Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
UNC Charlotte uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as its financial application. No other form is necessary. The paper version is available in high school guidance offices and college financial aid offices. However, the quickest and most efficient way to apply is to complete the online FAFSA.
Students (and parents of dependent students) will need to obtain a PIN
in order to sign the FAFSA electronically.
Regardless of which method you use (paper or electronic), there are important points to remember:
File Your FAFSA Early!
The priority deadline is April 1 for Financial Aid. The deadline for North Carolina state grants is March 15.
Federal School Code -The federal school code for UNC Charlotte is 002975.
It is important to provide accurate, complete information on your FAFSA. Inaccurate or estimated information may cause unnecessary delays in the processing of your application.
Check Your Email
If you provide an email address on your FAFSA, you will receive an email confirmation that your application has been processed within approximately four weeks. Otherwise, you will receive confirmation via postal mail. Each student has a Student Aid Report (SAR) which summarizes the information you provided on the FAFSA. You should review the information for accuracy and keep the SAR for your records. You can make corrections to your FAFSA using your paper or electronic SAR.
Promptly Submit any Requested Documentation
In order to complete your financial aid application, UNC Charlotte may request that you submit copies of federal tax returns or other documentation. Respond promptly to such requests to assure time processing of your application. Award Condition and Responsibilities Be sure to completely read your award notification. If you have been awarded federal or university loan assistance, make sure that you complete all steps that may be required of you, including completing a loan entrance counseling, master promissory note (MPN) and lender request form.
Click
herefor more information about the loan process at UNC Charlotte.
Please be mindful of the following:
The federal government will calculate your family's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) using a national formula. UNC Charlotte receives FAFSAs from the federal processing center once-a-week.
Your eligibility for financial aid is based on your EFC and the cost of attendance (COA) budgets for UNC Charlotte.
Applications received by UNC Charlotte by April 1 will be considered for grants, Stafford loans, and the Federal Work-Study programs based on financial need.
Due to the limited availability of funds, applications received after April 1 will be considered for federal Stafford loans and Pell grants only.
Students are notified of financial aid awards through their 49er Express email account based on the following:
Entering Freshman
April 1
New Transfer and New Graduate Students
Late April
Returning Students
Mid-May
Thereafter, awards are made on a rolling basis. Students who apply after July 1 should not anticipate that aid funds will be available by the beginning of the semester.
You may access your specific financial aid information by logging in to 49er Express. (For information on how to access 49er Express, click here.)
Entrance Loan Counseling
Prior to receiving your first disbursement of Federal Stafford Loan and Perkins Lon Funds you will be required to complete an entrance loan counseling session. Loan entrance counseling for both types of loans can be found here on the Loan Counseling Page.
Check with your Lender
If you are awarded a Federal Stafford Loan, your eligibility will be certified electronically and your lender will be in touch with you when the loan has been approved.
If you are a first time borrower, you will need to complete a Lender Selection Form. The form can be downloaded
Financial aid is awarded by the Office of Student Financial Aid but is disbursed by the the Student Accounts Office. Aid awards made for the academic year are usually disbursed in two installments at the beginning of each semester, assuming you are registered for the number of hours on which your financial aid award was based.
If your award is made after the semester has begun, university and federal grant funds will be disbursed electronically within 3 to 5 business days. If your award package includes Federal Stafford Loan funds, those funds will be disbursed upon your acceptance via 49er Express and sent to UNC Charlotte by your chosen lender. This process takes approximately 10 business days assuming all loan requirements are met.
The Student Accounts Office will post your awards to your student account after disbursement. If your student account has a credit balance after your awards are posted, a refund will be generated in 7 to 10 days after the refund is applied to your account.
For more information, please the Student Account FAQ page by clicking
If you need funds for summer school, you will need to complete a separate UNC Charlotte summer financial aid application. The application will be available online as well as in the Office of Student Financial Aid in mid April for the upcoming summer, and must be completed within specified deadlines each year.
Generally Stafford loans, Parent PLUS Loans or private loans are the only types of aid available for summer school.
Undergraduate students must be enrolled for at least 6 hours in summer to receive a Stafford Loan. Graduate students must be enrolled for at least 3 credit hours in summer to receive a Stafford Loan.
