Applying for Financial Aid

Step 1 – Complete your FAFSA

The FAFSA is your first step: The FAFSA is your application for grants (free money), work study (money you earn), and loans (money you pay back).
Get your FSA ID:Students and parents will need an FSA ID username and password combination that will allow you to sign your FAFSA electronically.
Need to Transfer your FAFSA to UNM? Add our School Code (002663)
Important Dates:
- Dec 1, 2024- The 2025-2026 FAFSA becomes available
- Jan 31, 2025 – FAFSA completion priority date
- March 1, 2025 – FAFSA Follow-up for Priority Awarding – complete your UNM Financial Aid file and make any necessary FAFSA Corrections by this date.
- March 2025 – Awards published for coming school year
- May 1, 2025 – Scholarship Acceptance Deadline
Missed dates – A FAFSA can be submitted throughout the year anytime up to June 30^th of the present academic year. Likewise, you can submit the documentation to complete your file at any time throughout the year. Even if you miss the FAFSA priority date you should still submit a FAFSA. Scholarship deadlines are generally non-negotiable and must be met.
Non-Citizens: Undocumented students may still be eligible for financial aid at UNM, please complete the UNM Application for State Aid Application and not the online FAFSA.

Step 2. Complete your Financial Aid File

The Additional Documentation Submission Date for 2025-2026:You must submit any additional documentation required of you to complete your Financial Aid file by this date to be considered for priority financial aid.
Check your Financial Aid file:You can check your Financial Aid file on Loboweb to see what information is requested of you. It is important to note that Financial Aid awarding will not occur until your file is complete.
Missed Dates: You can submit documentation at any time during the year to complete your file.
FAFSA Verification – FAFSA verification often requires a copy of your (and/or your parents’) IRS Tax Transcript and UNM’s Verification Worksheet. as well as other documentation. Your financial aid file is deemed incomplete until all required documentation has been satisfied.
Communication from UNM: You will receive an email communication if any additional documentation is required in order to complete your Financial Aid file. The email will be sent to your UNM email account (incoming freshmen will also receive a duplicate email at the email address provided on their Admission Application to UNM). For more information on how to submit documents to the Financial Aid Office click here.
Corrections to your FAFSA: In general, changes to income are not allowable as the FAFSA is considered a snapshot of the student's ability to pay. However, if you or your family have experienced a special circumstance that has affected your financial situation since reporting your information on your FAFSA, you can submit a special circumstance petition form to have your current financial situation evaluated.

Step 3. Review and Modify your Financial Aid Awards.

Awarding Timeline: Initial Awarding begins in late March for the upcoming school year and only for those students with a FAFSA on file and a complete financial aid file (see step 2). If a student submits their FAFSA later in the year or after the school year has already begun, awarding will occur when that student has a complete financial aid file.
Financial Aid Awarding Requirements: Awarding only occurs for those students that:
- Have a complete financial aid file,
- Have met eligibility requirements (you must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress) and
- Have submitted all required Additional Documentation (see step 2).
Notification of Financial Aid Awards: You will receive an email notification with instructions on how to view awards on Loboweb
Review and Modify your Awards: Students can review and modify certain awards on LoboWeb under the Financial Aid Tab.
- Grants (free money) are automatically accepted for you.
- Loans and Work Study awards must be accepted or declined on Loboweb.
- Some Scholarships will require you to accept, you will receive an email with instructions on accepting your award.
First time Loan Borrowers: Loans require extra steps after accepting them in order for the loan to pay out at disbursement time.
- Complete your Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at studentaid.gov
- If you wish to modify a loan award amount you can submit a Financial Aid Change form.

Step 4. Prepare for Disbursement

Financial Aid Disbursement: is the process of Financial Aid releasing your funds to the Bursar's Office so that your bill at the University will be paid. In order for Disbursement of funds to occur students have meet certain requirements:
1. have a complete financial aid file,
2. be meeting eligibility requirements (this includes Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements),
3. and be enrolled for the correct number of credit hours. If you plan to be less than full-time you will need to inform the Financial Aid Office.
Financial Aid Refunds: If your financial aid awards exceed your charges at UNM, you may receive the excess funds in the form of a refund. Refunds generally become available the first week of classes. Refunds ARE NOT distributed in person. Rather, refunds are only available through the mail, or through direct deposit. We strongly encourage setting up direct deposit.

Tips and guides for completing the FAFSA

Watch the Five-Minute FAFSA Video for a quick introduction to the FAFSA.
Getting Started Undergraduate, Freshmen Guide and Basic Freshmen Info
Financial Aid Transfer Guide and Transfer Financial Aid Checklist
Tips for completing a FAFSA and FAFSA eligibility

UNM's FAFSA priority date is Jan 31. Students who complete the FAFSA by the FAFSA priority date and have a complete Financial Aid file by the Additional Documentation Submission date are considered first for certain types of limited funding.

Here is a list of Quick links that may assist you:

Code of Conduct

Freshman Guide

Frequently Asked Questions (Fast Info)

Customer satisfaction survey

NMHED Student Complaint Process

How Do I..

M - F 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (MST)

Contact Us:

UNM Financial Aid
Scholarships
MSC11 6315
1 University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Toll Free: 1-800-CALLUNM
Phone No: (505)-277-8900
Fax No: 505-277-6326

UNM Financial Aid Office