Applying for Financial Aid
Like other colleges and universities, The University of Texas at Austin administers a range of financial aid beyond scholarships.
To apply for financial aid:
Complete the FAFSA and accept financial aid awards
By January 15, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Even if you think you’re not likely to qualify for need-based aid, it’s still a good idea to apply. If you complete your FAFSA, you'll receive a financial aid notification in early spring, which will direct you to view the awards that are available to you and accept your financial aid package on CASH (Check Aid Status Here). For more information on this process, please visit the Understanding Your Aid page on the Texas One Stop website.
More Information
Monitor CASH
The university’s CASH—Check Aid Status Here—system provides information about the status of your financial aid applications. It’s also where we’ll notify you of any additional documentation required.
Types of Aid
Available aid includes:
Grants
Grants, including the Pell Grant, TEXAS Grant and Texas Public Education Grant, are a form of need-based financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Individual awards range from $1-10,000.
Work-Study
Federal Work-Study provides part-time on campus jobs to students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to pay educational expenses; a proportion of the salary earned is subsidized by the federal government.
Students who do not qualify for Work-Study still have employment options available, both on and off campus. Many of these job opportunities are listed in the university’s job bank.
Loans
The U.S. Department of Education offers a federal loan program where the Department of Education is your lender. Loans will allow you to borrow money to help you pay for college a repay them with interest over time after you graduate. Direct Loan offerings include the Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Direct Plus Loan, and Direct Consolidation Loans. Additionally, Texas offers a limited number of low-interest loans to students who are residents of the state. Remember, if you are offered loans and do not need the full amount you may adjust the amount you borrow to fit your needs for that academic year. There are also opportunities for federal student loan forgiveness where portions of your student loans could be exempt from repayment if you work in certain jobs and meet certain conditions.
Finally, private education loan programs are available in cases where the federal or state loan programs are inadequate to meet educational expenses. Private education loans provide funds from a private lender or bank of the student’s choice but do not typically include the benefits of federal student loans, such as fixed interest rates and income-based repayment plans. In contrast, private loans are generally more expensive (variable interest rates, additional fees) and require an established credit record or a cosigner.
Exemptions and Waivers
Some students—ROTC participants and class valedictorians, for instance—are eligible for exemptions and waivers. The Tuition Reductions page on the Texas One Stop website offers additional information about eligibility, as does College for All Texans.