Types of Aid and How to Apply

Incoming Students: Request FSA ID and File the FAFSA.

Returning Students: File the FAFSA to begin renewing your anticipated financial aid.

If you would like to be considered for financial aid, you will need to file the 2026-2027 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 2026-2027 FAFSA, you will be able to use your 2024 tax and income information. You must consent to allow the IRS to share your tax information to be able to file the FAFSA. The Financial Aid Direct Data Exchange, replacing the IRS Data Retrieval Tool starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA form, will transfer contributors’ federal tax information from the IRS directly into your FAFSA form. Make sure to include Syracuse University’s school code (002882).

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 the academic year cost of attendance. Your eligibility for financial aid, after completion of the FAFSA, will be sent on a rolling basis starting in spring.

For Returning Students: Financial aid will be packaged on a rolling basis beginning in late spring.

For All Students: If you plan to borrow federal loans for the upcoming academic year, you must accept them through the “Accept/Decline” tab in your MySlice portal. To accept your loan, please use a desktop or laptop computer and follow these steps: Log in to MySlice, select the Financial Aid tile, choose the appropriate aid year, and click the Accept/Decline tab. Then click the Edit button in the top left corner to make changes. To accept the loan, select Accept, review your selection, and submit.

If you do not intend to borrow federal loans, please decline them using the same steps above.

If your loans have already disbursed, please review our loan cancellation policy and complete our online Student Loan Cancellation and Reduction Form.

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, Federal Work Study and any offered merit scholarship is included in your award notice. You’ll need to prepare to fund any remaining balance owed through a supplemental loan or a monthly payment plan (more info in step six).

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 contact our office via email and we can provide our Law Budget Adjustment Request Form. 

Incoming Students: Activate Your SU NetID 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 NetID and create a password.

Go to the NetID 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 help@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.

On-Campus J.D. Residential Students: 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 from Admissions to students about when to set up your email.

Online JDinteractive Students: Students enrolled in our JDi Program will be issued their first bill in late September, typically with a bill due date of mid-October. Be sure to check your syr.edu email address.

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)

Make a payment or explore which loan option may be available if you desire additional funds. To help you determine the amount of loans needed for the academic year, students should use our Budget Calculator to estimate expenses and other aid resources.

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).