Financial Aid Services

UMass Financial Aid Updates 

May 1 

We realize that some of you who have filed a FAFSA have still not received your financial aid package from UMass Amherst. We ask that you please be patient. We are continuing to process the data as we receive it from the Department of Education. However, much of the FAFSA information that we have received still contains errors that make it impossible to process packages. We will continue to process FAFSA as quickly as we can, and will notify you as soon as your package is available.

When your package is available, you will receive an email telling you to log into your SPIRE account (instructions here) to view your package. This email will be sent to the email address provided on your admissions application. 

If you have not received a package notification email yet, we advise you to check the following to see if there are actions that you need to take:

• Your FAFSA may not be in “processed” status.  Log in to studentaid.gov and check your FAFSA status (see How To Review and Correct Your FAFSA® Form | Federal Student Aid).  If you see an “In Progress” or “Action Required” status, please log in to your FAFSA, make any necessary edits, and resubmit your FAFSA (see How To Correct or Update Your FAFSA® Form | Federal Student Aid).
• You may have recently corrected or updated your FAFSA, or the federal processor may have recently corrected or updated your FAFSA.  FAFSA corrections and updates typically take 7-10 days to process, but there have been a number of delays and issues with the federal processor that have complicated this process. Be sure to check your status often.
• Make sure that we have a valid 2024-2025 FAFSA on file for you.  If you have not filed your FAFSA, it is not too late! To file a FAFSA, or to add UMass Amherst (federal school code 002221) to your existing FAFSA, go to FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid

We will continue to create financial aid award packages for fall 2024 entering students as new and corrected FAFSAs are received and vetted.  Remember, when your award is ready to view, you will receive a notification email from UMass Amherst Financial Aid Services.

If you have questions or need help, please review our FAQ page and then contact us if needed.

Please note that the information above is intended only for admitted students entering in fall 2024.  Currently enrolled / continuing students who meet financial aid eligibility criteria will be awarded beginning in late June, 2024. If you will be continuing in 2024-2025, be sure to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA, and check your SPIRE To Dos and submit all required documents when requested.

April 19, 2024

On April 18, UMass Amherst Financial Aid Services began delivering financial aid packages to several thousand of our admitted entering first-year and transfer students. We will continue to process FAFSA applications as we receive them from the Department of Education.

If your financial aid package was processed, you received an email telling you to log into your SPIRE account (instructions here) to view your package. This email was sent to the email address provided on your admissions application. 

Please note that the information above is intended only for admitted students entering in fall 2024.  Currently enrolled / continuing students who meet financial aid eligibility criteria will be awarded beginning in late June, 2024. If you will be continuing in 2024-2025, be sure to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA, and check your SPIRE To Dos and submit all required documents when requested.

April 5, 2024

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is extending its deposit deadline to May 15 for first-year students admitted for fall 2024 due to continued delays related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and concerns expressed by our students and families.

We continue to prepare for processing of financial aid offers and expect to provide families with financial aid information in the coming weeks. You will receive an email from UMass Amherst Financial Aid Services when your aid offer is ready to view in SPIRE.

You must file a FAFSA to be considered for most financial aid types offered by the University. If you already filed your 2024-2025 FAFSA and included UMass Amherst's school code (002221), you do not need to do anything at this time.

You may check the status of your FAFSA form by logging into studentaid.gov using your FSA ID and clicking on the "My Activity" link. If your FAFSA's status is "Processed," you don't need to do anything. If your FAFSA's status is "Action Required," you may need to make corrections or adjustments to your FAFSA. However, you cannot currently make changes to a submitted 2024-2025 FAFSA. The Department of Education has announced that corrections for the 2024-2025 FAFSA will be become available in mid-April; at that point you should check your account at studentaid.gov to see what action is required.

If you have not filed your FAFSA, it is not too late! Please visit studentaid.gov to create your Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) and to file your 2024-2025 application.

Please see more information on this page regarding the FAFSA and changes to the 2024-2025 form.

Currently enrolled students who are planning to return to UMass Amherst in 2024-2025 can expect their financial aid offer in early June.

Filing your FAFSA

Complete your FAFSA application today at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA is the only application required at UMass Amherst to be awarded need-based aid. The UMass Amherst school code is 002221. 

You are encouraged to file by the March 1 UMass Amherst FAFSA priority date to receive your financial aid offer early in the cycle. If you are having challenges submitting your FAFSA, please be aware that submitting after March 1 will not affect your funding. State and scholarship agencies have varying deadlines that you are encouraged to meet.

See more about the new FAFSA and how to prepare to complete the application on our FAFSA Changes page.

Massachusetts New Financial Aid Expansion Programs

The MassGrant Plus program has now expanded eligibility to low- and middle-income students based on FAFSA data. This program aims to ensure instructional costs are covered with need-based grant aid for Massachusetts residents. Both full- and part-time Pell eligible students may be awarded. Full-time non-Pell eligible students up to a maximum expected family contribution (EFC) of $15,000 will also be considered. There is no additional application if you have completed your 2023-2024 FAFSA. Your award will be calculated after the add/drop period each term.

For more information: Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Historic Financial Aid Expansion for Massachusetts Public College and University Students | Mass.gov

Undocumented Massachusetts residents that have completed at least three years at a Massachusetts high school may now be eligible to receive Massachusetts state need-based aid programs. The MASFA form is now available for students that are unable to submit a FAFSA due to their citizenship status.

For more information: Tuition Equity/ Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Connect with Us

Got questions? Need to chat with a financial aid advisor? Here’s when, where and how to reach us.