The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026-27 academic year officially opened on Oct. 1. Following delays in the federal rollout in the last three years, University of Central Missouri students are able to apply now and are encouraged to apply early to avoid processing delays and to maximize eligibility for grants, scholarships and work-study opportunities.
“If you have already filled your FAFSA and have not heard anything from UCM, the financial aid office will start processing submissions during November, as they are awaiting software updates. You can expect a response as early as December,” Tony Lubbers, Director of Student Financial Assistance, said.
The US Department of Education (DOE) recently introduced updates designed to improve the application process. One large update included a redesigned contributor invite process, which allows students to invite their parent or contributor to complete their portion of the form with an instant verification on new studentaid.gov accounts.
“Functionality is up and we didn’t see nearly the same processing delays for this FAFSA compared to last year,” Madeline Schafer, Financial Aid Counselor, said.
The DOE has made additional changes, including making eligibility for Pell Grants stricter. Students with full-ride scholarships are no longer eligible for the Pell Grant and applicants who earn foreign income must report it as part of their adjusted gross income when applying for the Pell Grant.
“We have a process called Recalculation, where a family’s financial situation changes and as financial aid counselors, we have the ability to conduct professional judgment with the federal government. This allows us to help students with a financial recalculation for FAFSA eligibility,” Molly Espey, Financial Aid Counselor, said.
Congressional changes to student loans will change the amount of loans and grants offered to some families. Families with small farms, businesses or a commercial fisher can exclude foreign income assets when calculating their SAI.
“If you have unique circumstances or need clarifying information on anything related to any aspect of your financial aid, please talk to your financial aid counselor,” Espey said.
In the previous FAFSA cycle, more than $44 million was given for federal aid to students at UCM. Beyond FAFSA, UCM provides institutional scholarships and financial awareness counseling within the Student Financial Services. Students are encouraged to visit their office, located at Ward Edwards 1100, and receive assistance with FAFSA completion, budgeting and navigating the university’s scholarship portal. This resource is open to all students.
“UCM’s resources are really helpful, because I tried filling out the applications while I was at home and it was a struggle. Having staff to help me has been really helpful,” Lovia Agyeiwa, a first-year graduate student who participated in a UCM scholarship fair, said.
The official website of UCM states that the average undergraduate tuition is $10,460 for in-state students and $19,370 for out-of-state students. On average, 30% of the student body at UCM is eligible for the Pell Grant, which covers a large amount of tuition costs. Those who are unsure if they qualify for federal aid can visit the federal student aid website for more information.
“I once completed a recalculation for a student and the result made them fully Pell eligible. When I told the mom, she cried and thanked me. That was memorable, because we were able to make college possible for that student,” Schafer said.
The federal deadline for FAFSA submission is June 30, 2027; UCM’s deadline is June 30, 2027. Further information can be found on the federal student aid official website or UCM’s official website.
