Undergraduate Financial Aid

The FAFSA

To apply for financial aid for undergraduate or graduate education, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Filing the FAFSA

The Federal School Code for Brown University is 003401.

Submission of the FAFSA is required to apply for federal and state aid.  The application requires data from the federal tax returns. In most cases, applicants are able to transfer most tax information directly from the IRS to the FAFSA.

As you may have heard, a new FAFSA was implemented starting with the 2024-25 aid year.  For the 2025-26 aid year, this new FAFSA has been delayed and should be available in December 2024.  Please see application deadlines in our Apply for Aid section as they may change if there is a further delay.

APPLY AT FAFSA.GOV

Tax Year to Use on the FAFSA

Academic Year Taxes Used
2023-2024 2021
2024-2025 2022
2025-2026 2023
2026-2027 2024

When will I be notified of my financial aid eligibility?

Incoming students who apply for aid will be notified of their eligibility (or of any documents needed to determine eligibility) at the time of their admission decision. Current students who apply for aid by our deadline will typically receive a financial aid offer in June.

What if I have unusual circumstances and cannot provide my parent’s information on the FAFSA? 

The Federal Student Aid website has extensive information about when and how a dependent student may be able to submit the FAFSA without parent information. Admitted students who require additional guidance may email our office directly to obtain details about the process, requirements, and timeline for requesting an adjustment for their specific unusual circumstances.   

College Financing Plan

The College Financing Plan is a standardized federal aid notice designed to simplify the financial aid information for prospective U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have applied to multiple institutions. The College Financing Plan provides families with a tool to compare the Net Cost (total cost minus grants and scholarships) at each institution.  

 To view and print the College Financing Plan:

  1. Sign in to Banner Self-Service
  2. Select the Financial Aid Tab
  3. Select Undergraduate Students
  4. Select Current Award Information*
  5. Select the appropriate Aid Year
  6. Click on the link at the bottom of the page to view and/or print the College Financing Plan 

Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for assistance with any questions about the above information or about the College Financing Plan.