Tuition and Financial Aid
Financial Aid
The Office of Financial Aid is available to assist students in obtaining funds to attend the University. Aid is available in the form of grants, loans, and part-time employment or any combination of those programs. Limited numbers of scholarships are available. The total amount of aid a student receives depends on the student's cost of attendance, expected family contribution, meeting application deadlines, outside resources, academic history, and the availability of funds.
Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid to obtain appropriate application materials and to determine eligibility for the various forms of aid available. Students may view the Office of Financial Aid website for up-to-date information. The Office of Financial Aid is located in the Student Services Building, 972-883-2941.
Changes in regulations or policy on a federal, state, university, private lending, or donor level could affect the types of programs, amounts available, and/or program requirements. A complete overview of the estimated cost of attending the University is available on our website at www.utdallas.edu/student/finaid/Estimated_Costs.htm.
Eligibility
Most of the aid listed in this catalog is awarded on the basis of financial need. Students are encouraged to determine the amount of resources they can provide toward their education and to compare it with the average cost of attending the University. UT Dallas' estimated cost of attendance budgets are reviewed annually in accordance with federal and state guidelines. Federal guidelines outline what can be included in student budgets. The costs of tuition and fees, books and supplies, an average room and board cost, transportation, and a limited amount for other personal expenses are the basic components of student budgets. Unusual expenses, such as childcare costs or educational costs related to the student's medical disability, may be considered when they have been properly documented.
Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending the University and the amount a student and/or family can reasonably provide. The amount of the expected family contribution is based on a federal formula reflecting total family income, assets, household size, and the number of family members currently attending post-secondary educational institutions. Parents are expected to provide financial support to their children to the extent they are able unless it is clearly established that the student is independent of any family support.
In determining whether a student is considered independent or self-supporting, the Office of Financial Aid adheres to the standards set by the U.S. Department of Education to establish an applicant's dependency status. Students 24 years or older are considered financially independent. Students under the age of 24 are considered financially dependent unless they are orphans, wards of the court, emancipated minors, verifiable unaccompanied homeless youths, veterans, active duty military, graduate students, married, or unmarried but with legal dependents. Both self-supporting and dependent students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal, state, and/or institutional aid.
Applying for Financial Aid
Students must complete a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year. Any additional required supporting documents must also be submitted for each academic year. The FAFSA is available January 1st of each year for the subsequent academic year. The awarding of need based financial aid is based on the results of each year's FAFSA.
Required Course Load
The course load requirement for students receiving each type of aid, with the exception of the Federal Pell Grant, is at least one-half the normal course load. Undergraduate students must maintain no fewer than 6 credit hours for each term of enrollment to be considered half time for financial aid purposes. There is no distinction between a regular, long semester and a short summer term when determining the required course load. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid before they reduce their course load to determine what effect the reduced course load will have on current and future financial aid eligibility.
Renewal of Financial Aid
For a student to be considered for a renewal of financial aid, a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and supporting documents must be submitted for each academic year. The awarding of renewal aid is subject to the same considerations used in awarding all previous financial assistance. If you do not meet federal eligibility requirements to be considered a citizen or eligible non-citizen, but have been classified as a Texas resident and are therefore eligible to pay the Texas in-state tuition rate, you must complete a paper version of the FAFSA or the Texas Application for Student Financial Aid (TASFA) available to be downloaded and printed at www.collegeforalltexans.com. This must be submitted directly to the Office of Financial Aid.
Revocation of Financial Aid
The University reserves the right to adjust or cancel awarded financial aid when the information used to make the award changes. Partial or full repayment of awards may be required.
Any change in a recipient's financial situation, such as additional grants, scholarships, or private student loans, must be reported to the Office of Financial Aid. Federal law governing the administration of financial aid requires UT Dallas to consider most forms of grants, scholarships, and private loans as a resource, without regard to the source or how the aid is disbursed, when awarding federal student financial aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid
The University of Texas at Dallas has a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy for a student receiving federal and University student financial assistance.
Generally, students are expected to remain in good standing by the satisfactory completion of a minimum number of credit hours, based on a percentage of the credit hours attempted and completed for each term of enrollment. In addition, undergraduate students must maintain a term and cumulative GPA of 2.000 or higher on a 4.000 scale on coursework completed at the University. For more detailed information the student should contact the Office of Financial Aid. This information is also available online at the Office of Financial Aid website at www.utdallas.edu/student/finaid/SAP.htm. A link to the website is provided on award notifications.
Selective Service
Male students between the ages of 18 and 26 must register with Selective Service to qualify for federal and Texas student loans or grant programs. Students may register with Selective Service by visiting their local post office or online; they can also verify their registration at www.sss.gov.
Effective January 1, 1998, the selective service requirement is also applicable to students applying for financial assistance funded by State revenue.
Short-Term Emergency Loans
Students needing emergency help with educational expenses may borrow from the short-term loan fund. The tuition, course related fees, and the origination fee will be due 60 days from Census Day of the regular session in the fall or spring terms. For the regular summer session, the short-term loan is due 30 days from Census Day. Contributions to these funds have been made by Mrs. Lloyd V. Berkner, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Castelli, the Kiwanis Club of Richardson, Rotary Club of Richardson, Richardson Savings and Loan Association, the First Texas Savings and Loan Association of Dallas, Richardson Altrusa Club, Chaparral Steel Company, and funds set aside out of student tuition.