Below are the steps to applying for financial aid. Financial aid is available to all graduate students who meet all general eligibility requirements listed below. Graduate students who meet AB540 criteria may be eligible for aid through the DREAM application. Note that all graduate students' dependency status is  independent.

Depending on when your program begins you will need to file a year-specific FAFSA. Below is a list of program start dates and the year-specific FAFSA you will need to file in order to be considered for financial aid.

Which FAFSA should I complete?

With rolling starts throughout the calendar year and multiple FAFSA applications available at one time, it can be difficult to determine which FAFSA you should complete as you begin your education at the University of Redlands. We've create the reference table below to help you understand which FAFSA you should complete based on when you will be starting your program. 

Student Attendance Dates Which FAFSA to Complete FAFSA is Available Tax Year Information Required
July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 2024/25 December 2023 - June 30, 2025 2022
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 2025/26 October 1, 2024 - June 30 2026 2023

1. Determine Eligibility

Eligible students must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
  • Have a valid social security number
  • Be fully admitted and making progress towards an eligible degree or certificate program
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, as defined by Student Financial Services
  • Not owe an overpayment on any federal grant or be in default on a federal loan
  • Register with Selective Service if required to do so

OR

If students are any of the status below, they may qualify for the DREAM ACT:

  • Undocumented
  • Have a valid or expired DACA
  • U Visa holders
  • Have Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
  • Meet the non-resident exemption  requirements under the AB 540, SB 2000, SB 68

2. Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

To apply for student financial aid you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available online. If you do not wish to complete the FAFSA on the web you may request a paper FAFSA by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID. Please note: paper FAFSA applications may take up to two weeks longer to process than electronic submissions.

To begin the process you will need to request a FSA ID which will serve as your personal identifier and allow you to electronically sign your completed FAFSA. Visit the FSA ID website to obtain a personal FSA ID or follow the directions on the FAFSA website.

Once your FSA ID is available you may begin completing your FAFSA on the web. You may need certain documents such as records of the previous year's earnings (W-2 and Income Tax forms) and personal records such as your social security card and drivers license. If you have not yet filed taxes for the previous year you may complete the FAFSA by estimating as accurately as possible, using W-2 forms or other statements of benefits. When you have completed your returns you will need to update the FAFSA with the official information.

When completing your FAFSA be sure to include the University of Redlands School code (001322) in the appropriate field to ensure we receive your information. After your submission you should receive an Electronic Student Aid Report (E-SAR) via the e-mail address you provided. Review the information on the E-SAR for accuracy. If you need to make corrections you may do so by following the directions provided on the E-SAR. You may also make corrections to your FAFSA online by logging onto FAFSA and clicking, "Make corrections to a processed FAFSA."

You can learn more about the FAFSA here.

3. Review Your Financial Aid Offer Letter

Once you are officially admitted, registered for classes, and we have a valid FAFSA on file (additional documentation may be required after submission) your financial aid award will be processed. You can expect to receive your award letter by mail within 7-10 business days. Your financial aid award letter will detail the funds that you are eligible to receive and any additional steps you will need to take to receive your funds. Make sure to read your letter carefully and follow any additional instructions provided. Also, read over the Financial Aid General Conditions.

If you are selected for verification, you will be notified and informed of what documentation you will need to provide.

4. Estimate Your Bill

Students will be sent information on how to log in and view their balance and activity on their students accounts on Student Finance (RedlandsPay). You will be billed on a class-by-class basis by Student Financial Services. A statement of account will be uploaded to Student Finance within 5-10 business days after the start of each class.