financialaid.arizona.edu and apply now.

For both the FAFSA and Scholarship Universe, applying early has several benefits. First, some types of funding are limited, meaning that the earlier you apply, the more likely you are to qualify. The University of Arizona has established a FAFSA priority deadline of March 1 for continuing students and April 1 for incoming first-year and transfer students who will begin school the upcoming fall semester. Meeting these deadlines means that you’ll have access to the most financial aid funding possible.

Applying now also means you’ll be less likely to experience frustration and delays as the start of fall semester approaches. Our dedicated and knowledgeable staff is working hard to get everything in place for next year, but processing times always increase in the summer months. It’s also important to be aware that government and university regulations and policies sometimes require additional steps or documentation to receive your aid. Avoid last-minute surprises by starting now!

Continued enhancements of both the FAFSA and Scholarship Universe mean that applying for financial aid has never been faster, easier, or more convenient. We especially encourage students and parents to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which simplifies and streamlines the application process and reduces your chances of being asked to submit additional documentation later on.

Please feel free to contact our office with any questions you may have. We are eager to help you get access to the funds you need so that you can focus on making the most of your educational experiences here at the University of Arizona.

Happy Financial Aid Month to all of you! You are the reason we do what we do. We are committed to your success and look forward to a successful 2022-23 school year.