To be considered for most types of aid, especially loans, you must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

• FSA ID:
  Students, parents, and borrowers need an FSA ID made up of a username and password to access certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID will confirm your identity when accessing your financial aid information and electronically signing your federal student aid documents.

Create your FAFSA ID

• Financial Information
  • The FAFSA form requests various financial details, including information from tax documents and the balances of your savings and checking accounts. For the 2025-26 application cycle, you will need to supply data from your 2023 tax returns.
• Financial Aid Direct Data Exchange: Students and contributors must consent to:
  • Disclose PII from the FAFSA form to the IRS for matching purposes.
  • Obtain federal tax information from the IRS via direct data exchange.
  • Allow the U.S. Department of Education to use, share, and reuse their federal tax information for determining and administering financial aid.
    Failure to provide consent will result in ineligibility for federal student aid, even with manually entered tax information.
• Contributor: For DPT students, parent income is not required for federal aid, but a married student's spouse may be considered a contributor. If you filed taxes jointly, report your spouse's information without marking them as a contributor. If you filed separately, your spouse will be considered a contributor. Contributors can access their StudentAid.gov account by using their FSA ID (account username and password).
• Valid Email Address
• School Code
  • The University of Arizona code is 001083. To change school codes, you must submit an online correction to your FAFSA.

• FAFSA submissions for the upcoming academic year typically open on Oct. 1. Due to the current FAFSA delays, updates may be available later. Please check for updates on the FAFSA webpage. .
• To ensure timely processing, aim to complete your FAFSA by Feb. 14, in advance of the priority processing date of March 1.
• Expect to review your financial aid award letter in late June and confirm acceptance by July.

• After completing your FAFSA, you'll receive an email with instructions to access your FAFSA Submission Summary online at studentaid.gov, or by mail if no email is provided.
• Review the FAFSA Submission Summary for accuracy upon receipt. Make any necessary corrections following the provided instructions. Keep the FAFSA Submission Summary for your records if it's accurate.
• The university will obtain your FAFSA Submission Summary electronically. Based on your FAFSA information, you'll receive a detailed financial aid award letter.
• Any adjustments to your FAFSA may lead to changes in aid eligibility and result in a revised award letter.

The FAFSA is processed by the U.S. Department of Education, which calculates a Student Aid Index (SAI) based on the income and asset information provided by the student. These results are then electronically transmitted to all schools listed by the student on the FAFSA.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

• The federal Stafford unsubsidized loan is a federally guaranteed loan and does not consider financial need.
• Interest begins accruing upon disbursement at a fixed rate, and loan origination fees are deducted at that time.
• The U.S. Department of Education sets interest rates and fees. Interest rates change annually on July 1, while origination fees adjust on Oct. 1, impacting the new award year.
• The maximum annual borrowing limit for the unsubsidized loan is $20,500**.

Grade Level: Graduate/Professional
Loan Type: Direct Unsubsidized Loan
First Disbursed Between 7/1/25 and 6/30/26*: Fixed at 7.94%
Loan Fee First Disbursed After 10/1/20*:  1.057%

The current total maximum amount a student may receive throughout their cumulative undergraduate, graduate, and professional school career is $138,500**, which also includes any Federal Direct or FFEL Subsidized Loans previously received.           

*These rates are subject to change. For current loan rates, please refer to studentaid.gov

**Pending federal guidance; more details in January for 26-27AY.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans

• Direct PLUS loans supplement other financial aid to cover remaining education expenses.
• Based on personal credit history.
  • If any adverse markings are present, consider rectification or finding a credit-worthy endorser.
• These loans accrue interest during school and may be capitalized under specific conditions.
• The U.S. Department of Education sets interest rates and fees. Interest rates change annually on July 1, while origination fees adjust on Oct. 1, impacting the new award year.

Grade Level: Graduate/Professional
Loan Type: Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
First Disbursed Between 7/1/25 and 6/30/26: Fixed at 8.94%
Loan Fee First Disbursed After 10/1/20: 4.228%

*These rates are subject to change. For current loan rates, please refer to studentaid.gov

**Pending federal guidance; more details in January for 26-27AY.

Applying for scholarships can help relieve some of the stress of your physical therapy education. Visit the University of Arizona’s Scholarship Universe website to browse additional scholarship opportunities.

QTR is an employee benefit option that reduces tuition. For eligibility details, your spouse/partner or parent should contact Human Resources. Any tuition awards or outside funding will adjust and may reduce your financial aid. Please inform the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office (FASO) if you expect QTR or any third-party payments.  

The Cost of Attendance (COA) represents the average academic and living expenses for students during each period of enrollment. For the 2025–2026 academic year, Fall and Spring are combined into one financial aid package, with Summer treated as a separate period that has its own associated budget and award. All three terms are part of the same federal aid year, with Summer concluding the academic year for most DPT students.

The estimated cost of living allocation varies by year in the DPT program and is based on the length of each academic term. It includes allowances for housing and meals, transportation, personal expenses, books and supplies, and health insurance.

*Federal Loan Fees will vary depending on a student's exact loan amounts.

Not all items listed will be charged to your University of Arizona student account. 

Please note:

• This is not a bill. This is only an estimate. All amounts listed here or on other University of Arizona websites and materials reflect currently approved rates.
• Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time, including after enrollment, pending approval by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) or as otherwise permitted by policy. Corrections may also be made if any errors are identified.
• Tuition figures above include tuition plus approved fees. Dollar amounts have been rounded.

Estimated Standard Budget

Students receive a standard budget based on the university’s average cost of living for professional students. These amounts are used to determine financial aid eligibility and are not intended to reflect each student’s exact spending. Review the chart below to see the current budgeted amounts by category.

Financial aid disbursements typically begin 10 days before the first day of your scheduled classes for the term. Aid is released to your Bursar account to pay direct charges such as tuition and fees. If your aid exceeds your charges, a refund will be issued.

Disbursements occur Monday through Friday after 5pm, starting on the official disbursement date for your first enrolled course. You must meet all eligibility and enrollment requirements before funds can be released.

Disbursement Requirements

To be eligible for financial aid disbursement, students must:

• Complete the FAFSA for the appropriate academic year
• Enroll in a minimum of 5 graduate-level units (half-time status)
• Meet all requirements in UAccess Student Center, including:
  • Accepting offered financial aid
  • Resolving all To-Do List items
  • Clearing any holds or notices
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Disbursement Dates (2025–2026 Academic Year)

• Fall 2025: Week of August 18, 2025
• Spring 2026: Week of January 5, 2026
• Summer 2026: Schedule pending, but typically disburses the same week classes begin

Refunds are processed through the Bursar's Office and may take 3 to 7 business days to appear in your bank account. To receive funds as quickly as possible, we encourage you to set up Web Refund (direct deposit) in your UAccess Student Center.

Learn more about refund setup
Learn more about financial aid payments
 

An overaward occurs when a student’s total financial aid exceeds the amount they are eligible to receive under federal regulations.

This may happen in one or both of the following ways:

• Need-based overaward: When total need-based aid exceeds the student’s calculated financial need, as determined by the FAFSA and Student Aid Index (SAI).
• Cost of Attendance (COA) overaward: When total aid—regardless of need—exceeds the student’s estimated COA.

Overawards can result from additional scholarships, grants, or other aid received after the initial financial aid offer, or from changes to FAFSA data, enrollment status, or other factors that impact eligibility.

If an overaward occurs, the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office will notify the student and determine the appropriate resolution, which may include reducing or canceling aid to ensure compliance with federal requirements. In some cases, students may have the opportunity to submit a COA appeal if additional educational expenses can be documented.
 

Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards to remain eligible for federal and institutional financial aid. SAP is evaluated at the end of each term and includes both qualitative and quantitative academic benchmarks.

The School of Health Professions Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO) monitors SAP in accordance with federal regulations and institutional policy. This policy applies to all students receiving aid. Students who do not meet SAP standards will be notified and provided with next steps, including any available appeal options.

Reach out to SHP FASO with questions or for additional guidance: SHP-FASO@arizona.edu.

Title IV federal financial aid is awarded with the expectation that a student will attend and complete the full term for which the aid was disbursed. When a student withdraws from courses for any reason, including personal, academic, or medical reasons, they may no longer be eligible for the full amount of aid originally awarded.

If a student withdraws, officially or unofficially, from all courses or from the remaining coursework they were scheduled to complete, federal regulations require the university to determine how much aid was earned. Students who do not complete at least 60 percent of the term are considered to have earned only a portion of their aid. The unearned amount must be returned, which may result in a balance owed to the university. 

In some cases, students may qualify for a federal withdrawal exemption. For example, completing and passing at least five graduate credits in a standard 15-week semester may meet the 49 percent exemption threshold. These cases are reviewed individually.

Students who do not begin attendance in any course must repay all federal aid disbursed for the term.

Students who stop attending without notifying the university may also be subject to R2T4 review. In these cases, the withdrawal date will be based on the last date of attendance or academic activity.

If a Return of Title IV Funds calculation is required, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will notify the student. Any resulting balance will be posted to the student’s Bursar account.

Withdrawing may also affect a student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress, which is required to remain eligible for financial aid in future terms.

Students are strongly encouraged to contact SHP FASO at SHP-FASO@arizona.edu prior to withdrawing to fully understand the potential financial implications.

IMPORTANT:

• The University of Arizona’s tuition and fee refund policy is separate from federal regulations requiring the return of unearned financial aid. For questions about the tuition or fee refunds policy, please contact the Bursar’s Office directly.

The SHP FASO may adjust your Cost of Attendance (COA) if you incur allowable and reasonable education-related expenses that are not included in your standard budget or that exceed the estimated amounts.

To be considered, all appeals must include supporting documentation and a clear explanation of the reported expenses. Acceptable documentation varies by category (such as rent, utilities, child care, or transportation costs) and must reflect the student’s share of the expense.

Before submitting an appeal, please review the Cost of Attendance section for full details on requirements and evaluation criteria. For examples of eligible expenses, required documentation, and more details, please refer to the COA Appeal form. 
Forms require you to log in using your NetID and password.

2025-2026 DPT COA Appeal Form
 

In limited cases, students may request a review of their FAFSA data if their financial situation has significantly changed since filing. This appeal may be considered when unusual circumstances—such as loss of income, medical expenses, or other major financial changes—are not reflected on the FAFSA and impact aid eligibility.

Supporting documentation is required for all appeals. This option is generally most relevant for students who expected need-based aid and whose current financial circumstances differ from what was reported.

Contact SHP FASO to request this form and with any questions: SHP-FASO@arizona.edu
 

The U.S. Department of Education requires students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward their degree. Students who do not meet these standards and are placed on Financial Aid Suspension may submit an appeal to be reconsidered for federal and institutional aid.  

If you are identified as not meeting SAP, you will receive the appeal form and instructions. Please review the SAP policy section above for full details on requirements and evaluation criteria. Contact SHP FASO with any questions: SHP-FASO@arizona.edu