Applying for Financial Aid
To qualify for need-based programs, the student must demonstrate financial need or the difference between the cost of attendance and what the family (both student and parents, where applicable) can reasonably afford to pay toward that cost. The family’s income and assets are reviewed to calculate the expected family contribution (EFC) in a process called "Need Analysis". UNC uses the FAFSA to initiate this process. Completion of the FAFSA means the student is applying for all state and federal aid programs offered at UNC with the exception of scholarship programs.
The FAFSA form is available on-line at www.fafsa.gov. To receive the maximum amount of funding, the application must be completed by March 1 prior to the award year. An application processed after March 1 is considered late and the applicant will have limited funding opportunities. To apply for a Federal Direct Stafford or Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan for Graduate Students, students must accept the loan on URSA. Students will also need to complete a Master Promissory Note on the Federal Direct Loan website.