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Most of the financial aid USF students receive requires a FAFSA. Filing the FAFSA automatically considers you for federal, state, and institutional grants, loans, and Federal Work Study.

The FAFSA is available to complete online. A new FAFSA should be completed every year by the priority deadline, as soon as it is made available. Meeting the priority deadline date allows you the best opportunity to be considered for the most aid types possible.

In Section Three (Student) of the FAFSA, there is a series of questions that determine if you are a dependent or an independent student according to the Department of Education.

• If you are able to answer "Yes" to any question in this section, you are considered an independent student, and parent information is not required.
• If you are not able to answer "Yes" to any question in this section, you are considered a dependent student, and parent information is required.

In limited cases, you may still qualify as an independent student without answering "Yes" to any question. When prompted for parent information, you will instead indicate that you have an extenuating circumstance, and then you should contact our office to speak to a financial aid advisor regarding your situation.

Please note that the following circumstances do not qualify for this process:

• Your parents refuse to contribute to your education.
• Your parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification purposes.
• Your parents do not claim you as a dependent for income tax purposes.
• You can demonstrate total financial self-sufficiency.

1. Grants (Pell, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Florida Student Assistance Grant, USF Grant) – do not have to be paid back
2. Federal Work Study – earned through on campus employment
3. Federal Direct Loans (subsidized, unsubsidized) - must be paid back by students, with interest
4. USF Loans – must be paid back, with interest

Need-based financial aid eligibility is determined using data provided on the FAFSA for the prior calendar year. We recognize that financial situations can change and impact a student’s ability to meet their educational costs. We work with students and families to evaluate changes in a family’s financial circumstances through FAFSA appeals and the Professional Judgment process.

Learn More About FAFSA Appeals

Scholarship eligibility may be based on academic merit, extracurricular activities, special talent, and/or demographics. Listed below are various scholarship opportunities:

• USF Undergraduate Admissions Scholarships
• USF Scholarships and Fellowships
• Other Scholarship Opportunities