1. A Longhorn Parent’s Guide to Financial Aid

2. A Longhorn Parent’s Guide to Financial Aid
Applying for Aid and Scholarships
Financial Aid Awards
Cost of Attendance
Shopping Sheet
Applying for Federal Loans
How to Pay for Tuition
FAQs and Reminders!

3. Applying for Financial Aid and Scholarships
Apply for financial aid and scholarships each year your student will attend UT Austin.
Submit a FAFSA for each academic year | fafsa.ed.gov
The FAFSA opens October 1!
Submit UT Austin’s Continuing and Transfer Student Scholarship Application each academic year to be considered for scholarships | finaid.utexas.edu
Scholarship Application opens early November
Encourage your student to check CASH to know their aid/application status and submit any extra requirements |
In some cases, submit a Special Circumstances Appeal
Your student will need to give you FERPA authorization if you would like to talk with our office about their financial aid.

4. Financial Aid Awards
The Financial Aid Notification (FAN) will display financial aid award offers via CA$H. The FAN has all the details of a financial aid award, which may include:
Grants* | Free money! Federal, state and institutional
Scholarships | Free money! Awarded by UT Austin and the Office of Financial Aid
Work-Study* | An amount of money a student can earn through a part-time job (usually on campus)
Student loans | The student borrows money to pay for educational costs, then pays it back (with interest) after they graduate
Parent loans | You borrow money to help your student pay for educational costs
*Awards are based on calculated financial need.

5. How much does UT Austin cost?
The Cost of Attendance is used to award financial aid. It’s the average cost to attend UT Austin, and includes:

6. Shopping Sheet
Example

7. Shopping Sheet

8. Applying for Federal Loans
Sign in at StudentLoans.gov using your Federal Student Aid ID (same one you use to fill out the FAFSA)
Complete the requirements
Entrance Loan Counseling
Master Promissory Note

9. Applying for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan
Complete the Parent PLUS Request to request a loan amount
Complete the PLUS Loan’s Master Promissory Note

10. How to Pay for Tuition

11. How to Pay for Tuition

12. When are funds disbursed?
Financial aid funds begin to release about 10 days prior to the first day of class
Financial aid funds are applied to UT Austin bills for tuition and housing
Any remaining financial aid funds are disbursed to the student via direct deposit or check

13. FAQ’s What is verification? How do I receive my Hazlewood Benefits?
How do I use Texas Tomorrow/529 to pay for tuition?
What is FERPA?
What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?

14. Don’t Forget
Read all correspondence from UT Austin and encourage your student to do the same. is used for official university communication.
Remind your student to monitor the status of their financial aid via CASH.
Submit all required documents as quickly as possible to receive aid faster.
Encourage your student to set up Direct Deposit.
Our financial aid session for students is on day 3 of orientation at 9 a.m.
Submit the FAFSA beginning October 1st.
The Continuing Scholarship Application is available November 1st.

15. Contact us! In person at our office:
Student Services Building (SSB), 3rd floor
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. By
Online: finaid.utexas.edu
/UTAustinFinAid
@UTAustinFinAid