Apply for Financial Aid
1. Complete your FAFSA
As a medical student, regardless of your dependency status, you will be considered an independent student for financial aid purposes. For need-based institutional scholarship consideration and eligibility, along with the FAFSA, you must also submit the Medical Student Scholarship Application.
The FAFSA and Medical Student Scholarship Application are available on this page when they are being accepted for the coming 2025-26 school year.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Select the 2025-26 school year application which will cover funding for Fall Semester 2025, Spring Semester 2026, and Summer Semester 2026.
Before you submit
- You should refer to your filed 2023 federal income tax forms. Do NOT use estimated tax information on the FAFSA.
- Read the Financial Aid Application Instructions (available on this page in December) thoroughly and completely. You are responsible for knowing this information and for adhering to the application deadlines contained within it.
Timing
- Annual application materials will become available in December for both the FAFSA and the Medical Student Scholarship Application.
- A new FAFSA and (if you are interested in need-based institutional scholarship consideration) a new Medical Student Scholarship Application must be submitted each academic year.
How to apply
- Obtain a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).
- Submit your FAFSA online.
- Make sure to select the 2025-26 school year application which will cover funding for Fall Semester 2025, Spring Semester 2026, and Summer Semester 2026.
- Beginning with 2024-25 and beyond, all persons listing tax information on the FAFSA will be required to use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) to share their filed 2023 federal income tax information or confirm non-filing status.
2. Submit your medical student scholarship application (optional)
Students must fill out and electronically submit the following application to be considered for any need-based institutional scholarships, such as those from the University of Minnesota Foundation, the Medical School, and the Financial Aid Office.
Twin Cities Medical Student Scholarship Application
3. Complete the work-study application (optional)
Work-study forms will be available here when they are being accepted for the coming school year.
Twin Cities Summer Work-Study Application
Twin Cities Fall/Spring Work-Study Application
4. Watch for and respond to any correspondence from the University of Minnesota
While your application is being processed, you may be asked to provide additional documentation. Once given to you, use your University-assigned email address when communicating with the Medical School Financial Aid Office via email regarding your student financial aid business.
Your financial aid may be placed on hold or withdrawn if the additional information requested from you is not provided promptly.
5. Accept, reduce, or reject your financial aid offer
After your application is processed, you will receive an email in mid-July that tells you how much financial assistance is available to you each semester.
Your financial aid offer is a financial aid package including loans and scholarships. The financial aid package is primarily composed of loans since scholarship funds are extremely limited.
What to do after receiving your financial aid offer
- Make a decision to accept all or a portion of the financial aid offered within three weeks of the date you receive your notification. Otherwise, some awards may be canceled.
- Complete promissory notes and/or any relevant online counseling sessions.
You will receive your official financial aid offer in mid-July for any loans, scholarships, grants, and work-study programs available to you.