Tuition and Financial Aid
Types of Financial Aid
Basis for the Type of Financial Aid
The aid awarded to a student may consist of a loan, grant, scholarship, part-time job, or any combination of these programs. The total amount of aid the 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.
Types of Financial Aid
The following is a summary of the types of assistance that are available to graduate students at The University of Texas at Dallas. The student should be aware that many of the programs are subject to change without notice by the state or federal government. Information on all programs may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid unless otherwise noted.
Texas Public Education Grant
An act of the 64th Texas Legislature established a grant program to provide financial assistance to students. This program is funded through appropriation of a portion of the tuition charge for resident and nonresident students. Students completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or TASFA will automatically be considered for this grant. Awards are based on the availability of funds and the student's financial need.
Educational Assistance Grant
This program was established to provide financial assistance to students by an act of the Texas Legislature. The program is funded through appropriation of a portion of the designated tuition charge for resident and nonresident students. Students completing a FAFSA will automatically be considered for this grant. Awards are based on availability of funds and the student's financial need.
International Education Fund Scholarship
Through the proceeds from the International Education fee, scholarships are available for study-abroad programs. These scholarships are open to both graduate and undergraduate students enrolled at least one-half time. Graduate students must be admitted to a degree program and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. While abroad, the recipient of this scholarship must be enrolled in a full-time course of study. Coursework undertaken must apply to the student's degree program.
Hazlewood Veteran Tuition Exemption
The Hazlewood Exemption Act provides an education benefit to honorably discharged or separated Texas veterans and to eligible dependent children and spouses of Texas veterans. Eligible students may receive an exemption from the payment of all tuition and most fees at Texas public institutions for up to 150 semester credit hours. Information on the Hazlewood Act and eligibility requirements are available at the Texas Veterans Commission website. Additional information can be found in the Office of Financial Aid Hazlewood Exemption website.
Federal Perkins Loan Program
As of October 1, 2015, the Federal Perkins Loan Program is no longer authorized by Congress. Additional Federal Perkins Loans may not be offered. Existing Federal Perkins Loans are serviced by the Bursar's Office.
Federal Direct Stafford Loan
Also called a Direct Loan, funds from this program are made available to students from the U.S Department of Education. As of July 1, 2012 all graduate Federal Direct Stafford Loans are unsubsidized. The maximum amount a student can borrow from this program in an academic year depends on the student's total cost of education as determined by the school and what other forms of financial aid the student is receiving. Graduate student may not borrow more than $20,500 in an academic year. The unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan accrues interest while the student is in school; a student may choose to pay the accruing interest while in school or may defer the repayment of the interest until after graduation, when it is added to the principle of the loan. Students completing a FAFSA will automatically be considered for this program.
Information regarding this program, including the promissory note and the Entrance Counseling, is available at http://www.studentloans.gov.
Federal Work-Study Program
Federal Work-Study employment is available to students on the basis of demonstrated financial need and is counted as a form of need-based financial aid. Student employees are paid as a result of working part-time in a position either on- or off-campus. The wages of students participating in this program are subsidized with federal funds, making it easier to find a part-time job. Students completing a FAFSA will automatically be considered for this program. Awards are based on availability of funds and the student's financial need.
The hourly pay rate depends on the type of job, qualifications, and classification. The number of hours and work schedule will vary depending on the position. For information on job availability, students who have been awarded Federal-Work Study as part of their financial aid package should contact the Career Center at 972-883-2943 or go to their website at http://www.utdallas.edu/cometcareers to access the CometCareers system.
Other On-Campus Employment
Various programs and schools of the University employ students in positions that are not Federal Work-Study positions and are not based on need. In accordance with appropriate guidelines, pay scales depend on the type of job, qualifications, and classification. Students interested in these positions should contact the Career Center at 972-883-2943 or go online at http://www.utdallas.edu/career to access the CometCareers system.
Scholarship Programs
The University of Texas at Dallas offers a number of scholarships that are administered by a school, department, or program. Students are encouraged to review scholarship opportunities via the centralized listing managed by the Office of Financial Aid.
In accord with Chapter 54 of the Texas Education Code provided below, all applications for competitive academic scholarships for graduate study are reviewed by the Committee on Student Scholarships and/or the Graduate Scholarship Committee in the appropriate academic unit.
Texas Education Code - Competitive Scholarship
Sec. 54.213. SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT
(a) An institution of higher education may charge a nonresident student who holds a competitive scholarship of at least $1,000 for the academic year or summer term for which the student is enrolled resident tuition and fees without regard to the length of time the student has resided in Texas. The student must compete with other students, including Texas residents, for the scholarship and the scholarship must be awarded by a scholarship committee officially recognized by the administration and be approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under criteria developed by the coordinating board.
(b) The total number of students at an institution paying resident tuition under this section for a particular semester may not exceed five percent of the total number of students registered at the institution for the same semester of the preceding academic year.
(c) The difference between tuition charged to the student under this section and the tuition the student would be charged if this section did not apply to the student shall not be accounted for in such a way as to reduce the general revenue appropriation to an institution of higher education that charges a nonresident student resident tuition and fees under this section.
Transferred and redesignated from Texas Education Code, Section 54.064 by
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 359, Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2012.
Scholarships are awarded in accordance with the published eligibility criteria and award factors set forth by each respective program. Factors that may influence scholarship awarding include donor or program specifications, financial need for need-based scholarships, and availability of funding. Committees responsible for awarding a competitive scholarship may consider and give positive weight to such factors as the following:
- Courses taken
- Grades received in specific courses
- Good academic standing
- Academic promise
- Full or part-time enrollment
- Degree seeking
- Financial need may be considered but is not required
The criteria cited above is not an exhaustive list. Please visit UT Dallas Scholarships for more information.
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Teaching Assistantships are available on a limited basis in most graduate programs. Also, many faculty members have research projects which provide Research Assistantships. These Teaching and Research assistantships normally involve half-time employment and are awarded on the basis of merit. Students holding these assistantships must be enrolled for a minimum of nine semester credit hours for each regular semester in which the assistantship is awarded. The Dean of each school designates the minimum semester credit hours for a summer session. A student on a Teaching/Research Assistantship who is enrolled in the minimum number of semester credit hours and wishes to drop a course must obtain the signature of the Dean of Graduate Studies. Students on probation will not be supported on an assistantship. Applications should be made to the appropriate Graduate Program office at least 60 days prior to the date of registration.
Prior to their appointment as Teaching Assistants, international students must meet the English requirements described in the "English Requirements for Teaching Assistants" section. All TA's are required to attend TA Orientation held immediately prior to fall and spring semesters.