Steps to Receive Financial Aid
Step 1: File Your FAFSA
Step 2: Apply For Scholarships
Step 3: Monitor Your To-Do List on MavLINK
Step 4: Receive Your Aid Offer
Step 5: Act on Your Awards
Step 6: Complete Your Loan Documents
Step 7: Enroll in Direct Deposit/Receive Your Funds
Step 8: Maintain Your Eligibility
Step 1: File Your FAFSA
Complete the FAFSAUNO School Code: 002554
You can apply for financial aid before you apply for admission to UNO; however, you must be admitted to a degree-seeking program of study in order to be offered financial aid.
The FAFSA can be filed for the 2024-2025 academic year beginning in December 2023. Submit your FAFSA before UNO's priority filing date of June 1, 2024 to maximize the amount of aid you receive. Eligible students who apply by this date have a greater chance of receiving need-based aid. We encourage you to submit your FAFSA even if the priority filing date has passed.
Step 2: Apply for Scholarships
Outside Scholarship Search EngineGraduate Scholarship/Fellowships
UNO Graduate Assistantships
In order to receive Federal Direct Stafford loans, Graduate PLUS loans, and Federal Work Study, you must file a FAFSA. Typically, graduate awards (scholarships, fellowships, and graduate assistantships) do not require the FAFSA.
Be sure to note deadlines (most occur between December and March) and requirements. Continue searching for scholarships throughout the year as new scholarships are posted regularly.
Step 3: Monitor Your To-Do List on MavLINK
MavLINKIf you are selected for financial aid verification, you will be sent an email from UNO notifying you to check MavLINK under To Do items for a current list of requested items, including instructions and/or forms needed to complete your file.
Please complete any To Do items on MavLINK promptly since financial aid processing can only continue once you have submitted all requested financial aid documents. Keep up on your To Do list as new requests for items may arise throughout the year.
Not all students are selected for verification so please do not submit additional information unless requested by UNO.
Step 4: Receive Your Aid Offer
MavLINKEnroll in classes
The awarding process for graduate students usually begins in February. Once the items needed for verification are processed by the Office of Financial Support and Scholarships you will receive an Award Notification by email. Your Award Notification lists your offered financial aid for the entire academic year. Some offered awards are contingent upon full-time enrollment (nine credits per term for graduate students) and are based on your academic level, estimated cost of attendance, need and application completion date. If your enrollment changes, we will pro-rate your awards through the first week of classes.
Our primary method of communication is through your UNO email address. All students can view their Award Notification through MavLINK once a financial aid award offer has been made.
Carefully consider how much you need to borrow and avoid borrowing more than you really need. When borrowing, be sure to check terms and conditions before accepting any loan and be sure you understand your repayment obligation.
Step 5: Act on Your Awards
Accept your financial aid award via MavLINKUse MavLINK to accept your financial aid award. You may decline any loans you do not plan on borrowing. You may also reduce your offered loan amounts if the loan has not been disbursed. Once any amount of the loan has disbursed, this option will not be available online and you must request a change in person or by email to the Office of Financial Support and Scholarships.
If you are planning on accepting the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan, please follow these instructions.
All students not planning to attend UNO should notify the Office of Financial Support and Scholarships in writing and also initiate a complete university withdrawal through the Office of the Registrar.
Step 6: Complete Your Loan Documents
Complete Your MPN and Loan Entrance CounselingIf you have accepted loans, you will need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Loan Entrance Counseling for each type of loan you have accepted before your funds can be disbursed.
Step 7: Enroll in Direct Deposit / Receive Your Funds
Enroll in direct deposit via MavLINK
To be eligible for a financial aid disbursement, you must meet all eligibility and disbursement requirements. Federal Pell grant funds are automatically accepted; however, you must accept all other financial aid awards for them to disburse (assuming you meet all other eligibility criteria).
Financial aid disbursement will begin AFTER the financial aid recalculation date, or Monday, September 2nd (the last day to drop a class via MavLINK and receive a 100% refund). The amount that is disbursed is determined by the number of credits you are enrolled in at the time of disbursement. Available financial aid will begin paying your UNO charges at that time.
MavLINKGuide: How To Set Up Direct Deposit on MavLINK (PDF)
We recommend enrolling in direct deposit through MavLINK so funds post directly to your bank account. Allow up to two weeks for your direct deposit enrollment to activate. Check with your bank to ensure your funds are available in your account before drawing on your refund. Visit the Office of Cashiering/Student Accounts if you have questions regarding your direct deposit enrollment.
If your credited aid is in excess of your university charges, you will receive a financial aid refund for the difference by direct deposit to your bank account or by paper check. If you do not enroll in direct deposit, any refund owed will be mailed to you. Confirm and/or update your local address via MavLINK. If you need your check to be re-issued, please contact the Office of Cashiering/Student Accounts.
Your financial aid will be applied to your current UNO charges first. If financial aid is canceled or does not pay all tuition and fees, you will be responsible for these remaining charges. Tuition and billing correspondence will be sent to your official UNO email account. UNO expects students to check their UNO email frequently to stay current with university-related communications, including e-billing notifications. You may also view your account balance and make a payment via MavLINK.
Most residence halls will be charged to you through the UNO billing system and these charges will be paid with any available financial aid. Residence hall charges that are billed outside of the UNO billing system are not automatically paid with your financial aid. Consult with your residence hall office on how to pay these charges with your financial aid refund. UNO Housing & Residential Life
When your financial aid disburses, the disbursement will pay against your posted tuition, fees, and room and board. If you receive a refund, please be sure to review your account transaction detail on MavLINK once you receive your refund. It is important to review your account detail to ensure your balance is paid in full. Any charges posted after the financial aid disbursement will need to be paid by you. This includes, but is not limited to, a course add/drop/withdrawal after the disbursement, bookstore charges if authorization is not provided to pay with the disbursement and/or the transaction posted after the disbursement, any other UNO charges, and any housing charges if they were not posted by the time of disbursement.
Step 8: Maintain Your Eligibility
Satisfactory Academic Progress PolicyComplete the FAFSA
MavLINK
As a financial aid recipient, you are required to continue eligibility by maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP), filing a FAFSA each year, completing all requested financial aid items on your To-Do list on MavLINK and maintaining all other eligibility criteria.
If you fail to meet one or more of the SAP standards, you will be ineligible to receive financial aid, and will be notified by email.