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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The Office of Scholarships & Student Aid

Application Checklist

• File the FAFSA by the March 1 priority deadline.

  Students must mail the FAFSA and PROFILE Application by February 15 in order to meet the March 1 priority processing deadline.

• Undergraduates apply by completing the two applications.
  1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Title IV code 002974
  2. PROFILE Application UNC-Chapel Hill Code Number 5816

• Graduate and Professional Students file one application.
  1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Title IV code 002974

• Freshmen/Transfer students: File the FAFSA - don’t wait.

  Do not wait to file a FAFSA until you have received an admission decision. We cannot offer you aid until after you have been offered admission, but it is to the student's advantage to have your FAFSA data at UNC-Chapel Hill waiting for the admission decision.

• Mail the signature page to the federal aid processor within 14 days, if you complete the Internet version of the FAFSA.

  The processor needs the signature page to complete your application to send to UNC-Chapel Hill. We will not process a financial aid award package for you until we receive the signatures. Or, make sure the student and parent receive their PINs (Personal Identification Number) ahead of time and use them.

• Stafford Loan applicants who are new borrowers, complete your MPN (Master Promissory Note) online.

  If you choose to borrow a Stafford Loan, please review our list of Preferred Lenders for Federal Stafford Loans. First-time borrowers should complete the Master Promissory Note with your lender of choice.

• Register for full-time credit hours each semester.

  Full-time is at least 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduates and at least 9 credit hours per semester for graduates. Most aid programs require a full-time schedule. If you know you will have less than a full-time course load for a semester, alert the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid so that you will know how much aid you can retain as a part-time student. If you plan to have a full-time schedule for a semester but still need to add courses, keep in mind that your aid will not disburse until after you have a full-time course load for the term.

• Reply to all requests for additional information.

  If you receive a Notice of Incomplete Application via letter or emails requesting additional information, follow the directions in the Notice and respond promptly to avoid delays in receipt of your financial aid. Once you have your ONYEN, you may also check your award status online at Student Central. (Use these directions to find your financial aid information via Student Central.)

• Reapply every year for financial aid.

  Students must complete the FAFSA and/or PROFILE every year by the priority deadline to be considered for financial aid for the upcoming academic year or summer session(s). For summer session(s), students must have a FAFSA on file for the academic year preceding the summer session(s).

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