Federal Aid at USU
Utah State University has three residential campuses, 30 locations across the state, and nationally ranked online degree programs. USU is affordable, accessible and waiting for your application.
Federal Aid
Federal aid is financial assistance provided by the federal government through grants, work-study, and federal loans. The amount you are eligible for in each category is determined by the information you provide on your FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Please take time to review the information and steps on this page which will help you navigate the FAFSA and federal aid.
Grants
A grant is a form of financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund, or you receive a TEACH Grant and don’t complete your service obligation).
Discover MoreWork-Study
The Federal Work-Study Program allows you to earn money to pay for school by working part-time. You’ll earn at least the current federal minimum wage. However, you may earn more depending on the type of work you do and the skills required for the position.
Explore MoreFederal Loans
A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial aid offer. It is important to understand your repayment options so you can successfully repay your loan.
Invest In You
Applying For Federal Aid
As long as you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen who is admitted into a degree-seeking program at USU, you are eligible for federal financial aid. If you are not seeking a USU degree or certificate, please contact us to evaluate your eligibility for aid. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education has prepared an online eligibility checklist and a student aid estimator.
Submission Deadline
The FAFSA needs to be completed each year you wish to receive aid. The 2025–26 FAFSA (covering Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026) opened on October 1, 2024.
Our advice to you is to apply early, as FAFSA processing times can vary. If you're selected for verification by the Department of Education or plan to complete a change of marital status, it can take additional time, often depending on how quickly you submit the requested documentation. While some applications may be processed in as little as one to two weeks, others may take longer due to federal requirements or incomplete submissions. To avoid delays, we recommend applying at least two to three months before you plan to start school. However, you can still submit your FAFSA during the semester in which you're seeking aid.
Transfer Student
If you borrowed Federal Direct Loans at your previous school, your loan eligibility may be limited for the current academic year. Please be aware of federal student loan limits. Federal Pell Grants also have a lifetime limitation.
Getting Married Soon?
If you are getting married, and need help updating or filling out the FAFSA as a married student, please review these instructions on how to update your FAFSA for marital status changes. This update can also be used if your marital status has changed from married to divorced. If you need further assistance, please contact us.
Submit Your FAFSA
Visit Federal Student Aid to submit your FAFSA. The USU school code for the FAFSA is 003677. In some cases, portions of the FAFSA may already be filled out if you applied the year before. You will need to update only financial information respective to the tax year requested and review the rest for accuracy. Paper applications are also available through Student Financial Support. Applying through the mail may be slower and more prone to errors.
Learn how the 24-25 FAFSA has changed and improved!.
Financial Aid Next Steps
Follow these steps to receive your aid:
Review your Student Aid Report
After submitting your FAFSA, a Student Aid Report (SAR) will be available.
If you provide a valid email address, you’ll receive an email from noreply@fafsa.gov with instructions on how to access an online copy of your SAR. Please review this report for any processing problems.
If you don't provide a valid email address on your FAFSA form, you will receive either a paper SAR or a SAR Acknowledgement via postal mail.
Check Your Email & Text Messages
Emails come from financialaid@finaid.usu.edu and SMS text messages come from (855) 711-0017.
Incoming Aggies: Please check the email you used to submit your FAFSA and any emails you have provided to USU.
Continuing Aggies: Please check your USU student email.
We will email and text you:
- If there is information on your FAFSA that needs to be verified.
- Your Federal Aid Offer.
- Review your Federal Aid Offer. If your family's financial circumstances have changed due to extenuating circumstances or if you have unusual expenses, please contact your Federal Aid Counselor to discuss an appeal.
Accept Your Aid
After you receive your Financial Aid Offer, visit the following pages to learn which steps you need to take to accept your aid:
- Grants
- Work-Study
- If you were not offered Work-Study, it is not too late to request Work-Study and see if you are eligible.
- Federal Education Loans
Update Your USU Preferences
- Assign delegates - Privacy restrictions require that you set up your parents, spouse, or someone else as a delegate if you want them to speak on your behalf or have access to your financial aid information.
- Set up Direct Deposit - This will facilitate the process of refunding money to you in the future.
- Set up your Security Phrase - When you call our office, a security phrase is required to access information about your account.
- Update your mailing address – a valid mailing address is required for important notifications.
Requirements To Maintain Your Aid
Receiving Federal Aid (grants, work-study, or federal loans) comes with Rights and Responsibilities. The Department of Education requires certain Academic Standards and Progress to remain in good standing.
If you have any questions or need clarification on any of these terms, please don't hesitate to contact us or meet with your Federal Aid Counselor. We are here to help!
Apply For Scholarships
Visit the Student Financial Support scholarship page to apply for scholarships.