FAFSA & Income Criteria:

• Demonstrate a combined AGI or income earned from work on the FAFSA of
  • $30,000 or less for parent(s) of dependent students or 
  • $14,580 or less for student and spouse for independent students
• Have a Student Aid Index (SAI), as calculated by the FAFSA, of 0 or less and be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.* 

*Families who have experienced changes to their financial situation that are not reflected in 2023 tax information may be able to be  placed on a wait list for Arizona Assurance consideration, by submitting a Family Contribution Appeal. Please contact OSFA directly for more information.

Admission & Residency Criteria:

Enroll in courses at the University of Arizona as a first-time, full-time, degree-seeking first-year student (i.e. students who did not attend any higher education institution including Community Colleges, Universities, or International post-secondary education schools after high school graduation).

There are no exceptions to the dates listed above unless you are specifically notified by OSFA in an email stating the due date exception. 

Students meeting the consideration eligibility criteria above will receive subsequent email(s) with further information and next steps regarding the consideration process via their official University of Arizona CatMail. 

Some students may be required to submit additional information via the Non-FAFSA Parent Resource Evaluation. This information will be used to further review for Arizona Assurance consideration. If required, please review and follow the instructions within the email carefully. These instructions will also be viewable in your To Do List on UAccess Student Center and in your Next Steps Center. 

OSFA will notify all students conditionally selected for the 2025-2026 Arizona Assurance Program via their official University of Arizona CatMail account beginning in mid-Spring 2025.

Selection for this program is conditional and can be revoked based on the following reasons:

Self-reported residency classification

Students are asked to self-report their residency status on their application for admission to the University of Arizona. Upon being admitted to the university, students who self-report to be an Arizona resident must then confirm their residency within Next Steps Center by completing the Statement of Residency Classification.

Students who are conditionally selected for the Arizona Assurance Program based on self-reporting Arizona resident status, but are classified as a non-resident after completing the Statement of Residency Classification, will have their conditional selection revoked. If a student believes they have been incorrectly classified as a non-resident, they must work with the Residency Classification Office to resolve their residency status by the June 1, 2025 deadline stated in the Eligibility Criteria section above.

Self-reported grades

The self-reported grades provided at the time of application for admission, in conjunction with the information provided on the FAFSA and the Non-FAFSA Parent Resource Evaluation (if applicable), determine a student's conditional selection status.

Once official high school transcripts are received, conditional Arizona Assurance selection will be finalized. Students who no longer meet the minimum high school GPA requirement will have their conditional selection status revoked.

Student Center To Do Items

All To Do Items listed in a student’s UAccess Student Center must be completed by June 1, 2025. 

Changes to your 2025-2026 FAFSA resulting from Federal Verification review (if applicable)

If a student's 2025-2026 FAFSA has been selected for Federal Verification, OFSA must verify the 2023 tax and income information provided on the FAFSA either by the student and/or parent or via the IRS transfer of tax data directly into the FAFSA. The tax information provided on the FAFSA, in conjunction with the information provided on the Admissions Application, and the Non-FAFSA Parent Resource Evaluation (if applicable), is used to determine a student's conditional selection status.

Once the Federal Verification review has been completed, conditional Arizona Assurance selection will be finalized. If eligibility changes as a result of the verification review, conditional selections will be revoked. 

It is recommended that all requested verification documentation be submitted to OSFA no later than July 1st for timely processing.

Priority for Arizona Assurance selections may be given to first-generation college students.

The Arizona Assurance Grant provides up to $10,000 per academic year for four years. This funding can be combined with any merit, Pell Grant, Arizona Promise Grant, and other gift aid awarded with the exception of University Grant, and Arizona Native Scholars Grant. If the student is eligible for both Arizona Promise Grant (AZP) and Arizona Assurance, the AZP Grant will cover the gap between tuition, fees, college fee and the merit, Pell Grant and all other gift aid offered (except Arizona Assurance Grant). Arizona Assurance Grant can then help cover other costs including housing for up to four years, provided all renewal requirements are met each year.

Students who miss one or more deadline(s) will no longer be eligible for Arizona Assurance Program consideration.

• Students who do not receive an invitation will not be considered for the Arizona Assurance Program; however, all students who complete and submit the FAFSA will be awarded federal financial aid based on their eligibility determined by FAFSA. 
• Visit Scholarship Universe to seek additional funding opportunities.