We believe students from all economic backgrounds should have the opportunity to attend the University of Washington. Finances should not be a barrier to getting a world-class education. Whether you attend our Seattle, Tacoma, or Bothell campuses, you’re in the right place to explore the many scholarship, grant, loan and work-study options available that help make paying for college as affordable as possible.
If you are experiencing any difficulties or delays in applying for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or accessing a previously submitted FAFSA, please contact our office and speak with a financial aid counselor. We are here to help you navigate all the federal financial aid applications and systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
When/how is aid disbursed?
Certain conditions must be met in order to allow funds to disburse. You must have satisfied all of the paperwork needed, all corresponding holds must be removed, and you must be enrolled for the number of credits your aid is set up for. You need to register for full time credits if your aid is offered to you as a full time student (12 credits for undergraduates, 5th years and professional students, or 10 credits for graduate students). We begin disbursing aid a few days before the start of each quarter. If you have signed up for direct deposit, and all of the above criteria has been met, funds should arrive in your bank account by the first day of the quarter. Please bear in mind that it takes approximately 2-3 business days for the direct deposit to arrive in your personal bank account after aid has disbursed to your student account to pay tuition and fees. We have the current quarter’s disbursement dates and other details available if you would like to read more.
When will I receive my financial aid?
Your grants and loans will come in about two business days before the start of each quarter and pay toward your tuition and fees (generally, your residence hall too, if you are in a residence hall and you requested on your forms that you want financial aid to pay). After it pays, and if there is an amount left over it will go to your bank account in two to three business days (if you signed up for direct deposit) or a check will be mailed to you.
MyUW shows a hold on my account, what does that mean?
Holds prevent aid from disbursing to you for a variety of reasons. Usually, holds are placed because we are missing requested documentation, or you may not have completed enough credits in the previous quarter or prior academic year. There is information about the type of holds on your MyUW account under financial aid status and you are welcome to contact us with any remaining questions about how to resolve the hold(s) on your aid. It is also important to continually check your UW email, as we will also notify you there in regards to the paperwork we need from you.
Is it too late to apply for aid for this year?
No, you can still apply for aid, but keep in mind you should try to apply at least 4-6 weeks before the end of your enrollment for the year because we need sufficient time to complete the process before your enrollment ends. The Pell Grant program (for qualified undergraduates) and the government loan programs remain available throughout the year. You can start the application process at https://studentaid.gov
How do I get in contact with a Financial Aid counselor?
There are multiple ways you can get in touch with us. You can get in contact with our financial aid counselors by calling 206-543-6101 during our phone service hours, or by emailing us at osfa@uw.edu.
In-person advising – Room 105 Schmitz Hall:
*Updated hours for September 15th – September 26th*
Monday – Friday
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Counselors are also available by Phone:
Monday – Friday
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
If you have questions regarding our processing time, or email response time, please see our current processing times on this page.
More answers to frequently asked questions can be found here. If these FAQ’s do not help address your question, then please contact us.
