2024-2025 FAFSA FAQs

What is "FAFSA Simplification"?

The FAFSA Simplification Act represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid starting with the 2024–2025 award year. Please see Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Simplification | University of North Texas for details.

I submitted my 2024-2025 FAFSA. When will I receive a financial aid offer?

Due to FAFSA Simplification, the Department of Education did not start sending schools FAFSA data until late March/early April 2024.  The Department of Education will notify you via email (using the email address you used for your FSA ID) once your FAFSA information has been sent to your selected school(s).

Once you have received this email notice from the Department of Education, please monitor your UNT Email Address, EagleConnect, for information from the UNT Financial Aid & Scholarships Office regarding the status of your FAFSA.

I have not yet submitted my 2024-2025 FAFSA. When should I complete it by?
Due to FAFSA Simplification, the UNT priority deadline to submit the FAFSA (or TASFA) has been moved from January 15 to May 1, 2024 for the 2024-2025 academic year.  However, it is critical that students who have not yet applied complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA do so as soon as possible to help avoid potential delays in processing.
I am not able to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA due to an issue with the form. What should I do?

The Department of Education has published the following website to assist students who are experiencing technical issues with completing the 2024-2025 FAFSA:  2024–25 FAFSA Issue Alerts | Federal Student Aid

While the Department of Education is working on resolving the issues listed on this website, many have “workaround” instructions included.  If the FAFSA issue you have encountered has a "workaround" listed, we recommend following the workaround instructions as these are directly from the Department of Education. 

Please Note:  If you have a parent (i.e., “contributor” for the 2024-2025 FAFSA) without a Social Security Number (SSN), please see the following updated guidance from the Department of Education:    How To Submit the 2024–25 FAFSA® Form if Your Contributor Doesn’t Have an SSN | Federal Student Aid

The UNT Priority Deadline to submit the 2024-2025 FAFSA has been moved from January 15 to May 1, 2024.

How do I submit a correction or update to the 2024-2025 FAFSA?

If you have completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA but need to submit a correction or update, the Department of Education has created the following website to provide instructions and guidance regarding 2024-2025 FAFSA corrections and updates:  How To Correct or Update Your FAFSA® Form | Federal Student Aid

  • The ability for a student to submit a correction or update to the 2024-2025 FAFSA became available mid-April 2024.  There have been some reported issues with this functionality.  The Department of Education has published the following page to track the status of FAFSA Correction issues and provide guidance:  Open FAFSA Corrections Issues section

New Student FAQs

Can financial aid pay for the New Student Orientation fee?

The Orientation fee is due before financial aid is applied to a student’s account.  However, students may register for Orientation and submit an Orientation Deferment Request.  The Orientation Deferment Request delays the payment of the Orientation Fee until closer to the start of classes.

The following page includes details regarding registering for Orientation and an online form to request the deferment of the fee: 

Register for Orientation | Division of Student Affairs (unt.edu)

Please be advised -- some forms of financial aid (such as federal and state aid) cannot apply toward an Orientation Fee.  

Are Orientation Fees refundable?

If you are unable to attend your orientation session, you can request to cancel at least 5 business days prior to your scheduled orientation date and be eligible for a full refund.   After your orientation date has passed, all orientation fees are non-refundable, including Parent Orientation fees. 

Please see the “Cancellation and Refunds” tab on the following webpage for details:

Register for Orientation | Division of Student Affairs (unt.edu)

Can financial aid pay for the Housing Payments due at point of housing application?

The Housing Application Fee (one-time $50 fee for new students) and Housing Pre-Payment ($350) are due before financial aid is applied to a student’s account.  Please see page 2, Section IV, of the Housing License Agreement for additional details. 

If you have questions about options for making the $350 pre-payment, please contact Housing and Residence Life at housinginfo@unt.edu. 

Is the Housing Pre-Payment refundable?

If a student is admitted to UNT but elects not to attend, the student may submit a written request to the Housing Assignments Office prior to July 1 to terminate their Agreement and request full refund of the Housing Fee Pre-payment ($350).  The Housing Application Fee ($50) will not be refunded.

Please see page 3, Section VI, of the Housing License Agreement for additional details. 

I am graduating from a Texas High School and plan to attend UNT this Fall 2024. How will I know if I am eligible for a "TEXAS Grant"?
The TEXAS Grant Program is a need-based program available to Texas resident students who meet certain need and academic criteria.  Please see the TEXAS Grant | University of North Texas website for details.   
I will be new to UNT this Fall 2024 and am considering federal loans. How much can I potentially borrow?
Federal Direct Student Loans are offered by the U.S. Department of Education to help eligible students cover the cost of higher education at a college or university.  Please see the Loans | University of North Texas website for details.   

Top Student Questions

When will my financial aid and/or scholarship apply to my student account?

Financial aid begins disbursing to UNT student accounts near the start of classes each term.  Scholarships begin disbursing to UNT student accounts on the first day of class each semester.

Financial aid disbursed will apply toward outstanding educational charges such as tuition, housing, and meal plans.  If funds disbursed are over the amount of your outstanding balance due in myUNT, the difference will be refunded to you, typically 3-4 days after disbursement.  Please see Refunds (Student Accounting) for additional details regarding the refund process.

What is the status of my financial aid application?

Financial Aid application status and award notices are sent to your EagleConnect email address.  You may view outstanding items for your financial aid application on your “To Do List” available via your student portal, myUNT. 

To view your “To Do List”:

  1. Log into myUNT using your EUID and password.
  2. Click on the Tasks tile.
  3. Click on “To Do List”.
  4. Click on each item for additional detail regarding the requirement and completion.
How do I view or accept my financial aid?
  1. Log into myUNT using your EUID and password.
  2. Click on the Financial Aid & Scholarship tile located on your Student Homepage.
  3. Select the current Financial Aid Year (e.g. “2024-2025” for fall 2024/spring 2025).
  4. Click on the Accept/Decline menu option located under the Awards menu on the left side of the screen.
  5. Click on the dropdown box next to each aid type offered (under the “Award Decision” column toward the center of the screen).
  • For grant or scholarship aid, select Accept to accept the award.
  • For federal loan aid, you have an option between Accept or Decline.
  • To accept a reduced loan amount, select “Accept”, click of the box under the “Reduce” heading, and then enter the reduced amount you would like to accept under the “Accepted” amount heading.
  • Please note:  For students attending fall and spring semesters, the total amount offered/accepted is for both fall and spring semesters.

Once your Accept/Decline selections have been completed, click the Submit button located at the top of the screen.

It is after the first day of class and my aid has not disbursed to my student account. Why?

The following are some reasons why the disbursement of aid awarded may be delayed:

  • Your financial aid was not accepted.  See Accept Awards for instructions.
  • You are not enrolled in the hours required for receipt of your specific financial aid and/or scholarships.
    • Federal direct loans and most grants require at least halftime enrollment (i.e. 6 or more hours for undergraduate, 5 or more hours for graduate)
    • TEXAS Grant requires at least 9 hours of enrollment
    • For scholarships, please review your original scholarship award notice for enrollment requirements.  See Types of Scholarships.
  • You have outstanding “To Do List” items.  See Check Your To-Do List.
  • You are not meeting UNT's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Requirements.
  • You have accepted a Parent PLUS Loan but the Parent Loan application has not been received from your parent.
My aid has not disbursed to my student account. Will my classes be dropped?

If your pending/anticipated aid exceeds the amount of your outstanding tuition and fee charges by the published due date, your classes will not be dropped.  Class schedule changes may affect your outstanding balance so please monitor your myUNT closely and take action to secure your classes.

What is pending/anticipated aid?

Pending/anticipated aid is financial aid and scholarships that has been accepted but not yet disbursed onto a student account. College Work-Study or Parent PLUS Loans that have not yet gone through a credit check or been denied due to adverse credit history by the lender are not included in pending/anticipated aid.  If your pending/anticipated aid is enough to cover your outstanding tuition and fee charges, you will not be in danger of being dropped for non-payment. 

The pending/anticipated aid is removed once the actual aid is disbursed to your student account.

What if my pending/anticipated aid is not enough to pay my tuition bill?

If your pending/anticipated aid does not cover your full tuition and fee bill, you will need to make payment arrangements to make sure your classes do not get dropped. Please see  the following Student Accounting Office website for payment options, including the installment plans: Payments | University of North Texas

I should get a refund from the financial aid/scholarship that disbursed to my student account. When will I get it?

Refunds are typically generated about 3-4 days after the disbursement of financial aid/scholarships to student accounts.  Please see the following Student Accounting Office website regarding the refund process: Refunds | University of North Texas

Log into myUNT and visit your Student Account tile to confirm your refund preference.

How do I contact the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office?

You may contact us the following ways:

  • Call us at (940) 565-2302.  Our phone lines are open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Submit a question via the web at ScrappySays - Ask a Question.  Responses to questions submitted online will be sent to your EagleConnect Email account.
  • Visit us on the 2nd floor of the Eagle Student Services Center (see map).  Our office hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Please be advised:  About two weeks before the start of a semester through the 12th class day of a term, the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office experiences an extraordinarily high volume of telephone, email, and in-person traffic.  We recommend contacting our office before or after this block of time, if possible.  If you do need to reach us during this block of time, we recommend the following:

  • Check your EagleConnect email account and Check Your To-Do List for current information regarding your financial aid status.
  • If you are planning to use financial aid offered to pay your outstanding charges, confirm you have accepted your aid via the Financial Aid & Scholarships Tile in the myUNT Student Portal.
  • If you call the office, please have your 8-digit EUID ready.
  • If you visit our office in person, please have your UNT ID or picture ID ready.

General FAQs

How do I apply for financial aid?

The financial aid application process begins with submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Please see our Apply for Aid webpage for more information.

Texas residents who are not eligible to apply for federal aid may submit the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA).  Please see our Texas Application for State Financial Aid webpage for more information.    

Please note:  Financial Aid applications are typically available October 1 for the next year and are required annually for the receipt of financial aid.  Priority application dates and deadlines for submission are located on our deadlines webpage.

How much does it cost to attend UNT?

Please see our College Costs page for estimated costs of attendance and our Tuition and Fee Calculator for additional information regarding the cost of tuition and fees and tuition plan options.

How do I request a tax return transcript for verification?

You can request an IRS Tax Return Transcript, free of charge, from the IRS online, over the phone, or via postal mail through the IRS.

See our Request an IRS Tax Return Transcript webpage for additional details and guidance regarding this process

There's been a change in my household and/or income. How can I update my Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
After you submit your FAFSA, all changes should be facilitated through the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. The office can take special circumstances into consideration as decisions are being made about financial aid award packages. See our Special Circumstances webpage for additional information.
Where can I find more information on the Verification process?
Please see our Verification webpage for additional information regarding the verification process.
Where can I find more information about the Winter Session?
Please see our Winter Session and Financial Aid website for information regarding the financial aid process for students enrolled in a winter session.
Loan FAQs
I am a first-time federal student loan borrower. What steps do I need to complete to receive my loan?

If you are planning to utilize federal student loans offered, you will need to first accept them through the myUNT student portal. 

If you are a first-time federal student loan borrower, you will also need to complete the following steps  through the Department of Education:

  • Entrance Counseling - As a student borrower, you must complete entrance counseling before your federal direct loan funds can be credited to your student account. Counseling will inform you of your rights and responsibilities as a borrower, the terms of your loan, and your repayment options. You can complete entrance counseling at studentaid.gov.
  • Master Promissory Note - A Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which the borrower promises to repay the loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. You can complete an MPN.
I was offered a Parent PLUS loan. What steps are required to receive this loan?

The Parent PLUS loan is a credit-based, fixed-rate loan a dependent student's parent or guardian may borrow for your educational expenses.  To apply for this loan, the first step is to accept the “Parent PLUS Offer” through the myUNT student portal. 

Next, your parent or guardian applying for the loan must complete the following steps through the Department of Education:

  • Log in using their Federal Student Aid ID Username and password.  If the parent does not have a Federal Student Aid ID, one can be created by clicking on "Create an Account (FSA ID)" on the log in screen at studentaid.gov.
  • To complete the application and credit authorization, click on the "Apply for Aid" link, then select "Apply for a PLUS Loan".
  • The parent will then click on the start button to the right of “Direct PLUS Loan Application for Parents” to begin the application process.
    • The parent can specify a loan amount or indicate maximum eligibility.
    • The parent will receive the results of a borrower-initiated credit check immediately. Please allow 5-7 business days for UNT to receive and process the credit decision. 
  • New Parent PLUS loan borrowers:  New parent borrowers must electronically sign a PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Parents through the studentaid.gov website.   
    • Parents of approved with an Endorser in a previous year are required to complete a new MPN. The MPNs will be available for completion at the time of application.

You will receive updates regarding the status of the Parent PLUS loan application, including next steps, via your To Do List located in the myUNT portal and via your EagleConnect Email.  Please see What is the status of my aid application? for details regarding how to check your To Do List.

My parents are not eligible for a Parent PLUS loan. Is there another option?

If your parent is not eligible to borrow a Parent PLUS loan, you may be eligible to borrow what is referred to as an “Additional Unsubsidized Loans” in the amount up to the maximum annual limit for independent students (e.g. $4,000 for fall and spring for a sophomore with remaining federal loan eligibility). 

Once UNT receives notification from the Department of Education of a denied Parent PLUS loan (i.e. the documentation needed to offer the additional loan), we will add a PLUS Denial - Additional Unsubsidized Loan Request Form to your To Do List via your myUNT portal.  This form is used to request the Additional Unsubsidized Loan.  Instructions for completion and submission are included on the form.

Where can I find information regarding repayment of loans?
Please see our Repaying Loans webpage.  We also have additional information regarding student loan consolidation and forgiveness.