Once you receive a financial aid award letter or notification, follow these steps to ensure your aid is activated.

Financial aid is intended to help you finance your education when family and personal resources are not adequate to meet your total educational costs. Financial aid consists of scholarships, grants, loans (which must be repaid), and part-time employment. The university makes every effort within its means to help all students with limited financial resources secure the needed funds.

Early and realistic financial planning is essential to ensure that you will have adequate resources to be able to attend Notre Dame and take advantage of the many experiences that the university offers. Our knowledgeable financial aid officers will answer any questions that you may have about the financial aid process.

Guide to Next Steps

Student working on a laptop
How do I check the status of my financial aid?

Use WebAdvisor to check the status of your financial aid file and award, in addition to any documents you need to submit to complete your file.

View Your Financial Aid Status
Students asking a question to a staff member
Financial Aid Budget vs. Your Bill

Your financial aid award letter will outline a financial aid budget which is an estimate of your total educational and living expenses for the academic year. It can sometimes be confused with a bill, but it serves a different purpose. Learn the difference between the two documents. 

Understanding Financial Aid Budget