The financial aid timeline provides an overview of the financial aid process from when you first apply for financial aid to receiving your financial aid each term before classes start. These dates are generally the same each term. More specific financial aid dates can be found in the tables below.
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| October | The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming academic year opens. We encourage you to prepare for the FAFSA and complete the FAFSA early when it becomes available. The University will review your information and start sending you notifications by the end of December. |
| Mid-October | Explore scholarships for the upcoming academic year and apply for the ones you are eligible for based on your student profile. |
| February | Estimated Financial Aid Notices begin going out to first-year and transfer undergraduate students. If you are admitted to the University and have completed the financial aid process, you will be mailed an Estimated Financial Aid Notice. Returning students will not receive an Estimated Financial Aid Notice. |
| May | Special Circumstance Appeal forms are available for the upcoming academic year. |
| Mid to Late July | One Stop Student Services emails financial aid offers with instructions on how to review your financial aid offer for the upcoming academic year. The email will be sent to your University email account. Please review your offer. If your offer includes loans or work study, you can accept, reduce, or decline the amount you’ve been offered. You need to complete required loan documentation before you receive any loans that are accepted with your financial aid offer. Gift aid, which includes any grants or scholarships, is auto-accepted and does not need a review. Submit your application for tuition reciprocity with your home state/province if you are a North Dakota, Wisconsin or Manitoba resident. Submit before or during the term you plan to first attend. Generally, applications will not be processed retroactively. |
| July 31 | Minnesota State Grant and Minnesota Dream Act deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year. Subsequent years to be determined. If you did not already fill out a FAFSA or Minnesota Dream Act application, this is the last day to complete one and still be considered for funding. You must be a Minnesota resident to qualify. |
| Early to Mid August | Explore additional funding for the upcoming fall semester if necessary. The private loan process can take up to six weeks to be finalized. To ensure on time payment of your student account, private loan applications should be completed by mid-August. |
| Approximately one week before class starts (fall and spring semesters) | During the week before classes start, your financial aid will be applied to your University student account. If you have excess funds after your tuition, fees, housing, and other authorized charges are paid, that money will be sent to you via check or direct deposit. If you have additional tuition, fees, housing or other charges that are not covered by your financial aid, you will receive a bill for those charges. Financial aid continues to be offered and disbursed throughout the term as students accept and respond to their offers. Please contact One Stop Student Services if you have already responded to your aid offers and need to make changes. |
Important financial aid dates
Use the tables below to find dates regarding financial aid disbursement, loan and grant deadlines, and additional information about financial aid eligibility.
Spring 2025
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| January 6, 2025 | Spring 2025 financial aid disbursement begins. |
| January 15, 2025 | Spring term begins. |
| January 30, 2025 | Census date: Your enrollment is reviewed for financial aid eligibility. If your enrollment has increased or decreased by this date, your aid eligibility will be adjusted to the appropriate amount based on your revised enrollment. |
| April 11, 2025 | Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal deadline for spring semester. If you need to submit an appeal, it should be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the end of the term in which you are seeking aid. |
| May 6, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only PLUS loan. |
| May 8, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Summer 2025
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| April 2025 | The University sends financial aid offers for May and summer sessions. You will receive an email with instructions on how to review your financial aid offer for the upcoming academic year. The email will be sent to your University email account. Please review your offer. If your offer includes loans or work study, you can accept, reduce, or decline the amount you’ve been offered. You need to complete required loan documentation before you receive any loans that are accepted with your financial aid offer. |
| May 12, 2025 | Full session, May session and summer first 7-week classes begin. |
| June 2, 2025 | Summer financial aid disbursement begins. |
| June 9, 2025 | Summer first-half and regular sessions begin. |
| June 16, 2025 | Census date: Your enrollment is reviewed for financial aid eligibility If your enrollment has increased or decreased by this date, your aid eligibility will be adjusted to the appropriate amount based on your revised enrollment. |
| June 30, 2025 | Last day to complete your 2024-25 FAFSA for the current academic year |
| July 7, 2025 | Summer second-half sessions begin |
| July 18, 2025 | Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal deadline for summer. If you need to submit an appeal, it should be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the end of the summer term in which you are seeking aid. |
| July 29, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a summer PLUS loan. |
| July 31, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a summer subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Fall 2025
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| August 18, 2025 | Fall 2025 financial aid disbursement begins. |
| August 25, 2025 | Fall term begins. |
| September 9, 2025 | Census date: Your enrollment is reviewed for financial aid eligibility. If your enrollment has increased or decreased by this date, your aid eligibility will be adjusted to the appropriate amount based on your revised enrollment. |
| November 14, 2025 | Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal deadline for fall semester. If you need to submit an appeal, it should be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the end of the term in which you are seeking aid. |
| December 9, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a fall only PLUS loan. |
| December 11, 2025 | Last day to request and accept a fall only subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Spring 2026
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| January 7, 2026 | Spring 2026 financial aid disbursement begins. |
| January 14, 2026 | Spring term begins. |
| January 29, 2026 | Census date: Your enrollment is reviewed for financial aid eligibility. If your enrollment has increased or decreased by this date, your aid eligibility will be adjusted to the appropriate amount based on your revised enrollment. |
| April 10, 2026 | Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal deadline for spring semester. If you need to submit an appeal, it should be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the end of the term in which you are seeking aid. |
| May 5, 2026 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only PLUS loan. |
| May 7, 2026 | Last day to request and accept a fall/spring or spring only subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |
Summer 2026
| Date | Item description |
|---|---|
| April 2026 | The University sends financial aid offers for May and summer sessions. You will receive an email with instructions on how to review your financial aid offer for the upcoming academic year. The email will be sent to your University email account. Please review your offer. If your offer includes loans or work study, you can accept, reduce, or decline the amount you’ve been offered. You need to complete required loan documentation before you receive any loans that are accepted with your financial aid offer. |
| May 11, 2026 | May session and summer 13-week classes begin. |
| June 1, 2026 | Summer financial aid disbursement begins. |
| June 8, 2026 | Summer session begins. |
| June 15, 2026 | Census date: Your enrollment is reviewed for financial aid eligibility If your enrollment has increased or decreased by this date, your aid eligibility will be adjusted to the appropriate amount based on your revised enrollment. |
| June 30, 2026 | Last day to complete your 2025-26 FAFSA for the current academic year |
| July 6, 2026 | Summer second-half sessions begin |
| July 17, 2026 | Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal deadline for summer 2024. If you need to submit an appeal, it should be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the end of the summer term in which you are seeking aid. |
| July 28, 2026 | Last day to request and accept a summer PLUS loan. |
| July 30, 2026 | Last day to request and accept a summer subsidized and/or unsubsidized loan. |