Financial Aid Timeline

October 2024

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is normally available to file by October 1, but the 2025-26 FAFSA will open in December 2024.

In the meantime, we encourage you to log into your StudentAid.gov account with your FSA ID and make sure your email address is current.

If you don’t have an FSA ID yet, we recommend that you create one now. It can take up to 3 days for your account to be fully verified.

NOTE: If you are married and did not file 2023 taxes jointly with your spouse, your spouse will also need an FSA ID in order to contribute their information to your FAFSA form.

December 2024 – February 2025

Students who wish to be considered for federal financial aid in Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and/or Spring 2026 should file the 2025-26 FAFSA as early as possible.

• File online at FAFSA.gov.
• Federal school code for Lewis & Clark: 003197.
• FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline: February 15, 2025.

March – June 2025

Notify the Office of Financial Aid of any external resources you will receive for the 2025-26 academic year.

Incoming students

• We expect to release financial aid offers starting in mid-March to admitted graduate students whose programs have finished awarding their scholarships.
• Incoming students should submit any additional documentation that is required to complete their financial aid application no later than April 15. Graduate Admissions will send an email if you have any items outstanding; missing documents will also be listed on your application status page. Documents can be securely uploaded to the L&C Financial Aid document submission portal.
• Admitted students who wish to attend Lewis & Clark must submit the required tuition deposit to the Office of Admissions by the deadline stated in their notice of admission.

Current students

• Current students are notified if any additional documentation is required to complete their financial aid application. Documentation should be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid as soon as possible but no later than April 15. Required items can be securely uploaded to the L&C Financial Aid document submission portal.
• In early April financial aid offers will be released to current graduate students with complete financial aid applications who are registered for the Summer semester.
• In late June financial aid offers will be released to current graduate students with complete financial aid applications who are not enrolled in Summer but who are registered for the Fall semester.

Loan processing deadlines

• April 14, 2025 if you will start the 2025-26 academic year in GSEC Summer Session I. Refunds from financial aid will be available no earlier than the first day of classes in that session: May 5.
• May 19, 2025 if you will start the 2025-26 academic year in Summer Session II. Refunds from financial aid will be available no earlier than the first day of classes in that session: June 9.
• July 1, 2025 if you will start the 2025-26 academic year in Summer Session III. Refunds from financial aid will be available no earlier than the first day of classes in that session: July 14.

Note: If your enrollment begins after the first week of the semester, you can expect your refund no earlier than the week of your first class.

Loan processing steps

• Submit your federal student loan requests through Financial Aid Self-Service.
• StudentAid.gov steps:
  • Entrance Counseling
  • Unsubsidized Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)
  • For students requesting the Graduate PLUS Loan:
    • Graduate PLUS Loan Application
    • Graduate PLUS Loan MPN
  • Current students who borrowed Direct Loans last year may not need to complete all of the StudentAid.gov steps again.
• Students who wish to borrow a private educational loan should complete an application with their lender of choice by the deadlines stated above.

July 2025

Loan processing deadline for students starting the 2025-26 academic year in Fall 2025: July 1, 2025.

• Submit your federal student loan requests through Financial Aid Self-Service.
• StudentAid.gov steps:
  • Entrance Counseling
  • Unsubsidized Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)
  • For students requesting the Graduate PLUS Loan:
    • Graduate PLUS Loan Application
    • Graduate PLUS Loan MPN
  • Current students who borrowed Direct Loans last year may not need to complete all of the StudentAid.gov steps again.
• Students who wish to borrow a private educational loan should complete an application with their lender of choice by July 1.

Billing statements for Fall semester will be sent to students in mid-July. Check the Student Account Center (accessible through WebAdvisor) for the most current account information.

Students who wish to sign up for a monthly payment plan through Nelnet should enroll no later than mid-July.

August 2025

Make sure all steps necessary to secure financial aid are complete so that funding can be applied to your student account at the beginning of the semester.

Payment for Fall semester charges that will not be covered by financial aid is due in early August.

Familiarize yourself with Lewis & Clark’s policy on refunds and set your preferences in the Student Account Center (accessible through WebAdvisor). It is strongly recommended that you enroll in direct deposit to expedite access to refunds.

September 2025

The earliest date that Fall 2025 refunds from financial aid will be available is the first day of classes: September 2, 2025.

Note: If your enrollment begins after the first week of the semester, you can expect your refund no earlier than the week of your first class.

October 2025

The 2026-27 FAFSA will be available October 1, 2025.

November 2025

Billing statements for Spring semester charges are sent to students in mid-November. Check the Student Account Center (accessible through WebAdvisor) for the most current account information.

Students who wish to sign up for a monthly payment plan through Nelnet should enroll no later than mid-November.

December 2025

Payment for Spring semester charges that will not be covered by financial aid is due in early December.

January 2026

The earliest date that Spring 2026 refunds from financial aid will be available for all graduate students is the first day of classes: January 12, 2026.

Note: If your enrollment begins after the first week of the semester, you can expect your refund no earlier than the week of your first class.

 

* Students may process loans throughout the academic year, but meeting the deadlines included in the timeline above will ensure that your loans disburse to your student account at the earliest possible date. Unborrowed loan eligibility expires at the end of the Spring semester.