Alternative education loans are credit-based consumer loans that can be used to pay any post-secondary education-related expenses. Before considering alternative loan borrowing, you should first apply for federal, state and institutional financial aid, including federal student loans. And use alternative loans only as a last resort to pay for college costs. File a FAFSA first. Go to studentaid.gov for more information.
♦ Financial Aid Services receives a very high volume of calls and emails, especially around the start of each semester. You may experience long wait times when calling our office and while awaiting a response to an email.
Our counseling and customer service staff can be reached by phone at 413-545-0801 from 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm, Monday through Friday. We can also be reached by email at finaid@finaid.umass.edu.
We are offering financial aid counseling appointments by phone and Zoom. You can request a phone or Zoom appointment by completing an Appointment Request Form.
Please complete our “Loan / Work Study Change Request” form, found at umass.edu/umfa/forms, and submit it via DocuSign. Please be aware that you have 30 days from your loan’s original disbursement date to request a change or cancellation, and changes and cancellations requested within this window are considered to be effective as of the original disbursement date.
Documents may be picked up or dropped off at Financial Aid Services from 11am to 3pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Students and families should use this option only if their documents cannot be completed via fax or email. Visitors should enter using the doors on the west side of the Whitmore Building. Metered parking is available in lot 71, also on the west side of the building.
Students with Federal Work-Study who are interested in pursuing University work for the academic year will be allowed to work remotely, as long as the job tasks can be performed remotely, and there is documented supervision. If you have been hired for the fall semester and are a first-time University employee, click here for the University hiring documents.
Undergraduate Estimated Costs
Click here for information related to the estimated costs for undergraduate students.
Net Price Calculator
Determine the estimated net price (cost of attendance minus median grant / scholarship aid) that a first-time full-time undergraduate student may pay to attend UMass Amherst.