The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available and it is not too late to complete the 2025-26 FAFSA.
Starting April 26, 2026, there will be a temporary processing hold for the 2026-2027 FAFSA. You may still complete the application or make changes, but we will be unable to load new FAFSAs to our software while we wait for an upgrade. Our goal is to have the updates in place by mid-May. In the meantime, please contact our office if you have questions.
View our financial aid brochure, FAFSA completion tips, and financial aid checklist to assist you in the financial aid process.
General Eligibility Requirements
UWSP uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA, to determine a student’s eligibility for financial aid. Continuing students must complete the FAFSA each year. UWSP’s preferred filing date for new students is December 1st and May 1st for continuing students. You must apply by May 1st and have all requirements in your TASK tile completed in accesSPoint to be considered for all aid programs.
The FAFSA uses such factors as your family’s income, the number of people in your household, and family assets to determine how much your family can afford to pay for your education.
Other criteria also affect your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. For example, you must:
- Have a high school diploma, a General Education Development (GED) Certificate, or complete your high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law.
- Be admitted to UW-Stevens Point as a degree-seeking student. You may not receive financial aid if enrolled as a “special” student or non-degree-seeking student.
- Be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for most financial aid program funds.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. Have a valid Social Security number (except for students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau). Don’t meet this eligibility requirement? Please view the Student Experience and Transformation Access website and the International Student and Scholar Services website for resources.
- Meet the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.
- Sign statements on the FAFSA that included:
- You are not in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund of any Title IV aid. You can log in to view your status at studentaid.gov.
- You will use your student aid only for educational purposes.
See our Enrollment page for other eligibility information for summer/winterim enrollment, consortium agreements, study abroad, and repeated coursework.
You may also be required to meet other conditions for other types of aid such as private scholarships or loans. Be sure to check the requirements directly with the donor or private loan lender.
Steps to Applying
Step 1: Apply for Financial Aid
With one application, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will be considered for various types of federal, state, institutional and possibly private financial aid. The key word here is ‘Free’, so be sure to use the official website when applying.
If you have not already done so, create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Your FSA ID is your electronic signature that allows you to submit the FAFSA. You and your parent must create separate FSA IDs. Be sure to hang on to your log in and password since you will use this for future years when applying for aid or to log in to your account to make any changes. Need help creating a FSA ID?
Complete and submit the FAFSA. Be sure to list UW-Stevens Point’s school code, 003924, as a recipient of your information. You can receive help filing your FAFSA by attending College Goal Wisconsin, an event that provides free information and assistance to students and their families who are filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Visit the Federal Student Aid YouTube channel for informational and how-to videos.
The deadline to apply for financial aid is typically 1-2 weeks before the last day of your enrollment in the academic year. Be aware, we must receive and be able to make a financial aid offer before the last day of your enrollment in a given term. However, applying early is your best assurance of receiving aid when you need it. See Financial Aid’s Dates and Deadlines.
Step 2: After the FAFSA
Once the FAFSA is submitted, the student should receive an email confirmation from the Department of Education. While you may receive estimated award information from the FAFSA submission, this is not an actual award; it is for informational purposes only. You’ll have the ability to review your FAFSA Submission Summary which shows you what you reported on your FAFSA, some information about the aid for which you may be eligible and your Student Aid Index (SAI). We recommend logging in to the FAFSA website to review your FAFSA for accuracy and make corrections, if necessary.
Every FAFSA with UW-Stevens Point school code (003924) will be sent electronically to the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services. Students will receive an email confirmation that we have received the FAFSA once we begin processing. Be sure to monitor your UWSP email regularly since this is the preferred method of communication by the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services.
Step 3: View your TASK tile
Review your TASK tile in accesSPoint and complete any required tasks.
Rejected FAFSAs
In some situations, the FAFSA will be “rejected.” In most cases, this does NOT mean the student is ineligible for aid. Usually a FAFSA will be rejected because there is missing or incomplete information. The most common missing information is a missing signature. Students with a “rejected” FAFSA will be notified by the Department of Education as well as our office. Corrections can be made online at studentaid.gov.
Documentation
Many of our students will be required to submit additional documentation depending on the specific data on the FAFSA. For example, we could request proof of citizenship, selective service registration confirmation, or a copy of a birth certificate to confirm certain FAFSA data. Or, we might request a tax transcript because the application was selected for verification. All required documents will appear within the Task tile in accesSPoint and an email will be sent to the UWSP email. New students will also receive a letter by postal mail requesting their documents.
Submit documents in a timely manner! Your financial aid offer will not be calculated until ALL required information is processed.
Step 4: Your Offer and Next Steps
Once all your requirements/checklists are completed AND once we begin processing the financial aid offers each year (see our Dates and Deadlines webpage), you will receive an email notification with details of your financial aid offer and the steps you need to complete to receive it. It is important that you read all financial aid information provided to ensure you understand the terms of your offer. Visit the Your Financial Aid Offer, Before You Borrow and Next Steps webpages for additional information.
Additional resources for assisting in the application process can be found here.