Office of Student Financial Aid

Applying

1 - Submit the FAFSA, School Code 003895

fafsa.gov

UW–Madison will not have a FAFSA® Priority Date for 2025-26.

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What is the FSA ID and how do I get one?

An FSA ID is a username and password that you must use to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites. Your FSA ID identifies you as someone who has the right to access your own personal information on ED websites such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).

If you are a parent of a dependent student, you will need your own FSA ID. If you have more than one child attending college, you will use the same FSA ID. Please note: Each FSA ID user must have a unique e-mail address.

Your FSA ID is used to sign legally binding documents electronically. It has the same legal status as a written signature. Don’t give your FSA ID to anyone—not even to someone helping you fill out the FAFSA®. Sharing your FSA ID could put you at risk of identity theft!

Create or retrieve a forgotten FSA ID, please go to https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch.

Will I have to provide parent information on my FAFSA®?

Your dependency status determines whose information you must report when you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.

  • If you’re a dependent student, you will report your and your parents’ information.

  • If you’re an independent student, you will report your own information (and, if you’re married, your spouse’s).

Your answers to questions on the FAFSA® determine whether you are considered a dependent or independent student.

Not living with parents or not being claimed by them on tax forms does not make you an independent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid.

If you have no contact with your parents and don’t know where they live, or you’ve left home due to an abusive situation, fill out the FAFSA and then immediately get in touch with our office to further discuss your situation and options available to you.

Is my parent a contributor on my FAFSA®?

More information can be found on the Federal Student Aid website.

I need help completing my FAFSA - Where can I get help?

You are always welcome to schedule an appointment to sit down with one our financial aid advisors for assistance with completing the FAFSA®.

We also hold several FAFSA Completion events throughout the year – check the UW Events Calendar for any upcoming events.

College Goal Wisconsin is a state-wide program designed to assist students and families in timely completion of the FAFSA.

High school seniors should also check with their counseling office for any local FAFSA® assistance or events.

2 - Apply for Scholarships

Scholarships are an excellent way to help reduce the costs of higher education. To match to, apply for, and accept campus scholarships, please log into the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) using your UW Netid and password.

Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH)

Applications for Incoming First Year Students typically open in early November and have deadlines in early February. Applications for Continuing Students can be open at any time, so log in to your WiSH dashboard often to check for new scholarship matches and apply. For additional information about UW-Madison scholarships, including FAQ and contact information, please visit our Scholarship Information page.

There are also many opportunities for scholarships through outside organizations and businesses – take time to research what else may be out there for you to apply. WARNING! Never pay or provide credit card information when searching for or applying to scholarships.

3 - Keep an Eye Out for Email Notifications

The financial aid office may request additional information. About 20% of students are selected for a process called verification which requires the school to collect documentation to confirm the accuracy of your FAFSA. You can also view any requested materials through our Verification Portal.

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How will I know which, if any, documents are required?

Our office will notify you (the student) via email if any documents are required before we are able to process your FAFSA®. The email will direct you to our Verification Portal where you will see exactly what’s being requested. Some documents can be completed online and signed electronically; others may have to be obtained elsewhere and uploaded to our system.

What if I have questions about what I've been asked to submit?

Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team – we’re here to help make this process smoother!

What is the deadline for submitting verification documents?

We encourage those selected to submit any requested documentation within 21 days after receiving their e-mail notification.

Should I send in documentation, even if your office hasn't requested it?

NO!

Do NOT submit any documents to our office that are not specifically requested. Submitting unsolicited documents could delay the offering of your financial aid.

I submitted my FAFSA, but haven't heard from your office - What should I do?

Incoming Students (Undergrad/Grad/Professionals):

  • We will not begin processing a FAFSA® until you have been fully ADMITTED to your program.

All students:

  • Confirm that you sent the FAFSA to the correct school with our School Code: 003895. It is a common mistake for our students to list the wrong school code.

Academic year financial aid offers typically begin going out in February/March.  Offers for Summer in April/May.

4 - Taking Classes Off Campus

Consortium Agreements

Considering taking classes required for your degree at another University? A consortium agreement is an agreement between two schools that one school (HOME school – UW-Madison) may provide financial aid while you (the student) temporarily takes classes required for your degree at another Title IV-eligible institution (HOST school).

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Student Qualification and Host Institution Eligibility

You must be enrolled at least half-time at one school (UW-Madison or host institution). Credits cannot be added together to equal half-time. 

Host institutions must participate in Title IV federal student aid programs. In other words, they must have a federally-issued School Code and can process federal financial aid. It must also be who charges you tuition and who your financial aid will pay. 

*Universities of Wisconsin Independent Learning is not eligible. Instead, if you’re a full-time student, check out the Tuition Waiver Request that can be approved by your School/College.*

The Consortium Process

  1. Meet with your Academic/Program Advisor to confirm the coursework you’re taking off-campus will successfully transfer back to your degree.
  2. Complete the Consortium Agreement Form
    • Complete the Student Section and sign
    • Send to your host institution to complete the rest and sign 

We’ll process the paperwork within 10 business days once both the Credit Evaluation Form and Consortium Agreement Form have been received

Impacts to Financial Aid

A Consortium Agreement does not guarantee that you will receive additional financial aid- only that your off-campus credits will be used to determine your enrollment status and that you can use your already offered aid at another institution. Students in need of additional funding should consider a PLUS or Private Loan.

When Your Consortium is Complete

Once your consortium agreement is processed, you can use your financial aid to pay the course(s) at your host institution. UW-Madison does not pay host institutions directly. 

After you have completed your course(s), you will need to submit your official transcript (from host institution) to be awarded credit at UW-Madison. Please follow the transfer credit guidelines.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • You, the student
    • Submit Credit Evaluation Form.
    • Complete student section of Consortium Agreement.
    • Use financial aid to pay your balance at your host institution.
    • Submit official final transcript after completing the course(s).
  • Host Institution
    • Completes Host Institution section of Consortium Agreement.
    • Issues tuition bill.
    • Notifies UW-Madison of any changes to your enrollment, if applicable.
    • Release official, final transcript.
  • UW–Madison
    • Processes consortium paperwork and determines financial aid eligibility.
    • Disburses financial aid to student.

Deadlines

  • Fall Consortium – December 1
  • Spring Consortium – May 1
  • Summer Consortium – One week before the end of your course(s) at host institution (as indicated on the Consortium Agreement Form)

The Registrar’s Office may take 1-2 business days to complete the Credit Evaluation Form – plan accordingly. 

Studying Abroad

You may be able to receive financial aid while participating in a UW-Madison study abroad program. Make sure to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the applicable study abroad office on campus will notify the Office of Student Financial Aid of your specific study abroad program and the applicable cost of attendance.

The Office of Student Financial Aid will revise your cost of attendance to reflect your study abroad program. If the revision to your cost of attendance results in a change to your financial aid eligibility, we will notify you via email.

More information on UW-Madison study abroad programs can be found on the International Academic Programs website.

Contact our office with questions or to schedule an appointment to discuss funding options for study abroad.

5 - Need Summer Financial Aid?

Financial aid for the summer term is more limited than what is available for the academic year. The most common type of financial aid offered for summer are Federal Direct Loans which depends on your remaining eligibility for the year and you must be enrolled at least half-time. But based on your unique situation, you may be eligible for other summer financial aid, like an institutional grant or Federal work-study.

You will be notified via email of any financial aid eligibility for Summer 2025 a few weeks after you enroll in summer courses. Financial aid eligibility for Summer 2025 will be based off of your 2024-25 FAFSA®.

UW-Madison students with a NetID and the correct FAFSA® submitted can use our Summer Term Net Price Calculator for an estimate of the financial aid they may be eligible for if taking summer classes.

If you are considering taking summer classes at a different college/university (see Consortium Agreements above), contact our office, as additional paperwork will be required.

We strongly recommend that students also apply for the Undergraduate Scholarship for Summer Study . That application will open February 10, 2025 and is due April 6, 2025.

Special and/or Unusual Circumstances

Special Circumstances

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What is a Special Circumstance?

If you or your family have experienced significant changes in income or have expenses that are not reflected on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), your special circumstances may be eligible for a professional judgment. A professional judgment allows a financial aid office to adjust certain elements on the FAFSA® to account for special circumstances that have not been adequately considered.

Special circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis and to ensure fairness and compliance with federal, state and university regulations, there are limits to the circumstances we can consider.

Because of funding limits, please be aware that a recalculation of your financial aid eligibility does not guarantee that any additional financial aid will be offered to you.

Examples of Special Circumstance

These are just a few examples of the special circumstances we can consider and the supporting documentation you can submit to support your request.

Circumstance Supporting Document Types
Parent loss of job/income Last pay statement; letter of layoff
High medical/dental bills not covered by insurance and/or high cost of insurance premiums Medical/dental bill invoice, copy of insurance premiums or statement of medical/dental costs; detailed explanation of excess costs
Reduction or loss of untaxed income such as child support or social security benefits: Loss of benefits letter; loss of support letter; detailed explanation for loss of untaxed income
Student loss of income resulting from return to school after ceasing full-time employment: Last date of full-time employment; last pay statement
Child care costs for student’s dependent(s) Daycare bill or other child care related costs
Death of a parent/spouse Nothing required beyond signed statement

How to Request Special Circumstance Review

We appreciate that this may be a difficult situation and therefore stressful or uncomfortable to share, but we ask that you notify our office.  So we can better understand your special circumstance, you can download, complete, and submit our Special Circumstance Request Form.  Send the completed form along with supporting documentation to us (e-mail, fax, or mail).

Upon review, we may find it necessary to request additional information.  We will notify you of any change to your financial aid resulting from your special circumstance.  Based on the time of year, it may take several weeks.

Unusual Circumstances

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What is an Unusual Circumstance?

In a limited number of situations, some students that would otherwise be required to submit parent information may be able to submit their FAFSA® and receive financial aid without it because of their unusual circumstances.

The FAFSA® will provide a student in this situation with a provisional Student Aid Index (SAI) and the student must follow up with our office for review of their dependency status and confirmation of the unusual circumstances that were not adequately considered.

Unusual circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis and to ensure fairness and compliance with federal, state and university regulations, there are limits to the circumstances we can consider.

Examples of Unusual Circumstances

These are just a few examples of the unusual circumstances we can consider and the supporting documentation you can submit to support our review.

Circumstance Supporting Document Types
Parent abandonment, estrangement, or abuse (and not adopted) Court records; police reports; statements from school staff, medical/therapeutic providers or others familiar with your situation.
Parent incarceration Court records; prison/jail resident records.
Human Trafficking I-95 with T1
Refugee or Asylee status I-94; I-551

How to Request Unusual Circumstance Review

We appreciate that this may be a difficult situation and therefore stressful or uncomfortable to share, but we ask that you notify our office. So we can better understand your special circumstance, you can download, complete, and submit our Unusual Circumstance Request Form.  Send the completed form along with supporting documentation to us (e-mail, fax, or mail).

Upon review, we may find it necessary to request additional information. We will notify you when the confirmation process is complete. Based on the time of year, it may take several weeks.

Deadlines

You only have to submit the FAFSA® and provide required verification materials to our office once during the academic year. However, last call for submission of those materials depends on when you need financial aid.

BE CAREFUL! These deadlines do not necessarily align with tuition or housing deadlines each semester. If for some reason you cannot meet these deadlines, contact our office as soon as possible.

*Your last chance to request or makes changes to a Federal Direct (Sub/Unsub/PLUS) or Private Loan is always the Friday before Finals Week each semester.

2024-25 Deadlines

FAFSA® Priority Deadline – Waived due to the late release of the 2024-25 FAFSA.

Fall 2024 Semester ONLY Financial Aid Applicants – November 15, 2024

Spring 2025 Semester ONLY Financial Aid Applicants- April 15, 2025

2024-25 Academic Year (Fall and Spring) Financial Aid Applicants – April 15, 2025

2025-26 Deadlines

FAFSA® Priority Deadline – Waived due to the late release of the 2025-26 FAFSA.

Fall 2025 Semester ONLY Financial Aid Applicants – November 15, 2025

Spring 2026 Semester ONLY Financial Aid Applicants- April 15, 2026

2025-26 Academic Year (Fall and Spring) Financial Aid Applicants – April 15, 2026