UHCL Financial Aid Mailer

FINANCIAL AID GUIDE

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

2024-2025 AID YEAR

UHCL LAUNCHES YOUR FUTURE

A college education is one of the most important investments you and your family can make. The Office of Student Financial Aid at UHCL is here to help you reach your goals. We process loans, grants and scholarships to fund your education at UHCL. Check out the information in this brochure to get started and to assist you through the financial aid process.

Our staff is ready to answer questions and to offer assistance through this process. I encourage you to contact us or visit our office on campus for anything you need.

Holly Nolan Executive Director of Financial Aid

LOWERING THE COSTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

UHCL offers a quality education at an affordable rate. Through university grants and scholarships like the Hawk Promise, UHCL awarded $4.9 million in university and endowed scholarships during the 2022-2023 academic year.

• Studentaid.gov

• UHCL FAFSA Code: 011711

• Priority Deadline: March 1

GETTING STARTED

YOUR GUIDE TO THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS

We are committed to your educational investment, and we hope you are too. The information in this brochure is designed to help you navigate the financial aid process.

APPLY FOR ADMISSION

Visit www.applytexas.org to complete and submit your online application to the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

1Gain an understanding of the UHCL Freshman or Transfer admissions process, admission criteria, and application deadlines at www.uhcl.edu/apply.

Apply Today! UHCL offers rolling admission, meaning students can apply and gain acceptance throughout the year.

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APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are considered gift aid and do not need to be repaid. Learn about UHCL scholarships at www.uhcl.edu/scholarships.

To apply for UHCL scholarships, students must submit an admissions application. As a UHCL student applicant you will have access to apply for scholarships through your UHCL Student Portal, E-Services (www.uhcl.edu/eservices). Additionally, certain financial aid requires students to be admitted before aid can be awarded.

It is important to be mindful of deadlines, which may vary from year to year and for different scholarships. You can also learn about additional scholarship opportunities from other sources, including:

• National level: FASTWEB.COM

• State Level: Comptroller.texas.gov and Scholarships.com

• Local Level: www.uhcl.edu/external-scholarships. We recommend to also connect with high school counselors, community foundations, employers, churches or community-based organizations

CLASSIFICATION

• Freshman: First year students are those applying for admission to UHCL during their senior year of high school or who have graduated from high school, but have not enrolled at another college or university.

• Transfer: Are students that have graduated from high school and have completed 12 or more college credits at another college or university prior to gaining admission to UHCL.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Need-Based Aid Description

New Hawk Scholarship

President’s Excellence Scholarship

Hawk Advantage Scholarship

Incoming Freshman; Rank in top 15%; or SAT of 1170, or ACT of 24; Texas Resident

Yearly Award: Deadline

Varies, “FullRide” (Tuition, Required Fees, books, and housing) to $1,000; Renewable.

Fall Only: Priority Feb. 1 and Final April 1

Automatic Transfer Scholarships

Cullen Leadership Scholarship

Incoming Freshman; CGPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale); Must be Enrolled Full time (at least 12 hours)

Incoming Freshman; Texas Resident; Have Unmet Need, Must be Enrolled Full time (at least 12 hours), Submit FAFSA or TASFA by Priority Deadline

Incoming Transfer Student (+12, Credit Hours), CGPA of 2.75; Must be Enrolled Full Time (at least 12 hours)

Incoming Transfer Student from Houston/Galveston Area, Earned Associates Degree within the last 12 months, CGPA of 3.5; Must be Enrolled Full Time (at least 12 hours)

$3,000; Renewable

Fall Only: Final April 1

Hawk Scholars Scholarship

Hunter Hall Housing Scholarship

Incoming Undergraduate Freshman or Transfer Student, Non-Texas Resident, CGPA of 3.0 (as recalculated by UHCL)

All Undergraduate Students; Submit Hunter Hall Housing Application; Submit a 1-page essay; Submit FAFSA or TAFSA

Varies, up to $2,500; Renewable

Fall Only: Final Feb. 1

$2,000; Renewable

No Deadline; No Application Required

$2,000; Renewable

No Deadline; No Application Required

$2,000; Renewable

Fall: Priority April 15; Final May 15. Spring: Priority Sept. 15; Final Nov. 1

$2,000 toward on-campus housing in Hunter Hall; Renewable

Fall: Priority June 16; Final July 14. Spring: Priority Dec. 6; Final Jan. 6

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APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID

To be considered for financial Aid at UHCL, students must:

• Apply for and gain admission to the university

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov. Each student applying for aid and a parent must each first apply for a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). Filling the FAFSA is always free. Send your FAFSA to UHCL by using our school code: 011711

• Submit any additional required documents requested after FAFSA submission, such as, verification documents which may include tax transcripts or other items as required

Don’t wait: Apply for financial aid by the priority deadline for your best chance at being awarded funds for your education. Financial Aid is awarded on a firstcome, first-served basis. You may still be awarded if you apply after March 1, but funds are limited the later you apply.

The 2024-2025 FAFSA is used for the following terms:

• Fall 2024

• Spring 2025

• Summer 2025

PRO-TIPS:

• Student Aid Index (SAI) – Your SAI is calculated using the information from your FAFSA and used to determine a student’s eligibility for need-based federal, state, or institutional aid.

• Subsidized loans are need based direct loans with a fixed interest rate; interest does not begin to accrue until the loan goes into repayment.

• Unsubsidized loans are non-need based direct loans with fixed interest rates; interest begins to accrue as soon as the loan is remitted, meaning students will owe more than the original principle by the time the loan goes into repayment.

UNDERGRADUATE GRANTS AND LOANS

GRANTS

Grants are gift aid, or free aid, that you don’t have to repay. Grants are funded by the federal government, the state, or by UHCL. Unlike scholarships that are merit-based, grants are need-based and help students who might not otherwise be able to afford an education.

Need-Based Aid Description

UHCL Hawk Promise

Pell Grant

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity

UHCL guarantees tuition and mandatory fees will be covered by grant assistance for new in-state freshmen with family incomes at or below $65,000, who meet certain academic and financial need requirements. Submit FAFSA By April 1

Pell grants are awarded to students who qualify and demonstrate financial need on their FAFSA, based on federal guidelines.

Must have exceptional financial need. Priority is given to students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Yearly Award:

Guaranteed Free Tuition

Up to $7,395 (for 2023-24)

$100 - $2,000

TEACH Grant

TEXAS Grant

Education majors with a 3.25 GPA (high school or college). Must meet post-graduation requirements or it reverts to an Unsubsidized Direct Loan. Learn more at studentaid.gov

Students who complete the Recommended High School Program or Distinguished Achievement Program in an accredited Texas high school.

Up to $3,772

Up to $16,161

LOANS

Loans are aid that must be repaid. Repayment information and interest rates may be found at www.uhcl.edu/costs-aid/types/loans, studentaid.gov/loan-simulator

Federal Subsidized Direct Loan

Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan

Federal Parents PLUS Loan for Undergraduate Students

OTHER

Based on need from FAFSA. Payments start six months from last date of enrollment. Interest is subsidized by the government while in school. Small loan fee. Must be degree seeking.

Available for all qualified FAFSA applicants. Not need-based. Payments start six months after last date of enrollment. Interest begins after the first disbursement. Small loan fee. Must be degree seeking.

All dependent students. Not need-based. Parents borrow on behalf of students. Interest begins after the first disbursement. Loan fees apply. Must be degree seeking. Learn more at studentloans.gov

Up to: $3,500 (Fr.), $4,500 (So.), $5,500 (Jr. and Sr.)

Up to: $5,500 (Fr.), $6,500 (So.), $7,500 (Jr. and Sr.) In combined subsidized and unsubsidized direct loans

Up to the cost of attendance minus financial aid

Need based campus employment, available to students who demonstrate financial need based on the FAFSA.

Campus Employment Non-need based employment available to all UHCL students. FAFSA Not Required

Not

FUNDING YOUR UHCL EDUCATION

REVIEWING YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARD OFFER

As you gain acceptance to the university and complete your FAFSA. You can review and accept your financial aid offer(s) through your E-Services account.

• View Financial Aid: Student Center > Under Finances > Select View Financial Aid > Select 2025 Aid Year to View Financial Aid.

• Accept Financial Aid: Student Center > Under Finances > Select Accept/Decline Awards > Click OK to accept Student Disclosure > Select 2025 Aid Year to accept your aid. > Select the “Edit” button to accept/ decline your financial aid. > Once you have made your selection, click “submit”

• Total Aid Accepted: ___________

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TUITION AND COSTS

• Tuition and required fees based on 12 hours for undergraduate students. Actual tuition and required fees can be found at www.uhcl.edu/finaid.

• Room/Board based on suite-styled double room and the required dining dollar meal plan per semester.

• Total Billed Costs:

DETERMINING YOUR NET COST:

• Total Billed Costs - Total Aid Accepted = Remaining Balance

*Tuition and required fees based on 12 hours for undergraduate students. Actual tuition and required fees can be found at www.uhcl.edu/finaid

**Room/Board based on suite-style double room and the required dining dollar meal plan per semester.

*** These are estimated costs of attending UHCL. Actual cost may vary by person.

• Cost Calculator – Everybody’s bottom line is different but you can use our cost calculator to get a good idea of how much a UHCL education is likely to cost and then estimate the aid you may be awarded. Visit www.uhcl.edu/academics/online/costs

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PAYMENT OPTIONS WITH UHCL

Payment is not due at the time of registration. It is important to make payment or schedule payment before the semester’s payment deadline. Review payment dates and deadline through the semester’s Academic Calendar, www.uhcl.edu/calendar.

Remaining costs can be paid through your E-Services account by credit/debit card, e-check or a variety of resources, including:

Payment Plans by Semester

• Short term loan

• 25% down and $25 payment plan Fee

• 75% for final installment/payment. Installment Plan

• 25% down and $25 payment plan fee.

• Remaining three installments/payments of 25% throughout the semester

3rd Party

• Texas Tomorrow, Texas Promise, employer vouchers, etc.

Other Private Scholarships or Loans

• Community organizations, school, foundations, clubs, etc.

NAVIGATE E-SERVICES/FINANCES

• Account Summary – You will be able to view how much you were charged, any aid or payments and the account balance.

• Make a Payment – Select your method of payment and input your details.

• Charges Due – Will show you how much is due and when it is due. If you have selected a payment plan, you can visit this tab to see your payment deadlines and the amount.

QUESTIONS?

We’re here to help and walk through your federal aid, scholarships, cost, and payment process.

• Student Financial Aid Office - 281-283-2480, uhcl_fao@uhcl.edu

• Admissions Office - 281-283-2500, admissions@uhcl.edu

• Military and Veteran Services - 281-283-3071, vso@uhcl.edu, uhcl.edu/veteran-services

• Student Business Services - 281-283-2170, sbs@uhcl.edu

• Welcome Center - 281-283-2722, WelcomeCenter@uhcl.edu

• Federal Student Aid Information Center – 800-433-3243, studentaid.gov/help-center/contact

University of Houston-Clear Lake 2700 Bay Area Blvd. | Houston, TX 77058

281-283-7600 | www.uhcl.edu