Demonstrating Financial Need
Financial need can only be determined by filing the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please review our application instructions for admitted freshmen, admitted transfer students, current undergraduate students and all graduate students for more information.
This page includes information on the following programs:
Note: The Federal Aid Census Date for undergraduate students (the last day of late registration for the semester) is used by the Office of Financial Aid to confirm your enrollment status and subsequent federal financial aid eligibility. Full-time study (defined as being enrolled in 12 or more credits applicable toward your degree) is determined by your enrollment on the Census Date. Visit the Academic Calendar for registration dates.
Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate or professional degree.
Pell eligibility is determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI), which is calculated using your FAFSA. Visit the Federal Student Aid website for maximum Pell Grant amounts.
Note: If your parent or guardian died while serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or as a public safety officer, you may be eligible for additional Federal Pell Grant funds.
Students may not receive Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.
Pell
What do I need to know about summer Pell?
The amount of your Pell Grant depends on your Student Aid Index (SAI), enrollment status and percentage of Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU). Students are limited to 12 full-time semesters (600%) of Pell Grant eligibility during their lifetime — regardless of when or where they received their first Pell Grant.
If you are enrolled at least half-time (six credits for undergrads) in applicable credits during the summer, you may be able to receive up to 150% percent of your scheduled award for an award year — meaning you can use Pell Grant funds to finance summer study. If you have not reached the Pell limit, the additional Pell Grant will count toward your Lifetime Eligibility Used.
If you drop credits at any time during the summer, the Pell grant may be either reduced or cancelled.
Federal Work-Study
Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study.
If you don’t qualify for work-study, you can still work on campus by finding a job on the Office of Human Resources Management’s Student Employment Opportunities website.
Work-Study
How do I secure a federal work-study?
- Students who file the FAFSA by the priority filing date (December 1 for new students, January 1 for returning students) are given priority consideration.
- Current students must be registered as a full-time student for the fall semester by June 15.
- Returning work-study students must have earned at least $1,450 of their previous award to have the award renewed. (Students typically receive a $2,835 award for the academic year.)
- All students must accept their work-study awards on MyUAlbany before the beginning of the fall semester or the award will be canceled. If you decline a work-study award, it won’t be offered in the future.
How does federal work-study work?
Work-study students are paid an hourly rate, receive a paycheck every two weeks for the hours they worked and cannot earn more than the amount of work-study they were awarded.
Work-study is a job opportunity, not a guaranteed job. Once you accept your work-study award on MyUAlbany, you’ll use the work-study employment website to search and apply for jobs online. You'll receive information on how to complete that process in early August.
You'll also need to complete the federal work-study I-9 form to verify your employment.
Federal Direct Loan Program
UAlbany participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program, in which students and parents obtain federal educational loans directly from the U.S. Department of Education. Please visit these pages for more information:
- Federal Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Consolidation Loans
- Federal Direct Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS Loans
Loans
Additional Federal Financial Aid Programs
These grants and scholarships are offered to students in special circumstances. Please see each section for eligibility and, if applicable, application instructions.
Additional
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a campus-based federal grant — meaning that the federal government determines the amount of money the Office of Financial Aid can award to students and, when the funds are exhausted, awarding of this aid program stops.
Undergraduate students receiving FSEOG must have exceptional financial need, which can only be determined by filing the FAFSA.
As the funds are limited, priority is given to our highest need students, who have a zero to negative-1,500 Student Aid Index (SAI) as determined by the FAFSA, and to students who meet the priority filing deadlines (December 1 for newly admitted students and January 1 for current students continuing their studies).
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
The FAFSA Simplification Act changed eligibility for what was formerly called the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants and Children of Fallen Heroes Award. Beginning with 2024-2025 award year, students who meet the eligibility requirements for the Pell Grants under the Special Rule in HEA Section 401(c) will receive Max Pell.
Students who indicate that their parent died in the line of duty on the 2024-2025 FAFSA will receive notification regarding documentation required to determine eligibility for the Pell Grant under the Special Rule.
For information on financial aid for veterans and military-connected students, including the GI Bill and Military Tuition Assistance, please visit the Office of Veteran and Military Student Services website.