Financing Your Education
Now comes the big question: “How do I pay for all this?” The process isn’t as hard as it may seem and there are resources to help make a college degree a reality for you.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst operates one of the most comprehensive financial aid programs of any public university. Last year, Financial Aid Services assisted 20,000 students in receiving a total of more than $198 million in financial aid from federal, state, corporate and institutional sources.
In order to receive Financial Aid at UMass Amherst, it is up to you to seek it out. The first step in this process is to go to the Financial Aid website to check out all of your options. Read the site carefully and follow their suggestions in Helpful Hints. The next step will be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This is used to determine eligibility for federal, state, and institutional funds. Please remember that you need to complete this form (or the renewal version) every year that you wish to be considered for financial aid.
Financial Aid Priority Deadline: We recommend that you complete your FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1, but before February 15, in order to meet the March 1 deadline.
There are plenty of ways for you to help finance your college education. You can apply for scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study, or you may reach beyond UMass Amherst and get a part-time job in town. Just make sure you explore all of the possibilities through the office of Financial Aid, ask for help when you need it, and get all of the forms in on time.
