Enrollment Management
University of Texas at Austin

UT Financial Aid Policy

The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid provides financial assistance to students who might otherwise be unable to attend the University. Financial aid awarded through the office may be gift aid, which includes grants and scholarships, or self-help aid, which includes the federal, state and institutional Work-Study programs and long-term loans.

Most financial aid is determined based on documented financial need, which is the difference between the cost of attending the University, the Expected Family Contribution and the financial resources (i.e., outside scholarships and tuition reimbursements) available to the student (see illustration below).

OSFA Cost of Attendance Financial Need Graphic

To apply for financial assistance, students are required to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA). The FAFSA should be completed by students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. The TASFA should be used by non-citizens who are classified as Texas residents; the Financial Aid website has more information on the TASFA. The information submitted through these applications helps the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid assess family resources and determine eligibility for specific aid programs.

The University strongly recommends that all students complete their financial aid applications by the priority filing date. More information about the priority filing date and financial aid is available on the Texas One Stop website.

A student may apply for financial aid before being officially admitted to the University, but the awarding of aid is contingent upon admission. Aid cannot be disbursed until the student is officially enrolled.

Prospective freshmen may apply for scholarships by completing the ApplyTexas or Coalition for College application. Continuing and transfer students may apply for annually awarded scholarships by completing the UT Austin Continuing and Transfer Student Scholarship Application. For more information, including deadlines, see Texas One Stop.

Most financial aid programs are based on a minimum full-time enrollment of 12 credit hours for undergraduate students and nine to 12 credit hours for graduate students, depending on the student’s academic program. Students may receive financial aid for less than full-time enrollment, but the amount of aid awarded may be adjusted based on the student’s final enrollment status. Some financial aid programs require that award amounts be reduced proportionally for less than full-time enrollment. To receive financial assistance for summer session, students (except those admitted as transient/non-degree-seeking) must enroll for classes in a six-week term, the nine-week term, or the twelve-week term.

Students are responsible for reporting to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid any change in their family income that occurs after the initial application for aid is submitted. A documented decrease in resources may provide for an increase in financial aid if funds are available; an increase in resources may result in a reduction or cancellation of financial aid funds or a requirement to repay awards already released to the student. Students can complete and submit a Reduction in Income Appeal Form.

Federal law requires that institutions of higher education monitor the academic progress of students who receive federal financial aid. In order to remain eligible for federal, state, and some institutional financial aid, students must comply with The University of Texas at Austin’s standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP); requirements for satisfactory progress are:

For Federal, Most State and Most Institutional Aid

  1. Minimum GPA: An undergraduate student must maintain a cumulative University grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00. A graduate student must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00.
  2. Minimum Pace: A student must successfully complete at least 67% of the credit hours they attempt. Dropping or withdrawing from classes will affect a student’s pace.
  3. Maximum Timeframe: A student may attempt no more than 150% of the credit hours required by his or her degree program. For example, if a bachelor’s degree requires 120 hours to complete, a student must be able to complete it with no more than 180 credit hours attempted.

For the TEXAS Grant:

  1. After their freshman year, students must meet the UT SAP requirements listed above (minimum GPA, minimum pace and minimum timeframe).
  1. After their sophomore year and beyond, a student must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA and complete 24 credit hours each year.

For Institutional Scholarships (i.e., Presidential Scholarship and University Leadership Network)

  1. Minimum GPA: An undergraduate student must maintain a cumulative University grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00.
  2. Minimum Credit Hours: A student must have completed 30 credit hours by the end of each year (can include credit hours completed during a summer session).

Undergraduate students who have received financial aid will be evaluated for SAP at the end of every semester. Graduate students will be evaluated annually at the end of the spring semester. For more specific information about the policy and the appeal procedure, see the Texas One Stop website.

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