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Steps to Apply

To help guide you through the financial aid process, follow these steps when applying for financial aid.


Step 1. Apply for Admission

Please complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) while you are applying for admission; however, financial aid is awarded to only admitted students. Once you are admitted to UWF, you may move forward with completing any outstanding financial aid requirements (if applicable).

Step 2. Fill out the FAFSA

If you will be attending the Fall 2023, Spring 2024 or Summer 2024 semester(s), please complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA.

If you will be attending the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 or Summer 2025 semester(s), please complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA, which opens by Dec. 31, 2023.

Our school code is 003955.

Need help with the FAFSA? Watch the tutorial for completing the FAFSA. If you have already submitted the FAFSA but did not list UWF on your FAFSA, you can correct this online on the FAFSA website.

Step 3. Review your Student Aid Report (SAR)

Note: SAR terminology applies to the 2023-2024 FAFSA. The 2024-2025 FAFSA will replace SAR with the FAFSA Submission Summary.

A SAR is the result of your FAFSA application. If necessary, make changes or corrections and submit your SAR for reprocessing. Your complete, correct SAR will contain your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) - the number used to determine your federal student aid eligibility.

If your SAR was selected for verification, you are required to complete and return the UWF Institutional Verification Form (IVF). A notification should automatically be sent to your student email address providing details on how to create an account in uwf.studentforms.com. If selected you may also need to submit an IRS Tax Transcript by requesting one from the IRS or utilize the Data Retrieval Tool within the FAFSA. The Data Retrieval Tool will populated directly into your FAFSA and will eliminate the need to submit an IRS Tax Transcript if selected for verification.

Students should be advised that if they are selected for verification they will not be awarded until after all verification documents are received and processed. 

Step 4. Review your Expected Family Contribution

Note: EFC information applies to the 2023-2024 FAFSA. The 2024-2025 FAFSA will replace EFC with the Student Aid Index (SAI).

The information you provide on the FAFSA calculates what is known as your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). UWF, along with most colleges, uses the EFC as the basis for awarding need-based financial aid. The EFC measures your family's ability to contribute to educational costs but is not necessarily what you are asked to pay. 

Cost of Attendance (COA) includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation. This total varies from student to student, depending on factors such as enrollment status or housing arrangement. 

After a student has been accepted for admission, the Financial Aid Office uses UWF’s "cost of attendance" and the EFC to determine your eligibility. 

Financial Aid Eligibility Formula

Cost of Attendance (COA)

-  Expected Family Contribution (EFC)


=   Financial Need

Step 5. Determine Your Scholarship Eligibility

For new students, the process for awarding academic scholarships is directly linked to admission. A number of academic scholarship programs are available to students who have demonstrated high academic achievement. The Financial Aid Office also awards a limited number of need/merit-based scholarships. For more information, visit Scholarships.

The Cost Calculator is designed to help you estimate your UWF financial aid options. The average time to complete a full estimate is 3-5 minutes. When you need help, feel free to speak to your admissions counselor or contact Undergraduate Admissions at admissions@uwf.edu or 850.474.2230.

Step 6. Review Your Offer Letter

Review Aid Notification and Review timelines for checking your Financial Aid Status in MyUWF to determine if you have been awarded. Your financial aid package may be a combination of scholarships, loans, grants, and Federal Work-Study funds. Find out how we determine your award.

When you receive your offer letter, please review the offer letter and attachments carefully. Make sure your enrollment status, residency, and housing status are correct. If any of these factors are incorrect, please notify the Financial Aid Office in writing.

Step 7. Sign Your Master Promissory Note

If you are a first-time borrower and your award includes a Federal Direct Loan, you will be required to sign a master promissory note and complete entrance loan counseling before disbursement of the loan.