Financial Aid Timeline
Use this timeline as your guide throughout the annual financial aid process. Take the time to note events as they occur so that you have a record of when you complete them. Also, look ahead to plan for upcoming events.
| Benchmark | Who | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-junior year in high school |
Incoming freshmen | Begin scholarship search process by collecting information on scholarships, their deadlines and application processes. |
| Mid-August | Incoming students | Admission application to UC for upcoming year available. |
| December 1 | Incoming freshmen | Admission application, transcript, and test scores must be received for Cincinnatus Scholarship Program consideration. |
| January 1 | All new and returning students | FAFSA available. Complete the application as soon as possible after this date each year. |
| April | All new and returning students | Initial Financial Aid Award Offers sent to students with complete records. Award Offers are sent continually as FAFSA data is received and students provide supplemental information, if requested. Use Check My Aid to monitor your aid status. |
| When accepting aid |
All new and returning students | Estimate your bill to understand amount needed to cover your expenses and plan for any out-of-pocket expenses. |
| After accepting aid |
All new students |
UC loan borrowers complete loan counseling and promissory note(s). |
| Mid-April | All enrolled students | Summer registration and eBill available. |
| Late April | All enrolled students | Fall registration (for returning students) and eBill available. |
| April 30 | New transfer students | Admission application deadline for scholarship consideration |
| July 1 | All new and returning students | FAFSA should be submitted by this date to ensure completion of the full process in time for fall eBill payment due date. Students may continue to apply after this date though aid may not be processed by the time fall payment is due. |
| July | Incoming freshmen | Orientation including fall registration and eBill. |
| Mid- August |
All new and returning students | Postings of jobs for Federal Work-Study awardees available. Fall semester classes begin. |
| Mid- November |
All enrolled students | Spring semester registration and eBill available. |
| January | All enrolled students | Spring semester classes begin. Begin timeline again (see January 1) for next year's aid. |
| Early March | All enrolled students | Students attending summer classes should contact One Stop regarding summer aid eligibility. |
| Late March (2012 only) | All enrolled students | Final spring quarter begins; see semester conversion. |
| Early May |
All enrolled students | Cincinnatus community service hours due for renewal of scholarship awards. Summer semester classes begin. |
| Early June (2012 only) | All enrolled students | Cincinnatus community service hours for 2012-13 renewal due. Summer quarter classes begin; final quarter before semester conversion. |
Any time a student exits the university for more than just the summer (even if they plan to re-enroll later), exit counseling is required of student loan borrowers.
Key to being timely is to complete your FAFSA each year as soon after January 1 as possible.
Because some aid programs are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, an early application receives priority consideration for limited funding sources.