2026-2027 Updates

Review key information for completing your aid applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Applicants/Incoming Undergraduate Students:

  • Apply early! You don’t have to be admitted to apply. Complete both the CSS Profile and FAFSA as soon as possible, by Nov. 15 (Early Decision applicants only) or apply by Dec. 15 (for Early Action and Regular Decision applicants) to receive your financial aid package sooner, get earlier consideration for scholarships from your school/college, and have more time to fix any issues if they come up.
  • Admitted undergraduate students who have submitted their aid applications, will receive their estimated financial aid package approximately two weeks after receiving their admissions decision, which is our typical window. This allows admitted undergraduate students to have information about the financial support available to them from U-M when evaluating their options.
  • After you submit your FAFSA, check your FAFSA Submission Summary to review your responses and identify if any additional actions will be required to complete your FAFSA application. Watch your emails for additional communications from the U-M Office of Financial Aid and stay up to date by checking the Federal Student Aid website.

Returning Undergraduate Students:

  • Complete your 2026-2027 FAFSA by May 1. Financial aid offers for the 2026-2027 academic year will be emailed in the summer.
  • You do not need to resubmit the CSS Profile. The CSS Profile is only completed in your entering year. If you have never completed it, complete the CSS Profile by May 1. 

Graduate and Professional Students:

  • Admitted graduate and professional degree students should complete the 2026-2027 FAFSA ASAP. Financial aid offers will be emailed once the Office of Financial Aid has received the FAFSA information.
  • Returning graduate and professional degree students should complete the 2026-2027 FAFSA by May 1. Financial aid offers for the 2026-2027 academic year will be emailed in the summer.
H.R. 1 Act Impact on Federal Aid and Student Loans

The H.R.1 Act introduces significant changes to federal aid and federal student loans, especially those available to graduate and professional degree students beginning in 2026-2027. Additional guidance is needed from the U.S. Department of Education to fully understand how changes will impact students and aid. Please speak with the Office of Financial Aid about individual circumstances as the loan changes have legacy provisions for current borrowers for a limited time. As information becomes available, we will update our website.

FAFSA:

  • Foreign income will be included in a family's Adjusted Gross Income, even if it was excluded for tax purposes through a Foreign Income Exclusion.
  • Family-owned small business/farm assets do not need to be reported on the FAFSA.

Federal Pell Grant:

  • Eligibility limitations apply to families with high SAI.
  • Eligibility limitations apply if the full cost of attendance is already being covered by other state, private, and/or institutional scholarships and grants.

Federal Direct Loans: 

  • Loan eligibility is impacted by enrollment intensity. (Applies to all borrowers at all degree levels.) Full-time students may borrow up to their full loan eligibility, but any students enrolled less than full time will have loans reduced based on their percentage of enrollment.
  • For each dependent student, parents are now limited to borrowing up to $20,000 annually in Parent PLUS loans. Additionally, parent borrowers will have a new overall borrowing limit of $65,000.
  • Graduate and professional students will have new Direct Unsubsidized Loan borrowing limits based on their degree program. Graduate students will be limited to borrowing $100,000 overall for their graduate degree. (Students in professional programs have different limits.)
  • The Graduate PLUS program has been eliminated and will no longer be available to new graduate degree students and new Direct Loan borrowers beginning in 2026-2027.
  • Federal loan repayment programs will be simplified and details have not yet been released.
Common Errors When Completing the FAFSA

Look out for these common mistakes when completing your FAFSA. If you submit the FAFSA and you need to make corrections, learn How To Correct or Update Your FAFSA Form on the Federal Student Aid website.

  • Missing or incorrect school code ​
    • Use UM-Ann Arbor’s Federal School Code (002325). Note that there are multiple school codes identifying different campuses in the University of Michigan system. It may not be immediately obvious which one you are choosing because of the way the names are listed. We encourage you to search for the Ann Arbor campus using our code (002325) and add it to your FAFSA. Michigan residents: U-M must be the first code listed for state scholarships to be directed correctly. University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS) students: Use UMMS’s school code (E00398).
    • Remove any University of Michigan school codes attached to your FAFSA that are not 002325 (E00398 for UMMS students) to ensure your aid application is directed to the correct campus.
  • No student signature
  • No parent signature
  • No student federal tax information (FTI) consent
  • Missing critical data from your parents (also called FAFSA contributors)
  • Missing or unconfirmed information about your U.S. citizenship status
Key FAFSA Updates From the FAFSA Simplification Act
  • The FAFSA has been streamlined and is more user-friendly with fewer questions.
  • The Student Aid Index (SAI) replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
  • Federal aid eligibility was extended to more students.
  • IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) was launched to make entering tax information easier and will be required for students, spouses, and parents to transfer their tax information or non-filing status.
  • The number of family members in college no longer factors into the FAFSA calculation.
  • Untaxed items such as payments to tax-deferred retirement or pension plans, veteran’s non-educational benefits, and worker’s compensation are no longer required.
  • For divorced or separated parents: The parent who provided the most financial support to the student will need to provide their information. Previously, the parent who the student lived with the most provided their information.
  • Everyone contributing to the FAFSA form online must have their own account on the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website. Each contributor, including the student, will access their account with their own FSA ID (account username and password).
Terms To Know
  • Student Aid Index (SAI): Calculated by FAFSA data and will determine student aid eligibility. This replaces the EFC that was used in previous years.
  • Cost of Attendance (COA): COA includes tuition and fees, food and housing, books and supplies (including course materials and equipment), miscellaneous expenses, and transportation.
  • Contributor: A parent, step-parent, student, or spouse of the student who is providing information to the FAFSA.
  • Consent: Required from all contributors in order for the IRS to share tax data directly to the FAFSA. If any contributor does not provide consent, the student will automatically be ineligible for aid.
  • Direct Data Exchange (DDX): Previously known as IRS Data Retrieval; this tool imports tax data directly from the IRS to your FAFSA.
  • FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS): A summary of your completed FAFSA information. This replaces the Student Aid Report (SAR) that was used in previous years.
Ways To Prepare
  • Apply for your FSA ID. A Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID is required for all contributors including the student.
  • Determine who your contributors are. The FAFSA will also offer assistance when filing. Students, parents, step-parents, and a student’s spouse may be considered contributors.
  • Gather Federal Tax Information and W-2s. All contributors will need this information, if applicable.
FAQs

What is the FAFSA Simplification Act?

The FAFSA Simplification Act is a law that represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid starting with the 2024-2025 award year, including changes to the FAFSA. Learn more about the law.

Contact us at [email protected] if you have any additional questions. You can also find answers to your questions about the FAFSA in general on the Federal Student Aid website.

When will the 2026-2027 FAFSA become available?

It is available to complete now! Don't wait!

What semesters are covered by my 2026-2027 FAFSA?

Fall 2026, winter 2027, and spring/summer 2027

Note: Students admitted into spring/summer 2025, including students admitted into the Bridge program, must also complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA to be offered summer aid.

When is the 2026-2027 filing date for UM-Ann Arbor?

  • Early Decision undergraduate applicants: Submit your aid applications (CSS Profile and FAFSA) by Nov. 15.

  • Early Action and Regular Decision undergraduate applicants: The suggested filing date is Dec. 15 to submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA. This is not a deadline, but ensures we can provide preliminary financial aid information sooner. The deadline to apply is March 1.

  • Graduate/Professional applicants: Submit your FAFSA only by March 1.

  • Returning U-M students: Submit your FAFSA only by May 1.

What school code should I use for the FAFSA?

The UM-Ann Arbor school code is 002325. Be sure to look for UM-Ann Arbor specifically as there are different codes for each campus.

What school code should I use for the CSS Profile?

Use the U-M school code: 1839.

Is a contributor required to have an FSA ID?

Yes, all contributors must have an FSA ID.

My parents are divorced or separated. Which parent is a contributor for my FAFSA?

The parent who provides the most financial support to the student should be the contributor on the FAFSA.

Do the invitations to contributors to provide federal tax information and consent expire?

Yes. Invitations to be a contributor will be deleted when they have been inactive for 45 days. Any previously entered information will be deleted and the process will need to start over.

How can I be considered an independent student?

The FAFSA will determine if you meet any of the criteria to be considered independent. Learn more about Dependency Status.

I’m a graduate student, how does this impact me? 

U-M graduate student financial aid processing relies on the FAFSA. Learn more about graduate student aid.

I’m a current undergraduate student, when will I receive my financial aid package? 

Current U-M undergraduate students can submit the FAFSA at any time and are encouraged to do so by May 1. Financial aid notices for returning students are typically emailed in July.