Financial Aid application deadlines vary depending on whether you are applying as an Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision first-year student or as a transfer student.

All applicants should submit both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile by or before the appropriate deadline.

Financial Aid Deadlines

Application Type	CSS Profile     Deadline	FAFSA Deadline	Notification	Deposit Deadline
Early Action	November 15	November 15;   guidance below	January 31	May 1
Early Decision I	November 15	November 15; guidance below	December 31	January 15
Early Decision II	February 1	February 1	February 15	March 1
Regular Decision	February 15	February 15	April 1	May 1
Spring Enrollment	October 15	October 15	November 1	December 1
Transfer	May 1	May 1	After May
Continuing  AU Students	N/A	May 1	Late June

 

• Early Action and Early Decision I Applicants
  If you are applying as an Early Action or Early Decision I student and also intend to apply for need-based financial aid, you will need to complete both the the FAFSA and the CSS Profile, which can be completed on the College Board's website.

  • Important Note: Given that the Department of Education has delayed the release of 2025-2026 FAFSA until December 1, 2024, Early Action and Early Decision I applicants should complete the CSS Profile by November 15 for full consideration of need-based Financial Aid. Be sure to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible once the application becomes available in December 2024.

• Early Decision II Applicants
  Early Decision II applicants must submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile by February 1.

• Regular Decision First-Year Applicants
  All freshman applicants must submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile by February 15.

• Transfer Applicants
  All transfer applicants must submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile by May 1.

• Current (Continuing) AU Students
  All continuing students must submit the FAFSA by May 1.

Please note: If you don't submit the FAFSA and the CSS Profile on or before the deadlines, it is unlikely your financial aid application will be considered for grants, although you may still be eligible for consideration for federal loans. 

Notification of Any Estimated Financial Aid Offer

When you have been admitted and if your application for financial aid was submitted by the proper deadline, the university will notify you online on the Prospective Student Portal and by mail along with your offer of admission and admit packet. Financial aid offers are usually made for an academic year.

After reviewing your offer, you must decide whether to accept or decline all or part of your financial aid offer. Your preliminary offer becomes final when all supporting documentation has been received and reviewed by the Financial Aid office and you have returned a copy of your signed offer letter or have accepted your offer online through myau.american.edu.

Financial Aid offer notification typically occurs:

• With the offer of admission by December 31 for Early Decision I applicants, January 31 for Early Action, February 15 for Early Decision II, and by April 1 for Regular Decision applicants.

• After May 1 for transfer students.

• Late June for continuing/current students.