Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA)
As the spring semester ends, many students start contacting the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) to make sure they have everything set up for the upcoming fall semester. Whether you are already a Wildcat or joining the family next August, we want to help you and your student make the most out of summer break.
Follow our recommended timeline below to finalize your student’s financial aid for the fall.
May 2021
Log into UAccess Student Center.
Do you have any financial aid To Do List items? Items like federal verification (https://financialaid.arizona.edu/policies/federal-verification) will hold your financial aid from releasing in August to pay toward your student account balance. If you need help, attend one of our FAFSA Federal Verification Workshops, held twice a month all summer. RSVP HERE. If you have questions on any To Do List item, now is the time to contact us for help!
Suggested Reminder Date: 5/15/2021
June 2021
New Students
Attend Orientation where you will sign up for fall classes, watch our orientation video, and learn about a typical finance cycle on the Bursar website.
Suggested Reminder Date: 6/1/2021
Current Students
Make sure you have enrolled in all of the classes you intend to complete for the fall semester. Watch your CatMail for important notices on Satisfactory Academic Progress (https://financialaid.arizona.edu/policies/sap) and any scholarship renewal information.
Suggested Reminder Date: 6/15/2021
July 2021
OSFA’s Federal Verification Submission Priority Deadline!
If your student was flagged for federal verification and submits all required documentation by this date, our office guarantees that your student will receive an on-time disbursement of fall aid come August (as long as there are no other incomplete To Do items) or, if additional documentation is needed, will hear from us with additional instructions.
Suggested Reminder Date: 7/1/2021
Accept Loans, Federal Work Study & Monitor your CatMail.
Is your student planning on accepting Federal Work Study (FWS) or borrowing student and/or parent loans? Our office will notify students via their CatMail when next year’s loan and FWS acceptance process opens. Students should accept their FWS and those planning on borrowing loans should complete the loan process during July to ensure loan funds are set to release in August without delay!
Suggested Reminder Date: 7/12/2021
Review Fall Charges and Pending Aid.
With your student, review their Fall 2021 student account charges and Financial Aid Offer for the 2021-2022 academic year. Compare all accepted aid for the fall semester to the balance due. If there will be a balance, make plans to pay your charges by the due date (to avoid late fees). If your student should be getting a refund, have them enroll in web refund to receive funds via direct deposit. Learn how at https://bursar.arizona.edu/refunds/options.
Suggested Reminder Date: 7/26/2021
August 2021
Get Ready, Set, Go!
Students should continue to monitor their To Do List and CatMail and act on any requests immediately. Waiting to submit documents will delay the release of scholarships and financial aid come August.
Suggested Reminder Date: 8/1/2021
Still have questions?
The first month of school is the busiest time for OSFA, with hundreds of families contacting us daily. We designed our website to provide you with answers to the biggest questions families have at the start of the semester. Visit https://financialaid.arizona.edu/resources/know-before in August.
Suggested Reminder Date: 8/7/2021
Is your student’s financial aid ready to release?
Financial aid will begin to release ten days before the first day of classes. Log in to Uaccess Student Center to check the status and details of each type of accepted aid. https://financialaid.arizona.edu/resources/student-center-modernization.
Find out more information on aid releasing to pay the student account at https://financialaid.arizona.edu/policies/disbursement-policy
Suggested Reminder Date: 8/14/2021
Fall Semester
Encourage your student to check out (& attend) our Financial Aid Literacy workshops for extra insider tips on coordinating your financial aid within your degree timeframe, Budgeting your Financial Aid Refund, and more at https://financialaid.arizona.edu/other-resources/events!
Suggested Reminder Dates: 1st of every month
OSFA looks forward to partnering with your family on your journey as a Wildcat. There are many ways to contact us, find your favorite method at https://financialaid.arizona.edu/contact.