File Your FAFSA By June 1 to Be Considered for the Nebraska Promise Program

File Your FAFSA by June 1

The FAFSA is a government form that prospective and current college students (undergraduate and graduate) must submit each year to determine their eligibility for federal student aid. Applying early ensures you are awarded your maximum financial aid eligibility, avoids processing delays, and allows plenty of time to have the FAFSA processed for timely disbursement.

Need help completing the FAFSA or have questions about financial aid or the Nebraska Promise? The UNO Office of Financial Support and Scholarships is committed to providing you with the support you need.

Add UNO's School Code to your FAFSA: 002554

The Nebraska Promise Program

Full-time resident undergraduates whose families have an adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less and who qualify for the federal Pell Grant can attend UNO and pay no tuition thanks to the Nebraska Promise program. The Nebraska Promise applies to returning, transfer and new students, both on-campus and online, and requires no separate application beyond the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

To be eligible for full tuition coverage under the Nebraska Promise, students must take at least 12 credit hours per semester and maintain a 2.5 grade point average. The Nebraska Promise covers up to 30 credit hours per academic year. Students need to complete the FAFSA every year to remain eligible. The program does not cover costs beyond tuition like fees, books, or room and board, but UNO offers additional financial aid opportunities to help students cover their costs.

1. If you are not a current UNO student, you must apply for undergraduate admission by June 1, 2022;

2. For the 2022-2023 academic year, UNO’s deadline to complete the FAFSA to receive priority consideration for all types of aid at UNO, including the Nebraska Promise, is June 1, 2022;

3. You must also submit all requested “To Do” list items by July 1, 2022 to receive priority consideration for all types of aid at UNO, including the Nebraska Promise. If you submit documents after July 1, 2022, you will still be considered for Federal financial aid. However, we cannot guarantee that you will receive enough gift aid (institutional and state grants/scholarships) to cover the cost of tuition.

Frequently Asked Questions About FAFSA and Financial Aid

Answers to some frequently asked questions are listed below. If you have additional questions about the FAFSA, or financial aid in general, please contact the UNO Office of Financial Support and Scholarships.

Federal student aid from the federal government includes:

• Grants: Free money that doesn't have to be repaid

• Loans: Money you can borrow for school that has to be repaid, sometimes with interest.

• Work-study: Money you earn to pay for your education

Federal student aid can be used to pay for education-related expenses included in your UNO's cost of attendance (COA) such as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation.

Anyone who plans to attend college should submit the FAFSA. The FAFSA is also utilized to determine eligibility for nonfederal student aid and various scholarships. Some financial aid programs require a FAFSA even though the aid may be awarded without regard to family income.

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool allows applicants who have already filed their federal income tax returns to prefill the answers to some questions on the FAFSA by transferring data from their federal income tax returns. This can save you and your family time in completing the FAFSA.

The 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens Oct. 1, 2021. File your 2022-2023 FAFSA using your 2020 federal income tax information.

• Avoid Delays: Filing early ensures you will be awarded the maximum financial aid eligibility from Federal, State, and Institutional sources, and allows plenty of time to complete financial aid verification (if required) and to resolve any issues.

• Alignment: The financial aid application process may be more aligned with the college admission process. Knowing how much financial aid is available earlier can help families make better enrollment decisions.

• Certainty: Applicants will not need to estimate income or taxes paid. Most students and families can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import IRS tax data directly into the FAFSA.

• Less pressure: The October 1 start date will provide more time for students and parents to explore and understand financial aid options and apply for aid before state and institution deadlines.