Fall Term – Useful Dates
Tuesday, August 18 – Financial Aid eRefunds begin processing for Medical and 4th Year Pharmacy Students (1 – 3 days to reach your account)
Tuesday, August 25 – Financial Aid eRefunds begin processing for all other students (1 – 3 days to reach your account)
Wednesday, August 26 – Financial Aid paper check refunds begin processing
Monday, September 7 – Labor Day (Most UW offices closed)
Friday, September 11 – Federal Pell Grant audit & Student Account balances due
Disbursement» Financial Aid Refunds»
You can still complete your 2026-27 FAFSA®! Though you may not have your financial aid before your student account balance is due, we continue processing FAFSA®s for enrolled students throughout the academic year.
Peak Season – Drop In Advising
From August 24 to September 11, scheduled advising appointments will be temporarily unavailable.
Instead, we’ll be offering 15-minute drop-in advising sessions, both in-person and via phone, during our regular business hours.
Working Families Tax Cut Act (WFTC) Updates
Visit the webpage we’ve created where you can learn about and keep track of the changes to the new rules around federal student loan borrowing. And contact us if you have questions or need support finding other loan options.
Getting Started
What will it cost?
Your cost of attendance (COA) is an ESTIMATE of what it will cost you to cover the expenses of attending UW-Madison. Your COA includes more than just tuition and fees - click below to learn what's included or try our Net Price Calculator.
How to apply?
Learn how to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), CSS Profile (incoming Undergraduates only), apply for scholarships using the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH), and more.
Connect with Us!
The whole team at OSFA is here to help you navigate the financial aid process to get the most out of your experience at UW-Madison. Reach out and let us know what we can do for you!
Office Hours & Events
- September
- September 3
- September 3
- September 9
- September 16Using Financial Aid towards Study AbroadDrop-in Advising Sessions3:00 PM, Study Abroad Resource Center (3rd Floor Red Gym)
- September 17
News
UW survey offers first comprehensive look at student basic needs
Student Affairs and the Division of Enrollment Management (DEM), with support from the Graduate School, today released findings and recommendations from UW–Madison’s first comprehensive Basic Needs Survey. The survey was conducted in spring 2025 to …
UW-Madison is changing its financial aid process. Here’s what to know.
Students applying to the University of Wisconsin-Madison will soon need to complete a second, longer financial aid application if they want a share of the millions of dollars in financial aid the university gives out …
Through her story of loss and resilience, UW freshman hopes to help others ‘find their light in their darkness’
One element of that story, Brennan says, is how she came to attend UW–Madison. Her mother’s death upended her family’s stability and financial security, raising questions about Brennan’s ability to afford college. She was accepted …
15 top-tier colleges wanted her. She chose UW–Madison. Here’s why.
Throughout high school, Lauren Choi stayed tightly focused on her postsecondary education goals. She wanted to have multiple options when choosing a college. “I’m not someone who likes to feel constrained,” says Choi, of Appleton, …
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