Applying for financial aid is easier to manage when you know what to expect. For many UAlbany students, the FAFSA is the first step in being considered for grants, Federal Work-Study, federal student loans and other financial aid options.
This page explains what the FAFSA is, when to file it, which school codes to use and what to do after your application is submitted.
What Is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the form students complete to apply for federal financial aid for college.
Federal aid may include grants, Federal Work-Study and student loans. Colleges and universities also use FAFSA information to review eligibility for certain institutional aid programs.
The FAFSA is free to complete. Students must submit a new FAFSA each year they want to be considered for federal financial aid.
What Is the FAFSA Used For?
The FAFSA helps determine whether students are eligible for federal student aid.
UAlbany uses FAFSA information, along with enrollment and other eligibility requirements, to prepare financial aid offers for eligible students.
Depending on your FAFSA information and other requirements, your financial aid offer may include one or more of the following:
- Federal Pell Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
- Federal Work-Study
- Direct Subsidized Loans
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Direct PLUS Loans
- Other federal, state or institutional aid
Submitting the FAFSA does not mean you are required to borrow loans. If loans are included in your financial aid offer, you can accept, reduce or decline them.
What Is UAlbany’s FAFSA School Code?
When completing the FAFSA, enter UAlbany’s Federal School Code:
FAFSA: 002835
Using the correct school code allows UAlbany to receive your FAFSA information and review your financial aid eligibility.
New York State residents should also review state aid applications. The undergraduate New York State Grants and Scholarships school code for UAlbany is:
TAP & Excelsior: 0895
Use the correct school codes when completing or updating financial aid applications so your information is sent to UAlbany.
When Should UAlbany Students File the FAFSA?
The FAFSA opens each year on October 1.
Students should complete the FAFSA as early as possible so UAlbany can review eligibility and request additional information, if needed.
Priority filing dates vary by student type:
- Prospective UAlbany first-year (freshmen) and transfer students should complete the FAFSA by December 1.
- Continuing UAlbany undergraduates should complete the FAFSA by January 1.
- Graduate students’ financial aid awards are processed on a rolling basis as they complete requirements, so they can complete the FAFSA before they are admitted to UAlbany.
Completing the FAFSA by the priority date ensures students receive full consideration for available federal aid.
Graduate students are notified of their financial aid awards after they have matriculated into a UAlbany graduate degree program.
What Information Do You Need to Complete the FAFSA?
Before beginning the FAFSA, gather the information needed to complete the form.
You may need:
- Your Federal Student Aid ID, also called an FSA ID
- Your Social Security number, if applicable
- Your federal tax information
- Records of income, if requested
- Information about assets, if requested
- UAlbany’s Federal School Code: 002835
Dependent students will also need information from at least one parent. The student and one parent will each need their own FSA ID.
Graduate students generally only need to report their own income and, if applicable, their spouse’s income.
Who Needs to Contribute Information on the FAFSA?
Some FAFSA applicants need information from a parent, spouse or other contributor.
A contributor is someone who is required to provide information on the FAFSA. Being a contributor does not mean that person is agreeing to pay for college. It means their information is needed to determine the student’s financial aid eligibility.
Dependent undergraduate students usually need parent information on the FAFSA. Parents should create their own FSA ID and complete their section of the form when invited.
Each required contributor must provide the required consent and approval and sign the FAFSA. If a required contributor does not complete their section, the FAFSA may be incomplete.
What Is Direct Data Exchange?
The Direct Data Exchange, also known as DDX, allows federal tax information to be transferred from the IRS to the FAFSA. This information is used to determine financial aid eligibility and reduces the need to enter tax information manually.
Students and required contributors must provide consent for their data to be handled by DDX.
Note: If required consent and approval are not provided, the student may not be eligible for federal student aid.
Why Does Enrollment Matter for Financial Aid?
UAlbany may need to confirm your enrollment before financial aid can be reviewed, finalized or disbursed.
Continuing undergraduate students must register or pre-register for at least six credits in a degree program before the Office of Financial Aid can review their information.
Current graduate students must register at least half-time, or for at least 4.5 credits, to receive an award notice. Graduate students enrolled in a one-credit dissertation course may also receive an award notice, with their estimated cost of attendance based on the cost of one graduate credit.
Your enrollment can also affect the amount and type of aid you are eligible to receive. If your schedule changes, your financial aid eligibility may also change.
What Should You Do After Submitting the FAFSA?
After you submit the FAFSA, UAlbany will receive your information and begin reviewing your financial aid eligibility.
Students should continue to monitor MyUAlbany for Tasks. Tasks may include documentation requests, FAFSA issues that need to be corrected or additional steps required by the student or parent.
Note: Financial aid processing cannot continue until all required Tasks are completed.
Tasks can appear at any point during the aid processing cycle. They most commonly appear after the FAFSA is filed and after students accept their financial aid award.
Students should also monitor their email for updates from UAlbany. Processing can take longer during peak times or if additional documentation is required.
If UAlbany requests documentation, submit the requested materials online unless otherwise noted. Students will receive notification by email and/or text message with instructions on how to upload documents. The student’s nine-digit UAlbany ID should appear on each page submitted.
Note: For the protection of your information, students and parents should not send documents with private information, such as tax data, Social Security numbers or citizenship verification, by email.
Do New York State Residents Need to Complete Another Aid Application?
New York State residents should also apply for New York State grants and scholarships.
New York State residents may link to the New York State Grants and Scholarships application at the end of the FAFSA. This application is used to determine eligibility for New York State aid, including the Tuition Assistance Program, also known as TAP.
Students can also file the TAP application through the Higher Education Services Corporation website.
Newly admitted transfer students who received TAP at a previous institution should update their TAP school code to 0895 for their UAlbany entry term and year.
Some New York State programs require separate applications or additional steps. Review all state aid requirements so you do not miss an application or renewal requirement.
How Do You Review Your Financial Aid Offer?
Once your financial aid offer is available, review it in the MyUAlbany portal.
Your offer may include different types of aid, such as grants, scholarships, Federal Work-Study and loans. Each type of aid works differently.
When reviewing your offer, be sure to note the following:
- Which awards generally do not have to be repaid
- Which awards must be accepted, reduced or declined
- Which awards require additional steps
- Which awards depend on your enrollment
- Which awards have renewal requirements
- How much you may still owe after aid is applied
Grants and scholarships generally do not need to be accepted to be used. Federal loans and Federal Work-Study may require action before they can be used.
Before accepting loans, review your remaining balance and borrow only what you need.
What If Your Financial Aid Does Not Appear as Expected?
If your financial aid does not appear as expected, review your FAFSA and UAlbany account for missing or incorrect information.
Check whether:
- You filed the FAFSA for the correct aid year.
- You listed UAlbany’s Federal School Code: 002835.
- You and all required contributors signed the FAFSA.
- You and all required contributors provided consent and approval.
- You have uncompleted Tasks in MyUAlbany.
- UAlbany requested additional documentation.
- You need to correct or update FAFSA information.
- You accepted, reduced or declined any awards that require action.
- You completed required loan steps, if borrowing Direct Loans or PLUS loans.
If you are unsure what is missing, contact the Office of Financial Aid for help reviewing your next steps.
Have Questions About Financial Aid?
If you have questions about the FAFSA, your financial aid eligibility or your next steps, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
The UAlbany team can help you understand what information is needed and where to go for additional support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to complete the FAFSA every year?
Yes. Students should complete the FAFSA each year they want to be considered for federal financial aid.
Some state aid programs and scholarships may also require annual applications or renewal steps.
Does submitting the FAFSA mean I have to take out loans?
No. Submitting the FAFSA does not require you to borrow loans.
If loans are included in your financial aid offer, you can decide whether to accept, reduce or decline them.
What is UAlbany’s FAFSA school code?
UAlbany’s Federal School Code for the FAFSA is 002835.
The undergraduate New York State Grants and Scholarships school code for UAlbany is 0895.
Do parents need their own FSA ID?
Usually, yes. Dependent students generally need parent information on the FAFSA, and the required parent will need their own FSA ID.
Students and parents should not share an FSA ID.
What happens if I miss the priority filing date?
You should still complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.
Missing a priority date may affect consideration for some types of aid with limited funding, but filing the FAFSA is still an important step in applying for financial aid.
Why do I have Tasks in MyUAlbany after filing the FAFSA?
Tasks may appear if UAlbany needs additional information, if your FAFSA needs to be corrected or if another step must be completed before your aid can be finalized.
Financial aid processing cannot continue until required Tasks are completed.