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FAFSA: Award Letters & Financial Aid Offers

After a student submits their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), their information is sent to the colleges and/or career schools that they listed on the form.

Category
Paying for Education & Training
Topics
Financial Aid, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA))

6-Weeks After Submitting the FAFSA

Students can expect to receive an award letter from the institutions they listed on the application around 6-weeks after they submitted the FAFSA. Note: all corrections and/or any missing information must be resolved before the clock starts on that countdown.

  • Award letters, also called Financial Aid Offers, are sent by the college(s) and career school(s) and break down exactly what it will cost to attend that institution, should the student choose to enroll there.  The letter also provides an overview of what money a student might have to pay out-of-pocket, as well as the scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans that they were awarded or may be eligible for.
  • Students should pay close attention to any dates listed on the offer letter; every school has a deadline for students to confirm their enrollment and accept the financial aid that has been offered.
  • In most cases, award letters also give instructions on how to accept or reject the loans being offered and how to modify the amount of those loans.

Be aware that repeated updates to the FAFSA can cause a delay in getting a financial aid award letter to a student.

Sample Award Letter, Example 1
Sample Award Letter, Example 2
Sample Award Letter, Example 3

 

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