Contacts/Office Hours
Types of Financial Aid
The following are descriptions of various types of aid programs available. Refer to your Award Notification to see which type(s) you have been offered.
Important:
To receive your funds, all financial aid requirements must be complete. To confirm they are complete, To Do List on Student Center.
Scholarships
Scholarships do not need to be repaid. There are UA scholarships and scholarships from various companies and nonprofit organizations (these may be listed on your Award Notification as “Outside Recommended” until funds are received). If you are looking for scholarships please visit our scholarships search page.
Grants
Gift aid which do not have to be repaid. All are need based, but some also have a merit component. Student eligibility for University-funded grants is limited to 5 years.
Grants offered at UA include:
- Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
- Arizona Assurance NEW
- Arizona State Grants
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- Financial Aid Trust Grant
- Financial Aid Trust Fund Grant
- Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program (LEAP)
- National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART)
- Teach Grant NEW
- University (Set Aside) Grant
- University School as Lender Grant
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
Need-based federal financial aid program that provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students. FWS encourages community service work and work related to your course of study. Jobs are available both on and off campus. FWS also offers tutoring positions through the America Reads/America Counts programs.
How to accept Federal Work Study.
Tribal Aid
Scholarship and grant funds for Native American students.
Graduate Assistantship and Graduate Tuition Award
Graduate Assistantships provide part-time employment teaching at and/or compiling research for UA. Graduate Assistantship offers can include a tuition award for non-resident tuition (if needed), a waiver for health insurance, and partial payment of in state tuition. Any questions should be directed to your graduate department.
How to accept Graduate Assistantships and Graduate Tuition Award.
Special aid for Teachers
Due to the high demand, several financial aid programs have been created just for teachers. Below is a summary of some of the other programs teachers can participate in.
Special aid for Military Members
There are several types financial assistance available to military members and their dependants.
Loans
You are not required to accept any loan. You may borrow less than the amount offered. Be sure to accept the total amount needed for the entire academic year (you will receive half in the fall and half in the spring).
- Federal Perkins Loan/Nursing Loan
Need-based with a 5% fixed interest rate. Interest charges and repayment begin nine months after you graduate or drop to a less than half time status. You are not required to accept this loan. You may borrow less than the amount offered. (Accept)
- Federal Stafford Subsidized Loan*
Need-based and the federal government pays the interest on the loan while you are enrolled in school for at least half time (6 units undergraduate, 5 units graduate) and during any grace period before repayment begins. Stafford Loans currently have a fixed interest rate of 6.0% for undergraduate students and 6.8% for graduate students for all loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2008. You are not required to accept this loan. You may borrow less than the amount offered. (Accept)
- Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan*
Not need-based and you are responsible for the interest on the loan as soon as it is disbursed. You may choose to make interest payments or allow the interest to accumulate while you are enrolled in school. Any unpaid interest will be capitalized. Stafford Loans currently have a fixed interest rate of 6.8% for those loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2008. You are not required to accept this loan. You may borrow less than the amount offered. (Accept)
- Federal Graduate PLUS Loan*
For Graduate/Professional students only and requires a credit approval. Therefore it is possible for the lender to deny this loan. The interest rate is fixed at 8.5% for those loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2006. Contact your lender for deferment options. You are not required to accept this loan. You may borrow less than the amount offered. (Accept)
- Federal Parent PLUS*
Not need-based and is offered to parents of dependent students. The interest rate is fixed at 8.5% for those loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2006. Repayment begins 60 days after the last disbursement. Contact your lender for deferment options. The borrower (parent) is subject to a credit check. Parents are not required to accept the PLUS Loan offer, and may borrow less than the amount offered by the school. (Accept)
- Private Educational Loan
As your last resort, you may apply for a Private Educational Loan (also called Private or Alternative Loan). Private Loans are not a part of the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Private Loans are based on the credit of the borrower. The Private Loans have different eligibility and terms (repayment, interest rate, etc.). The loan amount that a borrower requests cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance established for the student to attend the University of Arizona, minus other aid received. The amount borrowed can directly replace the dollar amount for any loan that was awarded to the student but will not be accepted, including the Parent PLUS Loan.
(Accept)
*By law, Federal Stafford Loan and PLUS Loan lenders are required to collect a 2% Origination Fee. The guarantor is required to collect a 1% Federal Default Fee. Applicable fees are deducted from each loan disbursement.