Financial Aid

Financial aid is available at the University of Michigan to help eligible students and their families meet financial costs. You are encouraged to apply for aid if you think you may need financial assistance to attend college. Most aid awards are based on demonstrated financial need; some assistance is based solely on merit. Generally, financial aid is awarded from a combination of programs — grants, scholarships, loans and Work-Study employment.

The University of Michigan uses information provided on both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE to determine your expected family contribution (the amount you and your parents are expected to pay toward your education) and your eligibility for aid programs. The federal methodology of the FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal and state aid, while the institutional methodology of the PROFILE determines your eligibility for need-based University grants and scholarships. Complete the FAFSA and the PROFILE by the deadline dates listed below to be considered for all aid programs — use estimated tax information if necessary and do not wait to be admitted before applying for aid! Complete information for prospective and newly admitted students is available on the University of Michigan's Office of Financial Aid website.

To apply for aid, entering freshmen must:

  1. Complete the PROFILE online as soon as possible after October 1 to be considered for all need-based University grants and scholarships.  Be sure to list University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, CSS Code 1839.

    Note: Some students may be required to submit additional PROFILE documents (such as the Noncustodial Parent PROFILE) to be considered for need-based U-M grants and scholarships. The U-M Office of Financial Aid will contact students by mail if they must submit additional documents.
  2. Complete the FAFSA online as soon as possible after January 1 to be considered for all need-based and non-need-based federal loans and Work-Study, as well as federal and state need-based grants and scholarships. Be sure to list the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Federal School Code 002325.

Your application for admission serves as your application for most University merit scholarships. If additional information is required, you will be notified. We recommend application for admission by November 15 for competitive scholarship consideration. Scholarship awards are generally made between January and April 15. You will be notified by letter from the Office of Financial Aid or the U-M school or college to which you have applied. You must also apply for financial aid (i.e., complete the FAFSA and the PROFILE by March 1 to be considered for any financial need-based scholarships.

We encourage you to apply for private scholarships (i.e., scholarships which are not awarded through U-M). There are a number of free scholarship search services on the web. We strongly recommend that you do not pay for any scholarship search. Your school counseling or career center and public libraries also have a number of resources to assist you in your search for scholarships.

If you do not demonstrate financial need, there are various alternative and private loan options available to you; see the Office of Financial Aid website for more information.