Receiving Aid - Financial Aid - University Of Pittsburgh

Skip to main content Welcome!

Because our site has been optimized for modern browsers, Internet Explorer will not display it correctly.

Please consider using a different browser, such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari, instead.

Thank you!

No, that's okay. I want to use Internet Explorer anyway.

The 2026-2027 FAFSA form is open. University of Pittsburgh Federal School Code: 008815. For more financial aid information and updates, check out our Fall 2026 financial aid resources.

Receiving Financial Aid Home/Receiving Aid

Financial aid offers are sent electronically to the student’s preferred email address. Should any changes in your financial aid occur, financial aid offer notifications reflecting those revisions will be sent to your University of Pittsburgh email account. Students are strongly encouraged to check their University email if they are current Pitt student or their personal email if they are newly admitted freshmen. With the volume of emails students receive daily, it’s easy for some to get overlooked or misclassified. Remember to monitor junk mail in the event you are anticipating correspondence and have not yet received it. Setting up email filters or marking the Financial Aid Welcome Center’s email as a trusted sender can also help ensure that you don’t miss out on any crucial updates.

Once application processing begins, financial aid applications are reviewed weekly on a continuous basis. On your financial aid offer, there is a “Next Steps” section that contains more details about specific financial aid awards, eligibility criteria, and other requirements, ensuring students have a clear understanding of their aid package and any associated responsibilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

View All

When Will I Receive My Financial Aid?

Financial aid administered by the University Financial Aid Welcome Center is paid (disbursed) to you no sooner than 10 days prior to the start date of each term, provided that you have:

• Responded to all requests from the Financial Aid Welcome Center for additional information.
• Enrolled at least half-time (6 hours for undergraduates, 4.5 hours for graduate students). Please note that many grants and scholarships require full-time enrollment before disbursement.
• Completed/signed all applicable Master Promissory Notes (MPN) and entrance interviews required for student loans at StudentAid.gov.

How Will I Receive My Financial Aid?

Direct Application of Aid to Your University Student Account

Grants, scholarships, and loans administered by the University Financial Aid Welcome Center are first applied directly to your university student account to pay charges for tuition, fees, room and board and other university charges. Financial aid awarded for a specific term can only pay for charges for that same term. The exception to this is alternative loans which will be credited to any outstanding balance. Financial aid administered by the University Financial Aid Welcome Center is paid to your University student account no sooner than 10 days prior to the start date of each term.

Aid That Exceeds Your University Student Account Charges

If the total of your financial aid exceeds the charges on your University student account, these funds will be refunded to you. Refunds are processed in Student Financial Services, Thackeray Hall.

Work Study Payment

Work Study awards are earned as wages by working in positions with eligible employers. Once you begin your employment under the Work Study program, you will receive payment for the hours worked each month. It is your responsibility to make sure that the payroll paperwork necessary to add your record to the University payroll system is complete before you begin to work. To ensure that you receive your paycheck monthly, it is your responsibility to make sure that your time record is submitted by the payroll deadline each month.

What About Private Scholarships and Grants?

Aid Provided from Sources other than the University Financial Aid Office

When your scholarship or grant payment from a private source is sent to the University, it will be applied to your University student account, one-half for each semester, unless otherwise specified by the scholarship sponsor. You will not receive a credit for financial aid from a private source until the payment actually arrives at the University. If the payment creates a credit balance on your University student account, the credit will be refunded to you. It is your responsibility to report to the Financial Aid Welcome Center all financial aid received by you from any source. Aid from outside sources may reduce previously offered institutional, state, federal, or private funding.

Over-Awards

A financial aid over-award occurs when aid received from all sources is greater than the Cost of Attendance (COA), or when need based aid is over the federally determined financial need. The Financial Aid Welcome Center takes care not to over award a student initially. However, circumstances may change after the initial financial aid offer is made, resulting in an over-award of financial aid. When these circumstances arise we are required to review the financial aid offer which could result in an adjustment to the financial aid package to ensure that the total aid received is within federal guidelines.

When Does FAFSA Announce Financial Aid?

We understand the anticipation students feel after submitting their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Typically, once FAFSA is processed, students receive their Student Aid Report (SAR) within three weeks. This report details the Student Aid Index (SAI) and provides insights into potential federal aid eligibility. We urge our students to meticulously review the SAR to ensure all details are accurate. If any corrections are needed, they can be made directly on the FAFSA website. Following the release of the SAR, the University of Pittsburgh’s Financial Aid Welcome Center begins its process, and students can expect to receive their tailored financial aid packages shortly after. For specific timelines or queries, we encourage our students to reach out to our Financial Aid Welcome Center for assistance.

When Are Financial Aid Packages Sent Out?

Typically, financial aid packages for incoming freshmen are sent out in early spring following the acceptance of admission. For returning students, packages are generally sent out in late spring to early summer. It’s important to note that these timelines can vary based on when your FAFSA application was completed and processed. Additionally, any required documentation or verification processes can influence the timing. We recommend students regularly check their University of Pittsburgh email account for notifications and updates regarding their financial aid package. If you have concerns about not receiving your package within the expected timeframe, please reach out to our Financial Aid Welcome Center for assistance and clarification.

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].

We use cookies to help our site work, understand how it’s used, and to deliver targeted information to existing and prospective customers. By accepting this message, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device.

For more information on the cookies we use, please see our Privacy Policy. If you decline, you won’t be tracked when you visit this website, apart from the necessary cookie required to remember your preference.

Accept