Federal Financial Aid
To apply for any of the grants below, please fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the only application you need to complete for financial aid at UNC Asheville.
Type: Federal PELL Grant
Forms: FAFSA
Priority Deadline: July 1st for Fall: Dec. 1st for Spring
Who Awards the Funds: U.S. Department of Education
Annual Maximum Amount: Up to $5,550
Need Based and Requires FAFSA: Yes
Additional Award Criteria: Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
Minimum Credit Hours
For Disbursement per Term: 12+ hours for 100%: 9-11 hours for 75%: 6-8 hours for 50%: Less than 6 hours for 25%
Renewal Criteria: Complete the FAFSA each year and make Satisfactory Academic Progress (12 semester maximum)
Additional Information: Federal grant for undergraduate students seeking their first baccalaureate degree
Type: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Forms: FAFSA
Priority Deadline: March 1
Who Awards the Funds: UNC Asheville Office of Financial Aid
Annual Maximum Amount: Up to $500
Need Based and Requires FAFSA: Yes
Additional Award Criteria: Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
Minimum Credit Hours
For Disbursement per Term: 12
Renewal Criteria: Complete the FAFSA each year by the priority filing deadline of March 1
Additional Information: Federal funded grant for undergraduates with exceptional financial needs
Type: Federal TEACH Grant
(Converts to an unsubsidized direct loan if service obligation is not met)
Forms: FAFSA & TEACH Grant Institutional Application
Priority Deadline: See a Financial Aid counselor
Who Awards the Funds: UNC Asheville Office of Financial Aid
Annual Maximum Amount: Up to $4,000 per academic year. $16,000 maximum for undergraduate and baccalaureate. $8,000 maximum for graduate level students.
Need Based and Requires FAFSA: No
Additional Award Criteria: Cumulative 3.25 GPA for each payment period. Score above the 75th percentile on admission test (SAT, ACT, or GRE)
Minimum Credit Hours
For Disbursement per Term: Undergraduate 12 for full grant, 9 for the ¾, 6 for ½, less that 6hrs for ¼ grant. Graduate 9 for full grant and 5-8 for half grant.
Renewal Criteria: Complete the FAFSE each year & maintain at least a 3.25 GPA each payment period
Additional Information: If the terms and condition are not met, the grants must be repaid as an unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan, with interest accrued from the date(s) of the original disbursement.
Type: Federal Direct Loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized
Forms: FAFSA
Priority Deadline: At least 6-8 weeks before start of term(s) for which needed
Who Awards the Funds: USF Office of Financial Aid
Annual Maximum Amount: Varies dependent upon need and grade level
Need Based and Requires FAFSA: Yes (subsidized), no (unsubsidized)
Additional Award Criteria: Maintain satisfactory progress
Minimum Credit Hours
For Disbursement per Term: 6 undergraduate (5 graduate)
Renewal Criteria: Complete the FAFSA each year
Additional Information: Federally guaranteed loan program.
Type: Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan
Forms: FAFSA, Federal Parent, PLUS Loan application
Priority Deadline: July 1 (for fall), Dec 1 (for spring)
Who Awards the Funds: UNC Asheville office of Financial Aid after credit is pre-approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
Annual Maximum Amount: Cost of attendance less financial aid and other resources.
Need Based and Requires FAFSA: No
Additional Award Criteria: Maintain Satisfactory progress & Credit worthiness
Minimum Credit Hours
For Disbursement per Term: 6 undergraduate
Renewal Criteria: Complete the FAFSA and PLUS application each year and have credit preapproved.
Additional Information: Available only to parents of undergraduate students . Repayment with 7.9% interest with Directs Loan and 8.5% interest with FELP begins 60 days after receipt of funds
Type: Perkins Loan
Forms: FAFSA
Priority Deadline: March 1
Who Awards the Funds: UNC Asheville office of Financial Aid
Annual Maximum Amount: up to $4,000
Need Based and Requires FAFSA: Yes
Additional Award Criteria: Maintain Satisfactory Progress
Minimum Credit Hours
For Disbursement per Term: 12 undergraduate
Renewal Criteria: Complete the FAFSA each year
Additional Information: Campus-based loan with limited availability due to funding. Priority is given to those students who have relieved the loan in the past
Type: Federal Work Study program (FWS)
Forms: FAFSA
Priority Deadline: March 1
Who Awards the Funds: UNC Asheville office of Financial Aid
Annual Maximum Amount: $2,700
Need Based and Requires FAFSA: Yes
Additional Award Criteria: Maintain Satisfactory progress
Minimum Credit Hours
For Disbursement per Term: 12
Renewal Criteria: Complete the FAFSA each year
Additional Information: Federally funded part-time employment programs. Student is paid monthly for hours worked. Job listings are available through the Career Center Job postings at the start of each semester.