University of Arizona Financial Aid

About University of Arizona

The University of Arizona, located in Tucson, is a flagship institution classified as having very high research activity in addition to a massive student body and a vibrant athletic program. Almost 31,000 undergrads live and work on the UA campus along with 8,500 grads. UA is considered a Public Ivy, and is both a land and space-grant institution. The space-grant part is pretty cool, if you’re into astronomy or astrophysics: UA receives more NASA grants for space exploration than any other university each year, and is in the process of building the world’s most advanced telescope for the tidy sum of $500m. Athletically, the Wildcats are impressive: a good football program is a major student attraction, but perhaps the crown jewel of the school’s athletic program is their softball team, which won 8 NCAA titles between ’91 and ’07.

Budgeting and Arizona Financial Aid

University of Arizona financial aid is important to many students at UA (77%, to be specific), and if you’re receiving aid money, it’s important to be responsible with it. Things like student tickets (ZonaZoo membership will get you into all events for $135) and the occasional meal out in Tuscon (student favorites include No Anchovies and The Fat Greek) are okay expenses: all we’re trying to enforce is that you keep a close eye on your budget.

Applying for University of Arizona Financial Aid

Since UA is a public institution, applicants for University of Arizona financial aid are fortunate enough to only have to deal with one financial aid form: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Filing that won’t be too hard, but it’s always a good idea to talk to your University of Arizona financial aid officer about the process. He or she can give you a good idea of what your aid package could eventually look like, from any ‘free money’ aid you might qualify for (scholarships and grants) to whether or not you might have to borrow. You’ll only have the full, formal aid package after you file the FAFSA, but getting a general sense is a good idea. Once you send the FAFSA and any other paperwork in, you’ll receive your Arizona financial aid package with your next tuition bill

Arizona Financial Aid Packages

The four typical ingredients of a financial aid package are student loans, federal work-study programs, grants, and scholarships; any or all of these will show up in an aid package from AU. For many students, the cocktail of aid they receive will be plenty to cover the cost of attending Arizona (especially in-state students), but for some, private student loans are a necessary resource. When your financial aid award from AU doesn’t quite cover the gap between your estimated family contribution and the total cost of attending AU and you don’t have any way to cover that financial gap, private student loans can be the way to go. To search, compare, and apply for private student loans for AU, check out our student loan comparison tool.