FAFSA Application

Complete the 2023-24 FAFSA. The medical school shares a federal school code (003125) with the University of Cincinnati main campus.  

If you filed a federal tax return for 2021, you should use the IRS data retrieval tool (IRS DRT) when you complete your FAFSA.  To do so, click the 'Link to IRS'  button when prompted in the Financial Information section of the FAFSA.  Applicants who do not utilize the IRS data retrieval process and are later selected for Verification will have to request a tax transcript from the IRS or document their status as a non-filer.

Students who wish to receive consideration for UCCOM institutional need-based scholarships and/or need-based loans must include parental information on the FAFSA.  Answer 'Yes' to the question "Would you like to answer questions about your parents?" found in the Dependency Status section of the FAFSA.  Students who respond 'No' will still receive full consideration for federal student loans.

If your parents are divorced or separated and don't live together, answer the questions about the parent with whom you lived more during the past 12 months (and include your stepparent if that parent is remarried).  If you did not live with one parent more than the other over the past 12 months, give answers about the parent who provided more financial support during the past 12 months or during the most recent year that you actually received support from a parent. 

UCCOM Financial Aid Application

2021 Federal Tax Returns

If you apply for need-based aid, you also must submit SIGNED copies of 2021 Federal Tax Returns (i.e. 1040 with all schedules) and W-2's for yourself, your parents and your spouse (if you are married) to the College of Medicine Office of Financial Services.  If you, your spouse, or your parents did not file a federal tax return for 2021, you must complete the 2023-24 Tax Waiver Statement, available on our website under Forms.  Signed documents may be uploaded to MedOneStop (select Financial Aid > Financial Aid Document Upload).  Students applying for federal loans only may skip this step.

Application Deadline

Federal Student Loans

New borrowers of Direct Loans must also complete a loan agreement known as a Master Promissory Note (or MPN).  For the Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, go to FederalStudentAid and choose the Unsubsidized Loan option.

If you are also borrowing the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan navigate to the same page as above and choose the Direct PLUS Loan option.  (If you have a freeze on your credit report, be sure to first contact the three national credit bureaus to lift the freeze before completing this process).

Accepting Federal Direct Loans

Upon viewing your official award offer in Catalyst, you may then accept online the amount of Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan funds you wish to borrow for the upcoming year.  Accept only what you are sure you will need.  The amount you accept as a first-year medical student will be divided into two equal halves that will disburse separately at the start of fall 2023 semester and then at the start of the spring 2024 semester.  We recommend you borrow conservatively and then request an increase from the unused loan funds later in the year if needed.

Note:  Students that are awarded UCCOM need-based financial aid must accept a minimum of $20,000 from the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan during the same academic year in order to to receive their institutional funds.  Students who borrow less than the $20,000 requirement will forfeit any UCCOM need-based scholarships and loans.

If you need to borrow above the annual amount of your Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loan, the next level of borrowing is the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. To receive this loan, you must submit a 'Grad PLUS Loan Request Form' to the College of Medicine Office of Student Financial Services.  It is available in the Forms section of our website and may be uploaded to MedOneStop (select Financial Aid > Financial Aid Document Upload) after completed.  This form can be submitted throughout the academic year.  The amount you accept as a first-year medical student will be divided into two equal halves that will disburse separately at the start of the fall 2023 semester and then at the start of the spring 2024 semester.  If you do not initially accept your full eligibility, you may request additional funds later in the year.

Start-Up Expenses 

At the start of the school year, you should be prepared to meet expenses, such as security deposits for an apartment and utility set-ups, which you will incur before any financial aid refund becomes available. These one-time expenses may amount to as much as $2,000.