Dates & Deadlines

FAFSA News: The Department of Education plans to open the 2025-26 FAFSA on December 1, 2024.

The 2024-2025 FAFSA is now available 24/7 except for during routine maintenance.

January 

• Aid begins to credit to student accounts as it is received.
• E-refunds/Direct Deposits will begin.
• Financial Aid funds are transferred to student ID BUC$ accounts.
• Classes will be dropped if you have not confirmed your registration by the fee payment due date.

February 

• Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will begin to adjust aid based on your enrollment as of census for the current term. Financial Aid does not pay for audited classes.
• Instructors report student class attendance in GoldLink.
• Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will begin to adjust aid based on your class attendance as reported by instructors in GoldLink.
• If your attendance has not been reported in GoldLink as “Yes”, you will receive a notification email asking for your assistance in this matter.

February 1

• Deadline to have FAFSA processed to be considered for TN Education Lottery Scholarships for the spring and summer.
• Follow up with your ETSU Email, check your ‘Financial Aid Status’ tab on GoldLink, or follow up with your Financial Aid Counselor regarding your status.

February 15

• APS Students must have service positions.

End of February 

• Deadline for submission of Special Circumstances & Dependency Override Appeals.

March 1

• Follow up on GoldLink or with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships on your Financial Aid Status. (For GoldLink login instructions see the GoldLink Guide to Financial Aid.)
• Deadline to apply for most ETSU Scholarships.
• Applications due for the Fine and Performing Arts Scholars Program and Undergraduate Research Honors Program.

April 15

• Go online to GoldLink and check your Financial Aid status frequently.
• Complete FAFSA to be determined for TSAA Grant. Deadline based on state funding availability. 

Beginning of May

• APS service requirement must be met for the spring.
• End of spring term evaluation for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

May 15

• Deadline for new transfers to apply for the ETSU APS Scholarship.

Mid-May 

• Last day to work FWS and RWSP hours to earn funds for spring.
• Students can begin to check their federal aid eligibility including TELS (HOPE Scholarship) and APS for future semester(s) on GoldLink through the Financial Aid link.
• Fees are due and confirmation of registration if you have registered for classes that begin Pre-Summer, Pre-Summer + Session 1, or the Complete Summer Session.

June 1

• All student requirements on GoldLink must be satsified for aid to be ready at the start of fall.

Mid-June

• All financial aid authorizations and disbursements are suspended for closeout of fiscal year.

Late June

• Students can begin to accept student loans for fall.

July 1

• URGENT:  Filing your FAFSA after July 1 will delay the receipt of your financial aid, and it may be necessary for you to pay your fees, tuition, and other expenses without financial aid by the fee payment deadline.
• The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will begin accepting spouse/dependent fee discount forms for the upcoming academic year.

Beginning of July

• ETSU Bursar/Financial Services Office resumes disbursement and refund processes.

Mid-July

• Last day for ETSU to award a TELS (HOPE Scholarship) for current year, including summer.
• Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will begin to adjust financial aid awards based on class enrollment covering the entire summer.
• Authorized Aid (accepted and estimated) aid will be reflected on student accounts. Students can begin to confirm registration through GoldLink for fall.

August

• Apply for admission to ETSU by the Thursday before the start of the term (you are applying for) and submit all required documents by the first day of the term to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students whose documents are received after this date will not be considered for APS scholarships.

Mid-August 

• End of summer term evaluation for Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Aid begins to credit to student accounts as it is received.
• E-refunds/Direct Deposits will begin.
• Financial Aid funds are transferred to student ID BUC$ accounts.
• Classes will be dropped if you have not confirmed your registration by the fee payment due date.

August 15

• Last day for APS Students to find a service position on their own.

September 1

• Deadline to have FAFSA processed to be considered for TN Education Lottery Scholarship for the fall.

Beginning of September 

• Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will adjust aid based on your registered hours. Financial Aid does not pay for audit classes.
• Instructors report student class attendance in GoldLink.

Mid-September

• If your attendance has not been reported in GoldLink as “Yes”, you will receive a notification email asking for your assistance in this matter.
• Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will begin to adjust aid based on your class attendance as reported by instructors in GoldLink.

September 30

• Priority date to have FAFSA filed, verification complete, all corrections made, and file ready to award for spring.

October 1

• University Scholarship online application opens. Apply for scholarships!

November 1

• Review your FAFSA. If selected for verification, follow up on your financial aid status for requirements through GoldLink, read your ETSU Email frequently, and turn in all requirements to the ETSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships .

December 1

• FAFSA for next academic year available for completion. Apply as soon as possible! 

December 15

• Priority deadline to have completed application for admission submitted (includes application, application fee, high school transcript, ACT/SAT scores).  Late applications may be considered if funding is available.

Mid-December 

• APS service work requirement must be met for the fall.
• End of fall evaluation for Satisfactory Academic Progress.