FAU Financial Aid

Hi there! Does anyone know how financial aid works at Florida Atlantic University (FAU)? I'm just a junior trying to figure out my financial situation for college. What was your experience like?

Hello! It's proactive of you to start thinking about financial aid this early in your college journey. Applying for financial aid at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), like at most universities, typically involves several steps.

1. FAFSA: Your first step should be filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which becomes available on October 1 of the year before you plan to join college. FAU's school code is 001481, which you will use in the FAFSA form. This determines your eligibility for federal aid, but often has implications at the state and institution level as well.

2. State Aid: In Florida, you may also be eligible for the state's Bright Futures Scholarship, which is based on high school academic achievement. Fill out the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) to be considered for it.

3. Institutional Aid: Once you've been accepted, you may receive a financial aid package from FAU, which can include grants (aid you do not have to pay back), work-study opportunities (part-time work opportunities on or off campus), and loans (which you do need to pay back).

4. Scholarships: Do remember to explore scholarship options as well. Some scholarships are awarded automatically based on your application to the university. Others require a separate application. If you're applying to a specific program or college within the university, check if there are specific scholarships available.

It would be beneficial to you to use FAU's Net Price Calculator, which is available on their Financial Aid page (https://www.fau.edu/finaid/other/cost-of-attendance/). It uses the cost of attendance (including tuition, room, board, books, and other expenses) and your financial information (from the FAFSA) to estimate your potential financial aid and out-of-pocket costs.

Every student's financial aid experience is unique and will depend largely on your FAFSA results, academic merit, and specific needs and circumstances. As you don't start the FAFSA until October of your senior year, for now, focus on getting good grades and preparing for standardized testing (if you're taking these), as they can often lead to merit scholarships. Also, start researching outside scholarships—you might even be able to apply to some now as a junior. Good luck!