How to Apply for Financial Aid

If you would like to be considered for financial aid, you will need to file the 2023-2024 FAFSA. When submitting your FAFSA, you will need an FSA ID. If you do not have one, you must request an FSA ID before continuing.

For the 2023-2024 FAFSA, you will be able to use your 2021 tax and income information. Make sure to include Syracuse University’s school code (002882) or else we will not receive your FAFSA.

In addition to the FAFSA, a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling are required for your Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan to fully process. These two items only need to be completed once during your attendance at Syracuse, and carries over every year you wish to borrow this loan.

Receive your Financial Aid Package.

For Incoming Students: Merit Award notifications are sent with admission alongside a presumptive snapshot of your financial aid eligibility. Your official eligibility for additional financial aid will be sent on a rolling basis starting in February upon completion of the FAFSA.
For Returning Students: Financial aid will be packaged on a rolling basis beginning in the Spring.
For All Students: If you do not intend to borrow federal loans for the upcoming academic year, please complete the Law Student Loan Cancellation/Reduction Form so we may adjust your aid accordingly.
Check your To-Do List for any required verification items and provide documentation, if necessary, using the To-Do List Upload Tool.

Only the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is included in your award notice. Graduate PLUS loans are not automatically awarded by the Financial Aid Office. You are encouraged to calculate the amount needed to cover your educational and personal expenses (Step Six). Please refer to the Cost of Attendance for expenses not allowed in the student budget. Once you finalize the amount you need to borrow, log onto Studentaid.gov to apply for a Graduate PLUS Loan.

Please note, Grad PLUS loans are credit-based loans and student are advised to not start applying until April at the earliest.

Educational expenses not traditionally included in the Cost of Attendance (such as enrollment into Syracuse University health insurance or purchase of a new laptop) may allow your Cost of Attendance to be altered. Please review our Cost of Attendance Page for more details.

Incoming Students: Activate Your SU Net ID and log in to MySlice.

Financial Aid will be communicating with you via email (to discuss submitting additional paperwork if necessary). The University’s portal, MySlice, is used to submit this documentation. To log onto the MySlice portal, you must activate your Net ID and create a password.

Go to the Net ID Services website. You will be asked to provide your SU ID number on this site. If you need assistance with your NetID, contact Information Technology Services at 315.443.2677 or email consult@syr.edu.

From here, you may access your account and view your anticipated aid as noted in your Financial Aid Package.

View your Student Bursar Account.

The first bill for the fall semester will be issued over the summer and will be sent to your SU email address. Information will be sent to students from Admissions about when to set up your email.

If you will need a loan to cover remaining charges and you have not submitted your FAFSA, submit your FAFSA to be considered for an unsubsidized loan. (Step One)

If you will need a loan to cover remaining charges and you have not applied for a Grad PLUS loan, calculate how much you will need using the estimated cost of attendance and then apply for a Graduate PLUS Loan at studentaid.gov (Step Six)

Make a payment or apply for a Graduate PLUS Loan if you desire additional funds.

Your maximum Graduate PLUS Loan eligibility will be determined in your official Financial Aid Package. Log in to Studentaid.gov to begin and submit an application. Your credentials to access the application are the same as if you were filing the FAFSA (FSA ID). Make sure to include Syracuse University’s school code (002882) or else we will not receive your Graduate PLUS Loan Application.

Similar to the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan from FAFSA, this loan also requires its own Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling, which also only needs to be completed once during your attendance at Syracuse and carries over every year you wish to borrow this loan.

Financial Aid will disburse approximately 5-10 days before classes. Please plan to have your own financial resources to cover any living and personal expenses before the first day of classes. Students with a credit balance can request a refund.

If you have borrowed student loans to cover living expenses, you will likely have a credit balance at the beginning of each semester on your student bursar account after financial aid and loans disburse. If this is the case, you may request a refund from the Bursar’s Office at the beginning of each semester.

The refund process takes 7-10 business days during peak periods. Allow for ample processing time and have enough cash for your personal expenses for the first two weeks of classes every semester. Early disbursements and refunds are not available, so please plan accordingly!

You may also set up Direct Deposit information for the refund to deposit into the account(s) of your choice through MySlice. Please allow an additional 1-2 business days for your refund to fully deposit into your account(s).