Completion of a new FAFSA is required annually. The FAFSA for the upcoming aid year is available on October 1st of each year. The FAFSA requires that you use data from your completed IRS tax return from 2 years prior to the application period. For instance, if you are completing the FAFSA for the 2020/21 academic year, you will report data from your 2018 tax return. Applications for aid are processed on a first come, first served basis and some funds are awarded until they are exhausted, so it is important for you to complete your FAFSA as soon as possible. You do not need to be accepted to a program in order to complete your FAFSA. However, your aid will not be awarded until you have been accepted.
UTMB begins awarding financial aid for the upcoming academic year in March of each year and we continuously award aid throughout the year. If you need aid to be ready at the beginning of a semester, we must have your completed FAFSA and any additional required documents no later than one month prior to the beginning of the semester. Additional required documents could include, but are not limited to, the verification documents, tax transcripts, citizenship verification, documentation of selective service registration, and verification of high school completion. If any of these documents are required for the processing of your aid, you will have an item in mySTAR listed on your “TO DO” list.