These short videos will assist in understanding the financial aid process at UCF and give an overview of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn helpful tips and tricks to file your FAFSA faster and more accurately.
General Financial Assistance Help Videos
Applying for Financial Aid With the FAFSA
The key to unlocking student aid to help you pay for college, career school, or trade school is submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form!
Information Required To Complete the FAFSA
If you plan to submit a 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, gather the required documents and information that you’ll need to fill out the form.
Create and Access Your StudentAid.gov Account
You will need to create a StudentAid.gov account username and password. Each contributor must create their own StudentAid.gov account.
Types of Federal Student Aid
Information on different types of federal aid available, including loans, grants, and work-study jobs.
Myths About Financial Aid
Address common myths about financial aid: having too much income, not having good enough grades, or needing to file taxes before completing the FAFSA.
Responsible Borrowing
Learn about responsible borrowing, loan repayment, and carefully weighing the costs of college and potential income after graduation.
FAFSA Help Videos
What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA form, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the only way to access the largest source of financial aid—federal student aid—to help you pay for your education.
FAFSA Overview
Provides an overview of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the application process.
What’s Changed for the 2024–25 FAFSA?
One of the biggest changes to the online FAFSA form for 2024–25 is the ability to access the status of your FAFSA form in your StudentAid.gov account.
Who Is a Contributor on the 2024–25 FAFSA?
A contributor is anyone required to provide information, a signature, and consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred directly into the FAFSA form. This may include the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or a stepparent.
Why Do My Contributors and I Need Our Own StudentAid.gov Accounts?
Your StudentAid.gov account contains verified personal information, so each StudentAid.gov account can link to only one person.
What Does It Mean To Provide Consent and Approval on the 2024–25 FAFSA?
Providing consent and approval on the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is a requirement for federal student aid eligibility.
How to Fill Out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study funds, and loans, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form at fafsa.gov.
FAFSA: Determining Dependency Status
Walk through the criteria for determining whether a FAFSA applicant is an independent or dependent student.
After the FAFSA: What Happens Next?
Learn what happens after you complete the FAFSA, including information about the Student Aid Report, EFC, the role of schools, award letters, and receiving aid.
Webinar Videos
DREAM.US Informational
Question and answer session hosted by the Office of Student Financial Assistance on 10-19-2020
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Question and answer session hosted by the Office of Student Financial Assistance on 07-22-2021
Verification & Dynamic Forms
Question and answer session hosted by the Office of Student Financial Assistance on 07-13-2021
UCF Office of Student Financial Assistance Help Videos
What resources are offered through Student Financial Assistance
Most Student Financial Assistance resources are available at www.finaid.ucf.edu.
What do I need to do for Student Financial Assistance?
The To-Do List contains items that you may need to complete for the Office of Student Financial Assistance or other offices at UCF.
Florida Bright Futures & Pre-Paid Tuition
Florida Prepaid is handled through the Student Account Services Office. Bright Futures is handled through the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
Scholarship Checks
Prior to submitting checks, please complete the Report Scholarship Form and endorse if the check is made out in the student’s name.
Transient Enrollment
Learn how transient students can receive financial aid and how deferments work.
Parent PLUS Loan
The Federal Parent PLUS Loan is a credit based federal loan for parents of eligible dependent students.
Optional/Alternative Loans
Learn about credit based private loans for undergraduate and graduate students.
What type of financial aid is being offered to me?
Learn about the initial financial aid package, including awards types, amounts and eligibility.
The Clutter Folder & Microsoft Outlook (Office 365)
Important emails from UCF may be found in your Clutter folder, please check your Clutter folder regularly or disable it.
Do I qualify for financial aid?
Tips on how the begin the Financial Aid process at the University of Central Florida.
Understanding Your To-Do List
Your To-Do List should be checked routinely in the event additional documents are requested.
What do I need to do for Student Financial Assistance?
Learn about the to-do-list, how to avoid delays, myUCF portal, and submission deadlines.
Disbursement of Financial Aid
Learn when disbursement of financial aid funds begin and contingencies.
Attending Classes & Completing Academic Activity
Students receiving federal aid are required to be academically engaged in courses enrolled.
Purchasing Books
Learn about eligibility for funds for books through a short term advance or opt-in program.
When will I get my Refund?
Learn about the disbursement process, when it occurs, and when to expect a refund.
How To Accept, Decline or Reduce Federal Direct Stafford Loans
Only Federal Loan or Federal Work Study offered awards can be accepted, reduced and/or declined on your myUCF account. Grants and scholarships require no acceptance.
4 Things to Know Before the First Day of Class
From the to-do list and financial aid status, to textbooks and disbursements and refunds, this video helps students before first day of classes.
What is the difference between Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans?
Learn the differences between the types of federal direct loans and what it means regarding interest.
How do student loans impact my financial aid package?
Find out if accepting federal loans affect other types of financial aid awards.