Applying for Financial Aid

Making It Easy!

Applying for most Financial Aid can be completed online.  You will be prompted throughout the process via your My Upstate account.

Applying Process Overview:

1.  FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid):

     A. FSA (Federal Student Aid) ID:  You must establish this prior to completing your FAFSA. This is your electronic signature for all applications for federal financial aid. 

     B. The FAFSA is available every October 1st to complete for the upcoming academic year. 

          i.  Our priority deadline is March 1st for Fall starts and November 1st for Spring starts.  DO NOT wait for an admission decision to complete your FAFSA.

          ii. Our school code:  002840

          iii.  IRS DRT (Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool):  Electronically transfer your Federal Tax Return Information into your FAFSA.

          iv.  Graduate Students:  Include your parent(s)' income on your FAFSA ONLY IF you would like to be considered for institutional aid from SUNY Upstate Medical University.

     C.  Verification:  Some FAFSAs are chosen for further review through the Verification process.  If your FAFSA was chosen, please log into My Upstate to see what additional information is required in addition to what specific Verification Form is required.  Our Financial Aid team is unable to provide you with a Financial Aid package until you've submitted all required documentation.

     D.  Kinds of Federal Finacial Aid eligibilty the FAFSA calculates:

          i.  Federal PELL Grant

          ii.  FSEOG (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant)

          iii.  FWS  (Federal Work Study)

          iv.  Federal Direct Subsidized  Loan (Undergraduate students ONLY)

          v.  Federal Direct Unsubsidized  Loan

          vi.  Federal Direct Parent PLUS  Loan (Dependent Undergraduate students ONLY)

          vii.  Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan (Graduate/Professional students ONLY)

2.  State Financial Aid:  the FAFSA will automatically direct you to any state financial aid applications upon submitting your FAFSA. 

      A.  New York State residents enrolled in an Undergraduate degree program could be eligible for TAP  (Tuition Assistance Program) or the Excelsior Scholarship Program.

3.  Scholarships:  There are two types of scholarships:  instititutional and outside. 

      A.  Institutional aid is awarded by SUNY Upstate Medical University.  Graduate Students: include your parent(s)' financial information on your FAFSA to be considered for institutional aid.

          i.  College of Medicine Scholarships

          ii.  College of Health Professions Scholarships

          iii.  College of Graduate Studies Scholarships

          iv.  College of Nursing Scholarships

      B.  Outside scholarships are awarded to students by organizations. 

4.  Award Letter:  you will receive notification via e-mail that your award letter is ready to view on My Upstate.  Our goal is to get all packages out no later than March 31st.