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 2025-26 FAFSA will open in December 2024.

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. 

  • The 2025-26 FAFSA opens in December 2024. Submit by Purdue’s priority date of April 15 to receive priority consideration for federal, state of Indiana (residents only), and university-based financial aid.
Submit the FAFSA

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 2025-26 FAFSA by February 2, 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 2, 2025, to be considered for departmental scholarships.

Search for Private scholarships. 

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 March, our office will begin releasing 2025-26 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.

How to Use Mypurdue

Ask questions. 

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.

June – July

Complete academic advising and registration process. At this time, you’ll learn how financial aid applies to the University billing process.