How to Apply for Financial Aid

Fill out the FAFSA

The FAFSA is an application for federal student aid that collects the basic information needed to determine your eligibility for all of the financial aid programs sponsored by the federal government. These include Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), College Work-Study Program Grants, Perkins Loans, and Federal Direct Student Loans. You can pick up a FAFSA from your high school guidance office, from your public library, or at any college or university financial aid office. The easiest way to fill out the FAFSA is online.

Financial aid is given out on a first-come, first-served basis so applying early is important. You should fill out a FAFSA even if you are not sure you will be applying to UB. Filling out a FAFSA doesn't mean that you have to accept all of the aid that is offered. Once you are presented with financial aid, you will have the option of accepting all or some of it or of declining to take any at all.

The federal title IV school code for the University at Buffalo is 002837.

You will receive a federal Student Aid Report (SAR) four to six weeks after filing the FAFSA. Your SAR will indicate your expected family contribution for federal student aid programs as calculated by the federal processor. UB's financial aid office receives this information electronically from the student aid processor, so it is not necessary to send us your SAR. Financial aid awards will be mailed on or about March 1.

If you are a New York State resident, you will initiate the TAP application process by completing the FAFSA. No separate application is required. (Be sure not to check the "NO" box on #102 on the FAFSA.)

Be sure to file the FAFSA as soon as possible. UB's priority due date is February 1. You should file by this date to be considered for the best possible financial aid package, including scholarships and campus-based financial aid consideration (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, College Work-Study, and Perkins Loan). Your family should also make every effort to complete federal tax returns prior to completing the FAFSA, as this will make the process much simpler.

Mid-year transfers

If you're applying to transfer to UB for the spring semester and you have completed the FAFSA for your previous college for the preceding fall semester, you may contact the Federal Processing Center at 1-800-433-3243 to update your school information. Visit them online and click on "Make Corrections to a Processed FAFSA". Add the name "State University at Buffalo." The federal (Title IV) code for the University at Buffalo is 002837.

Related Links

• FAFSA On the Web