Information for Admitted Students

We are your one stop for helping you manage the business of being a student. We provide information and answers to your questions related to financial aid, billing, registration, and student records. Students can find contact information and hours of operation at the One Stop Center homepage.

• Typically merit-based funds, not repaid​

• Institutional and Outside Organizations​

• Notify the Student Financial Aid Office of outside scholarships via email: cincinnatus@uc.edu​

• Scholarships can impact your financial aid award, so inform the Financial Aid Office if you are receiving these as soon as possible.

• Need-based funds, not repaid​

• Federal, State, or Institutional 

• Need-based funds, not repaid​

• Earned aid through employment​

• Pays to the student via paycheck, not credited/posted to the bill

• Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans​

• Student-borrowed loans that must be repaid (usually after graduation) ​

• Parent PLUS Loans: parent-borrowed, credit-based loans that must be repaid during school or after graduation​

• Parent or Student Alternative (Private) Loans​
  

• Pay attention to interest rates and fees

UC admission application is used for institutional scholarship determinations.​

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used for federal, state, and institutional aid:​

• Federal Pell Grant​

• Federal SEOG – Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant​

• Federal Work-Study​

• Federal Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan​

• Federal Parent PLUS and Graduate PLUS loan​

• Institutional need-based grant assistance

The FAFSA becomes available each October 1. For maximum consideration, apply by December 1 at studentaid.gov. The 2020-21 FAFSA is still available for families to complete. You may complete the 2021-22 FAFSA beginning October 1, 2020.​

• You should have a financial aid award offer if you applied for financial aid by completing your 2020-21 FAFSA.​

• Aid offered via emails sent to students​

• Accept loans within Catalyst via the "My Finances" tile​

• You can find additional information on your financial aid award

You may be asked to submit additional documentation to the Student Financial Aid Office via the Financial Aid Portal

• Check your Tasks tile in Catalyst for your To Do List

• Outstanding items will prevent your accepted financial aid from disbursing to your student bill, so complete requirements as early as possible

• The Financial Aid Portal will walk you through the required steps to verify your FAFSA data, allow for e-signatures on some items, and give you an opportunity to upload requested documents.

The financial aid portal requires students to create an account initially when logging in. It will then tie together your student login credentials at UC with your FAFSA data for each aid year you apply for aid.​

• The 2020-2021 FAFSA uses 2018 tax year information.​

• Significant changes (particularly based on COVID-19) may allow for review by the Student Financial Aid Office but may not change aid eligibility.​

• Evaluation of special circumstance can occur once there is a fuller picture of family income for 2020.​

• The 2020-2021 Special Circumstance Appeal form is available now. Please submit completed form via email to: financeaid@uc.edu.​

• Monitor UC email and Catalyst portal for requests for additional information/documentation. Any additional items requested will be uploaded to the Financial Aid portal. 

• Tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board charges will not change for four calendar years (Fall 2020 through Summer 2024) ​

• Automatic extension for students in co-op programs​

• Tuition Guarantee ensures transparency and ability to plan financially for the next four years​

• More information can be found on the Bursar's Office website

• A student's residency status factors into how much he or she is billed for tuition each semester. ​

• IN or KY Reciprocity= OH Tuition​

• IN or KY Metro Rate= OH Tuition + $300 per full-time semester*​

• Out of state= OH Tuition + non-resident surcharge

• You can check your residency status by viewing your Award Letter or Acceptance Letter

• Questions? Email resid@uc.edu​

*Based on 2019-20 academic year rates​

• Bills are available in Catalyst 6 weeks prior to semester start​

• Bills are always due 5 days before the semester start

• Fall Semester bills are due August 19, 2020

• Check your bill often​

• Waive student health insurance coverage, if applicable

Remember to estimate remaining costs to help determine what you may need other than the financial aid you have access to via your financial aid award offer.​ Will you use a Parent PLUS Loan? A parent or student private loan? The UC Payment Plan? Your own funds/savings?

• Online payments can be made using a credit card or e-check​

• 2.75% service fee on credit card payments

• In-person payments can be made with check or money order to the drop box on 2nd floor of University Pavilion​

• This includes scholarship checks

• Bill Payments can be made by mail to this address:

• University of Cincinnati​
  PO Box 932605​
  Cleveland, OH 44193​

• Include your Student ID number (M#) on paper payments

• If you plan to pay with your 529/College Savings Plan, check with your bank

• Bill payments can be made using the Tuition Payment Plan​

• $35 enrollment fee (each semester)​

• Students enroll in Catalyst, divides bill into 3 payments

• Refunds are excess financial aid funds to be used for other educational expenses such as books, supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and other related education expenses.​

• Refunds begin processing 10 days before the semester starts if your financial aid status is complete.​

• Direct Deposit is required for refunds. Complete the process via Catalyst prior to the start of the semester.

Financial Literacy is the knowledge needed to make financially responsible decisions.​ Financial literacy is important because:

• The burden of how you’ll cover the cost of your college experience, while avoiding mountains of debt, can be a lot to handle.​

• As you start your college journey, remember this while you make financial decisions.​

• Know that you are not alone and there are so many resources available at UC.​

• We want you to graduate with the least amount of debt possible.

• Less Student Loan Debt​

• Valuable Job Experience​

• Time Management Skills- learn how to organize your time and use it more effectively. This includes study time!​

• Improved Grades- students that work part-time generally have better grades than those that do not work at all.

• Federal work-study employment opportunities are available online close to beginning of school year​

• There are on and off-campus federal work-study job opportunities​

• You can apply online and are hired like any employment position​

• Note: other student jobs, that are not federal work-study, exist on campus​

• There are many employment opportunities in and around the campus​
  

Taking 15 credit hours each semester will help ensure you graduate in 4 years and save money. Check with your academic advisor.

Budgeting doesn’t mean you have to miss out on doing fun things. It just means that you should make a spending plan.

Be aware of interest rates, financial advantages of a good credit score and protect your credit.

Avoid storing passwords online, avoid sharing your SSN and keep good records.

• Treat applying for scholarships like a part-time job​

• Remember to notify the Student Financial Aid Office of outside scholarships via email: cincinnatus@uc.edu ​
  

• Scholarships can impact your financial aid award so the earlier the Student Financial Aid Office can make necessary adjustments, the better!

Our Money Management Task Force looks forward to seeing you on campus this fall!​

Review the New Student Checklist and Parent Checklist for next steps.