Incoming Students
To receive financial aid at Purdue, you’ll need to complete a few important tasks in the months leading up to the start of your first semester. Note: The 2024-25 FAFA will open in December 2023 as a result of changes within the FAFSA Simplification Act.
These steps are typical for a new student beginning in the fall semester. However, if you are beginning in the summer or waiting until the spring semester, the aid application and dates remain the same. Contact our office with any questions.
Use this list as a reminder of the steps you’ll need to check off in order to complete the financial aid process. More detailed instructions of the financial aid process can be found on our How To Apply for Aid page.
November
Prospective Freshman Scholarships:
- For maximum scholarship consideration, your admission application and all required supporting materials must be received or postmarked by November 1.
- All freshman students who meet this deadline will automatically be considered for university-wide merit scholarships (no additional action necessary).
December
Submit your FAFSA.
- 2024-25 FAFSA opens in December 2023. Submit by Purdue’s priority date of April 15 to receive priority consideration for federal, state of Indiana, and university-based financial aid.
January
Verify information upon request:
- If you are notified, submit any requested verification information found in your myPurdue portal under the Financial Tab, then Financial Aid Requirements, as soon as possible.
February
Maximize scholarship eligibility.
- Some colleges at Purdue use a departmental scholarship application to collect information not found on the admission application. This information is used to award academic scholarships in these specific colleges.
- After your admissions application is submitted by Nov. 1, to maximize consideration for scholarships awarded by these academic departments, high school seniors should complete the following items:
- Even though Purdue’s priority FAFSA date is April 15, we encourage students to submit a 2024-25 FAFSA by February 15, as departments begin awarding need-based scholarships as early as January.
- Submit the Purdue Departmental Scholarship Application in your admissions portal after it opens and before February 15, 2024, to be considered for departmental scholarships.
Search for Private scholarships.
- Utilize free outside sources such as ScholarshipUniverse or www.finaid.org and www.fastweb.com.
March-April
Submit a FAFSA by April 15 to be considered for maximum aid.
- Indiana residents must submit a FAFSA by April 15 annually to gain eligibility for state-based financial aid.
Review Financial Aid Notification.
In April, our office will begin releasing 2024-25 financial aid notifications to first-year students (via their myPurdue portal) who have filed a FAFSA, created their career account and submitted all requested documentation.
Ask questions.
- Contact the Division of Financial Aid with any questions and be sure to accept your offer of admission by May 15 for 2024-25.
- No action is required to accept most scholarships or grants. Additional steps are necessary to accept or decline offered loans and/or Federal Work-Study.
Report any requested information as part of the verification process on myPurdue.
May
Finalize loans and private scholarship changes.
- Report private scholarships on myPurdue.
- If you plan to borrow federal loans, begin that process.