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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get in contact with a Financial Aid counselor?
You can get in contact with our financial aid counselors by calling 206-543-6101 during our phone service hours, or visiting during our in-person advising hours.
In-person advising:
Monday – Wednesday
11:00 a.m. – 3:00pm
You can also get in contact with our financial aid counselors by calling 206-543-6101 during our phone service hours:
Monday – Friday
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 pm
You can also reach a financial aid counselor by email using our contact form. If you have questions regarding our processing time, or email response time, please see our current processing times on this page.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work hard to provide the best financial aid support and services while maintaining the health and safety of our staff, students, and the UW community.
What do I need to know about student loan cancellation?
On Aug. 24, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a Student Debt Relief Plan that includes one-time student loan debt relief targeted to low- and middle-income families. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) will provide up to $20,000 in debt relief to Federal Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt relief to non-Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers with loans held by ED are eligible for this relief if their individual income is less than $125,000 (or $250,000 for households).
Do you have questions such as:
- How Do I Know If I Ever Received a Federal Pell Grant?
- Which Loans Are Eligible?
- How do I know what kinds of loans I have?
Please see this page for details about the process and answers to the most common questions.
Please be aware of scammers taking advantage of the federal student loan debt relief.
Here’s how to avoid student loan scammers:
- Don’t pay anyone to help you apply for loan forgiveness. Nobody can get your loans forgiven faster, even if you pay them. This program is completely free — and the only way to apply is at StudentAid.gov. Sign up for Department of Education updates to find out when the application officially opens.
- Don’t give away your FSA ID login information. If anyone says they need your FSA ID to help you, that’s a scam. Don’t do it. They can cut off contact between you and your servicer — and even steal your identity.
- Don’t trust someone who contacts you saying they’re affiliated with the Department of Education. Scammers use official-looking names, seals, and logos. They promise special access to repayment plans. None of that is real. If you’re not sure if the “offer” is legit, hang up and call your federal student loan servicer directly.
Have you spotted one of these scams? Report it.
I am a newly admitted student - now what?
We understand you and your parent(s) may have many questions about what steps are next, what type if aid you are eligible for and other questions related to the financial aid process. We have gathered useful information for newly admitted students on this page.
If you are from out of state this page has some useful information.
We did the FAFSA and accepted our Parent PLUS Loan, what is the next step?
Your parent will need to go to https://studentaid.gov and log-in using their own name, SSN, DOB and their own FSA Id. Next, they must click on “Request Direct Plus Loan”, and then “Parent PLUS”. Complete the 4 step application process. For more detailed information regarding the Parent Loan request process, click here for a checklist that you can print out.
Why hasn't my financial aid disbursed/paid?
Here are the most common reasons for aid not disbursing:
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- You are not full time. (12 or more credits for undergraduates, 10 or more credits for graduates)
- You received private aid that was not reported to the Office of Student Financial Aid.
- You did not meet Satisfactory Academic progress (See links: Undergraduate | Graduate)
- Loans: If your loans have not disbursed it may be the above reasons or you may not have completed the required forms or entrance counseling for the loan programs.
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.
What can I do if my income or my family’s income has changed?
We understand this is a challenging and difficult time and there is much uncertainty right now. We are here to help. If you are experiencing a change in your or your family’s income, please let us know by providing additional information about your situation.
If your parent(s) are experiencing a change in their financial situation, please have them complete the Revision Request for Change in Financial Situation.
If you (or your spouse) are experiencing a change in your financial situation, please provide additional information using the Revision Request for Change in Financial Situation. You can indicate that the nature of the change is due to COVID-19.
All our forms for the 2022-23 academic year can be found on our forms page.
What is the best way to submit documents that were requested by the Financial Aid Office?
If you received a request for additional information, please use the link to the form in the email. If you are submitting additional documentation you can upload in a secure manner by using our form “Information Update”. It can be found under General on our forms page.
When will the documents I submitted be reviewed?
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. For up-to-date campus information, visit washington.edu/coronavirus.