Steps to Apply for Financial Aid
1. The financial aid process begins with completing the financial aid application. You will need to complete either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a Texas Application State Financial Aid (TASFA). Both applications become available on October 1st. 2. Be prepared with the following items: FAFSA For U.S. Citizens & Legal Permanent Residents • Your Social Security number • Your parents’ Social Security numbers if you are a dependent student • Your driver’s license number if you have one • Your Alien Registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen • Tax returns including IRS W-2 information, for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents if you are a dependent student: - IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ - Foreign tax return • Records of your untaxed income, such as child support, interest income, and veterans noneducation benefits, for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student • You and a parent (if you are a dependent student) will need to create an FSA ID. An FSA ID is a username and password that is used to access your FAFSA and electronically sign it. You can create one at https://fsaid.ed.gov.
TASFA For students who are not U.S. Citizens & Legal Permanent Residents and for students under DACA • Your Social Security number (if you have one) • Your parents’ Social Security numbers (if they have one) if you are a dependent student • Tax returns (if filed) including IRS W-2 information, for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents if you are a dependent student: - IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ - Foreign tax return • Notarized statements of income for yourself (and your spouse, if you are married) and your parents if you do not file a tax return • Records of your untaxed income, such as child support, interest income, and veterans noneducation benefits, for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student • Proof of Selective Service Registration (for male students only.) For more information, please visit www.sss.gov.
The FAFSA application can be completed online at www.fafsa.gov.
The TASFA can be found at www.utrgv.edu/finaid under the Forms section. It can be submitted in person at UCentral or attached via www.utrgv.edu/askrio.
3. Sometimes you may be required to submit additional documents to complete your financial aid application. If you are asked to submit documents, make sure you submit them right away.
Application Deadlines It’s essential that you complete your FAFSA/TASFA and submit any additional documents as soon as possible. Many funding resources are offered on a first come, first served basis, so don’t delay on something this important to your future. The priority deadline for your FAFSA/TASFA is March 15. While you may submit your FAFSA/TASFA year round, priority is given to those who’ve submitted their applications by the March 15 deadline.
Visit us online at
utrgv.edu/finaid
/UTRGVfinaid
@UTRGV
TOGETHER
WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is our home away from home. We have programs, academic buildings, and cultural centers throughout the Valley, connecting the distinct communities here, helping us grow together. UTRGV is our starting place, and we reach out from here, across Texas, across borders and throughout the world. International students are drawn to UTRGV and as a global university, we send student
out to study abroad. UTRGV students go on to graduate school and careers that draw on the cultural fluency they perfected at UTRGV. Our aerospace and advanced manufacturing programs are expanding as the community health and environmental work done here impacts practices internationally. UTRGV gathers the best minds to take part in these changes by collaborating with researchers around the world and connecting students with opportunities in private industry.
UTRGV is an Affordable Choice UTRGV Achieve Grant
The Extra Class is Free!
This program will cover any gap in tuition and fee expenses and $500 of book expenses per semester (fall and spring) that is not being covered by other forms of gift aid for astudent whose family income is less than $45,000.
UTRGV in-state tuition is capped at 12 hours per semester. This means that additional courses taken above 12 hours are free. So, if a student enrolls in 15 hours, the extra class is free. If a student enrolls in 18 hours, the two extra classes are free and so on.
For additional eligibility requirements, please go to www.utrgv.edu/finaid.
Low Tuition
UTRGV offers the 3rd lowest tuition among public universities in the state of Texas. In addition to low-cost tuition and financial aid options, UTRGV offers several cost-saving options. For additional information on cost of attendance, please visit www.utrgv.edu/COA.
Guaranteed Tuition Plans
UTRGV tuition uses guaranteed tuition plans for resident and nonresident students. This means that tuition will not increase during the guarantee period. For example, a new entering freshman is guaranteed the same tuition rate for 4 years!
UTRGV Students Graduate with Minimal Loan Debt
The availability of so many scholarship and grant opportunities and cost-saving options means that UTRGV students do not have to rely heavily on student loans. UTRGV undergraduate seniors loan debt upon graduation is about 41% lower than the state average and 46% lower than the national average.
UTRGV awards $250 million in financial aid yearly!
Paying for Your UTRGV Education Financial Assistance at UTRGV
Financial aid is derived from federal, state, institutional and private funds to assist eligible students in funding their education. Financial aid can be a combination of grants, loans, work-study, scholarships, and exemptions. There are also waiver programs from the state of Texas that allow certain out-of-state or nonresident students to pay in-state tuition.
Scholarships
Scholarships are financial assistance that do not require repayment. Scholarships are awarded based on merit, need and achievement in academics, athletics, the arts or other scholarly areas. For a listing of available scholarships, visit www.utrgv.edu/scholarships.
Grants
Grants also are not repaid, and are awarded based on financial need. It’s important for you to submit your FAFSA/ TASFA as early as possible, because grants are usually awarded on a first come, first served basis. Some of the grants available to students include: • Federal Pell Grant • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• TEXAS Grant • Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) In addition to these grants, UTRGV offers several unique financial aid programs which include: • UTRGV Assistance Scholarship This scholarship provides gift assistance up to $2,250 to needy students currently receiving little or no gift aid.
• Summer Boost This program helps students decrease time to graduation by providing grant funds up to $1,200 for summer enrollment.
Other Financial Aid Sources
In addition to scholarships, grants and loans, students at UTRGV can access other forms of financial assistance. Work study programs and on-campus employment will enable you to earn money that can offset educational costs. The Hazlewood Exemption offers tuition funding for military veterans and their families. For additional information please go to www.utrgv.edu/Hazlewood.
Loans
Loans are available at the federal and state levels, and repayment typically begins six months after you’ve graduated or dropped to less than half-time status. There are also parent loan programs. Some student and parent loan programs include: • Federal Direct Stafford Loans • Federal Perkins Loans • Federal Direct PLUS Parent Loans • Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans For additional eligibility requirements, please go to www.utrgv.edu/finaid.
WE’RE HERE FOR YOU Academic Advising Center (956) 665-7120 E (956) 882-7362 B
ROTC (956) 665-3601 E (956) 378-5973 B
UCentral
Child Development Center (956) 665-2469
Scholarships (956) 665-2935 E (956) 882-7061 B
(888) 882-4026
Counseling Center (956) 665-2574 E (956) 882-3897 B Graduate Admissions (956) 665-3661 E (956) 882-6552 B Honors College (956) 665-2341 Housing (956) 665-3439 E (956) 882-7191 B International Admissions (956) 665-2922 E (956) 882-7092 B IT Service Desk (956) 665-2020 E (956) 882-2020 B Military and Veterans Success Center (956) 665-7934 E (956) 882-8980 B
Student Accessibility Services (956) 665-7005 E (956) 882-7374 B Student Food Pantry (956) 665-3663 E (956) 882-8980 B Testing Services (956) 665-7570 E (956) 882-8875 B Parking & Transportation Services (956) 665-2224 UTRGV Athletics (956) 665-2221
Your UTRGV one-stop shop
www.utrgv.edu/ucentral Financial Aid • Registrar • Undergraduate Admissions
SUBMIT YOUR DOCUMENTS TO ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS:
UCentral Brownsville: The Tower, Main 1.100 1 West University Boulevard, Brownsville, Texas 78520 Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (M-F) UCentral Edinburg: Student Services Building (SSBL), 1st Floor 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, Texas 78539 Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (M-Th) • 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (F) Required documents may be submitted at the above locations or mailed to: UTRGV Strategic Enrollment Visitors Center 1.113, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539 Documents may also be submitted online at enrollment.utrgv.edu/documentcentral.
E Edinburg B Brownsville