{"id":36053,"date":"2025-09-23T14:27:55","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T19:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/finances\/?page_id=36053"},"modified":"2026-04-29T15:32:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T20:32:49","slug":"fafsa26","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/finances\/finances\/receiving-financial-aid\/fafsa26\/","title":{"rendered":"2025-26 FAFSA is Open Now!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col uwm-l-col--4 uwm-l-offset--1 uwm-l-order--last\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-buttons--full\">\n<a class=\"uwm-c-button uwm-c-button--full uwm-c-button--icon-right uwm-c-button--icon-arrow uwm-u-mb-20\" href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/h\/apply-for-aid\/fafsa\" rel=\"\">Apply for FAFSA<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-block-otp-nav \"><\/div>\n\n<nav aria-label=\"Sidebar\" class=\"uwm-p-navigation-list uwm-p-navigation-list--gold-border \"><div class=\"uwm-p-navigation-list--title\">More Information<\/div><ul>\n<li class=''><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/finances\/finances\/receiving-financial-aid\/fafsa25\/\" class=\"\" rel=\"\" target=\"\"><span>2024-25 FAFSA Info<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=''><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/finances\/finances\/receiving-financial-aid\/fafsa\/\" class=\"\" rel=\"\" target=\"\"><span>2025-26 FAFSA Info<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<div class=\"uwm-p-notice uwm-p-notice--info\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-info fa-fw\"><\/i><div class=\"uwm-p-notice--content\"><div class=\"uwm-p-notice--title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/h\/apply-for-aid\/fafsa\"><strong>2025-26 FAFSA\u00ae<\/strong> <strong>is now open!<\/strong><\/a><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-notice--message\">The first step to determining if you are eligible for state and federal financial aid.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-complete-the-fafsa\">Complete the FAFSA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2025-26 FAFSA form was launched on November 21, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/h\/apply-for-aid\/fafsa\">FAFSA.gov<\/a> and log in with your username and password.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure we get your FAFSA by adding our school code: 003896<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/apply-for-aid\/fafsa\/filling-out\/dependency\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Determine if your parent(s) or spouse will need to be contributors<\/a>&nbsp;(contribute their info on your FAFSA form).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If your parent(s) or spouse will need to contribute to your form, make sure each contributor&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/fsa-id\/create-account\/launch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">creates their own StudentAid.gov account<\/a>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your contributor (parent, spouse, etc) does not have a Social Security Number, follow the <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/announcements-events\/fafsa-support\/contributor-social-security-number\">How To Submit the FAFSA<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>\u00a0Form if Your Contributor Doesn\u2019t Have an SSN<\/a> to successfully submit your application.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be sure to sign and submit your application when you get to the end!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-learn-more\">Learn More<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Review the FAFSA best practices at <a href=\"https:\/\/t.e2ma.net\/click\/u13f8j\/is48zx8\/6qrknw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">StudentAid.gov\/FAFSAtips<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watch <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@FederalStudentAid\/playlists\">helpful video playlists<\/a> to get prepared and successfully complete your application. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stay informed about&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/announcements-events\/fafsa-support\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FAFSA updates<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find more info from the <a href=\"https:\/\/uwhelp.wisconsin.edu\/pay-for-college\/fafsa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Universities of Wisconsin FAFSA information<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion\" data-accordion-prefix-classes=\"uwm\" data-accordion-cool-selectors=\"1\"><button class=\"uwm-p-accordion--toggle-button size-p-md\">Expand All<\/button>\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\">What is the FAFSA\u00ae?<\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>The acronym FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is the first step to determining if you&#8217;re eligible for most state and federal financial aid. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\">Which semesters are covered by the 2025-26 FAFSA<\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>At UWM, our school year begins with the fall term and ends with the summer term. That means if you wish to be considered for aid for Summer 2025, make sure you submit a 2024-25 FAFSA. If you plan to attend for Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026, or Summer 2026 terms, you should be completing the 2025-26 FAFSA.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\"><span style=\"font-size: 1em\">What year&#8217;s tax information do I provide?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>If you are submitting the 2025-26 FAFSA, you are required to use your 2023 tax information. All contributors must consent to the IRS Direct Data Exchange which connects your FAFSA to any IRS tax information available, including non-filing status. Some applicants may need to manually enter their tax information, but most will be able to skip over those questions. This also lets the Office of Financial Aid Administration know the information is the most accurate it can be.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\">What is the benefit of filing early?<\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>Filing now means no mad dash in August to get everything completed before the Fall semester begins. You may have witnessed lines or experienced increased wait times at the beginning of the most recent semester. Avoid that by filing as early as possible!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\">When will I be offered financial aid for 2025-26?<\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>UWM plans to begin notifying first year students of their financial aid offer mid February 2025. Current Panthers, we haven&#8217;t forgotten about you! Because your aid and class completion history require some additional processing, you will be notified a little later. As of November 2024, continuing students can plan to be notified beginning in June. If you\u2019ll be starting at UWM in Fall 2025 keep an eye on your email for a notification of your aid eligibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you submit your FAFSA, be sure to monitor your PAWS to-do list! If you\u2019ve been admitted, you have submitted your FAFSA, and there is nothing on your to-do list, all that\u2019s left is to be patient! We will work to offer aid as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\">Is there a deadline for submitting the FAFSA?<\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>The final date to submit a FAFSA is June 30 AFTER the academic year is over. However, you must still be enrolled in classes for financial aid to be offered. Please keep in mind that some financial aid programs run out of funding pretty quickly. Apply early to give yourself the best chance at receiving all types of aid.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\">What is a studentaid.gov account?<\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p>Whether you\u2019re a student, parent, or borrower, you\u2019ll need to create your own account to apply for, receive, and manage your federal student aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What You Can Do With Your Account<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You must have an account to do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fill out the&nbsp;<em>Free Application for Federal Student Aid<\/em>&nbsp;(FAFSA<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>) form online<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complete other online forms (such as the&nbsp;<em>Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note<\/em>) required to receive Direct Loans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review the federal student aid you\u2019ve received<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some tips for making sure you set yours up correctly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create at least 3 business days before completing the FAFSA or in advance at <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/fsa-id\/create-account\/launch\">Create an Account<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do not create an account for anyone else.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do not use the same email as anyone else when creating.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t use a high school or other e-mail that will expire. You&#8217;re going to use this for a long time!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep a record of your account information to use throughout your academic career.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3039,"featured_media":0,"parent":4021,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/centered.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[3041,19586,34594,37275,33688,32411]},"class_list":["post-36053","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Student Financial Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Get guidance on completing the 2026\u201327 FAFSA at UWM, including required steps, eligibility details, and tips to submit your application.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/finances\/finances\/receiving-financial-aid\/fafsa26\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"It&#039;s time to apply for financial aid!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The 2025-2026 FAFSA is now open. 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