AZAIDSMART Incoming Students
Have questions about the financial aid process? We’ve got answers for incoming students and their supporters.
For many college students, deciding how to fund their education is the first and largest financial decision they’ve made. If you are looking for some stepping stones to help along the way, we’ve pulled together some comprehensive resources just for you. Let us help demystify the world of financial aid for you.
While we are looking forward to welcoming you to the Wildcat family, we understand there are many factors that go into making your decision. You may be considering not only the price you pay for your education, but the quality of your degree program and the kinds of holistic student support services provided by the schools you are considering.
To simply the process, start with the following tools:
- College Scorecard: Compare multiple schools at once, including the University of Arizona!
- College Navigator: Like comparison shopping? Use this tool to do just that, but with schools! One statistic you'll be able to see that the UA is very proud of is that the University of Arizona boasts the lowest cohort default rate among comparable schools in Arizona.
- College Financing Plan: This form was created by the Department of Education and is available to help new college students compare the cost of attendance and aid offers from multiple institutions. Follow the instructions to view your personalized College Financing Plan from the University of Arizona.
Paying for your University of Arizona education starts with understanding federal financial aid. This begins with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA. Completing the FAFSA unlocks your opportunity to access federal aid, such as the federal Pell Grant, student loans, federal work-study, federal parent loans and even some scholarship programs!
Need help filing your FAFSA? Start here:
- Federal Student Aid YouTube: Access helpful videos on everything from how to create an FSA ID (you’ll need this to submit your FAFSA!) to information about what happens after you fill out your FAFSA.
- Overview of the FAFSA process: This helpful graphic will give you a broad picture of the FAFSA process. It is a great reference as you move through the federal financial aid process.
- Filing Out the FAFSA Overview: Detailed instructions covering what documents you may need, how to determine your dependency status, and how to sign and submit.
When considering the cost to attend the University of Arizona, it is important to know what to expect so you can plan responsibly for your Wildcat career. Before you can understand how your financial aid impacts your costs, you first have to understand how your costs are calculated.
For more information on the cost of attending the University of Arizona, visit:
- Incoming First-Years & Transfer Student: Cost Learn more about your estimated cost of attendance. Costs vary depending on your residency and housing choice. (See additional resources for Transfer Students below)
- Incoming Arizona Online First-Years & Transfer: Cost Learn more about flexible pricing options for Arizona Online students. Use the Cost Estimator to break down unit pricing per program. (See additional resources for Transfer Students below)
- Incoming International Students: Cost Get help estimating costs like tuition, fees, books, living expenses, and required health insurance. (See additional resources for International Students below)
- Net Price Calculator (NPC): The NPC will give you a personalized look at what your total net cost, otherwise known as your expected out of pocket costs, may be based on your unique student profile.
As you receive your financial aid offer from the University of Arizona, it’s time to get familiar with essential financial aid terms like Cost of Attendance, Student Aid Index, and Financial Need, so that ultimately you can truly understand your financial aid offer.
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Understanding Your Financial Aid Offer: This page is dedicated solely to helping you and your supporters make sense of the financial aid offer you received from the University of Arizona. Check out detailed information and a video tutorial that breaks it down for you.
As we start to get closer to the beginning of the school year, you may be interested in important dates such as when will your financial aid release to your Bursar student account.
For details, check out:
- Timeline and information from the Bursar’s office: This website will walk you through a typical financial timeline for a new student. Find out more by clicking on each image.
- Timeline and information from OSFA: We’ve pulled together some of the most common questions students have at the beginning of the semester!
- OSFA Frequently Asked Question page: Still have questions? We might have the answer you are looking for on our FAQ page that covers a wide range of concerns.
If you’ve already completed your University of Arizona admissions application, you’ve also submitted your application for merit scholarships!
- Incoming First-Year & Transfer Tuition Awards: View an outline for each Arizona Merit Tuition Award for first-year and transfer students, including information regarding each Arizona Merit Tuition Award and eligibility requirements.
- Renewal Requirements: Select your cohort year (the year you will begin as a student at the University of Arizona) to review detailed terms and conditions for each renewable scholarship.
- Scholarship Universe: Help limit your out-of-pocket costs and loan debt each year by applying for more scholarships!
Each semester, the AzAidSmart team brings essential financial aid webinars to you. Workshops cover a variety of topics from how to maximize your time & money as a Wildcat to helping you complete the Federal Verification process. Sign up for a current workshop, or view an On-Demand recording on our events page.
Looking to earn your University of Arizona degree completely online? Explore unique financial aid opportunities for Arizona Online students.
- Scholarship Universe: Help limit your out-of-pocket costs and loan debt each year by applying for more scholarships!
We’ll help you navigate your financial aid so you can focus on your transition to the Wildcat Family.
- If you’ve already completed your University of Arizona admissions application, it means you’ve also submitted your application for merit scholarships. Be sure to apply by July 1, 2021 to be considered for transfer merit awards.
- Curious which of your past credits will transfer? Find more information through our Transfer Credit Office to help you plan the courses you’ll need to take at Arizona.
- Scholarship Universe: Help limit your out-of-pocket costs and loan debt each year by applying for more scholarships!
- Earn to Learn is a need-based scholarship program that teaches financial literacy, and rewards students and families who are committed to saving money to attend the University of Arizona with matching scholarship funding. This renewable scholarship opportunity is available for community college transfers meeting all the combined Earn to Learn program requirements.
- Find community and unique resources through the Transfer Resource Center.
- International students may be eligible for merit-based scholarships. The Global Wildcat Award may be awarded to admitted students who apply for the scholarship and is based on grade point average (GPA) and test scores. Submit your University of Arizona application by November 1st to be considered.
- Scholarship Universe: Help limit your out-of-pocket costs and loan debt each year by applying for more scholarships!
- Net Price Calculator (NPC): The NPC will give you a personalized look at what your total net cost, otherwise known as your expected out of pocket costs, may be based on your unique student profile.
- There are also international student loan programs available in the US, and we encourage international students to explore tuition waiver opportunities that come from their home countries.
- Find community and unique resources through International Student Services.