DePaul University > Admission & Aid > Financial Aid > Financial Aid Basics > Apply for Aid

Apply for Aid

Start with the FAFSA

Apply for aid as soon as possible. You’ll automatically be considered for most types of aid when you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To ensure full consideration, complete your FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 each year. There are additional steps to apply for summer aid, which are explained in more detail below.

  • You (and your parent, if applicable) will use a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to complete and electronically sign your FAFSA.
  • Find a full list of the documents you’ll need to complete the application at the FAFSA website. If you're a dependent student, your parent(s) will need to report financial information on your FAFSA.
  • Be sure to include DePaul's school code (001671) in the school section portion of the FAFSA.
  • Monitor your email and your Campus Connect To-Do list. We will request additional information via those methods.
  • Download the Financial Aid Next Step Reminders to help you keep your financial aid tasks organized.

Requesting Summer Aid

If you decide to enroll in summer courses, we need you to do a few things first.

  • Students seeking summer financial aid will need to complete an online summer application, which is available each April, in Campus Connect.
  • If you’re new to DePaul, you’ll need to add our school code (001671) to your FAFSA.
  • If you have additional questions about financial aid for the summer terms, view our Summer Financial Aid FAQ.

Application Review Process

Once your application is complete, our office reviews the information provided on your FAFSA. We use your EFC from the FAFSA to determine financial need and offer financial aid.

The Department of Education may select you at random for a process called Verification after completing the FAFSA. We will request various documents to substantiate your income. We also may need to request documents if we come across inconsistencies in your application data. We identify and request required documentation in your To Do List in Campus Connect. For more information select the FAQ for the appropriate academic year:

Your Financial Aid Offer

Federal financial aid is determined by analyzing a student’s “need”, which is your Cost of Attendance minus your EFC. After calculating your need and completing the review of any required documentation from your To Do list, we will put together your financial aid offer. An email notification will direct you to the Financial Aid tile within Campus Connect so that you can view your financial aid package.

You must accept, reduce, or decline any loans offered. Aid you are not required to repay is already accepted on your behalf. Select the name of any financial aid listed for additional information about that program. Download the Financial Aid Guide to learn more about merit aid, grant aid, and student loans.

We package financial aid on a rolling basis throughout the academic year. If you have any questions, contact us for assistance.

Need to Appeal Your Circumstances?

Financial situations can change from year to year. We realize that your FAFSA may not reflect your current financial picture. If your family’s financial situation has changed significantly since you completed the FAFSA, you may appeal your financial aid decision in order for us to assess your current family circumstances.

Before submitting an appeal, we recommend logging into your 2023-24 FAFSA and completing the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if you have not already completed this step.

There are several types of appeals:

  1. Income/Expense Related Special Circumstance Appeal

    2. Submit this type of appeal if one of the following special circumstances exists. If your EFC is zero, do not select an Income/Expense Special Circumstance Appeal.

    • Loss or reduction of employment, or significant reduction of income (job loss with 12 weeks of continuous unemployment, death of parent, etc.)
    • You or your parents received a one-time, nonrecurring income (pension payout, inheritance, employer reimbursements) that artificially inflated your adjusted gross income (AGI)
    • Out-of-pocket medical or dental expenses in excess of 11% of your parent(s) AGI
    • Change in employment
    • Loss or reduction of benefits (work, federal, or other benefits)
    • IRA and /or pension rollover
    • Private school tuition paid toward elementary or secondary education for the academic year for which you’re appealing

  2. Unusual Circumstance

    3. When completing a FAFSA, several questions are asked to determine a student’s dependency status. In some cases, a student who the FAFSA determines to be a dependent student may be experiencing specific conditions which may justify an aid administrator making a change to their dependency status. A parent’s inability or disinterest in assisting a student in paying for college is not in and of itself a reason for a dependency override; however, if you have unusual circumstances you believe warrant a change in dependency status, please contact us so we can discuss your situation in greater detail.

  3. Non-Income/Non-Expense Appeal

    4. Submit this type of appeal if you have circumstances that are not related to an income or expense change, or you have a zero EFC. You will need to provide details about financing your DePaul education, your academic accomplishments, and your anticipated graduation date.

Submitting a special or unusual circumstance appeal does not guarantee an increase in your financial aid. We will thoroughly review your situation to determine if any aid can be made available, and this may result in additional loan options. If you were selected for verification, that process must be finished before your appeal can be reviewed. We must receive all necessary documentation before we can begin​ assessing your appeal.