1. Graduate Student Financial Aid

2. Financial Aid: Apply Every Year!!!
The FAFSA for the academic year the FAFSA will be available October 1, 2018!
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available at:
Student needs to have their tax return for 2017 and W2’s in order to complete the FAFSA.
And obtain an FSA ID (username and password). If forgotten it can be retrieved at
UTRGV RECOMMENDED PRIORITY DEADLINE: January 15.
To apply for financial aid in the summer, submit a summer notification at available December 15.

3. Important! Students must be ADMITTED
to their respective degree-seeking graduate program to be eligible for any financial aid and be taking graduate courses only. **Certificate Programs or students admitted on Conditional Status are not eligible for financial aid**

4. What types of aid are available?
Grants: Free money based on financial need (GTAG or TPEG)*
Loans: Money that must be paid back (Stafford, PLUS)
Work Study: Money earned from a part-time job on or off-campus; based on financial need
All financial aid programs require enrollment of at least 6 hours of graduate courses.
Scholarships: Free money based on financial need and/or merit **Some scholarships may require FAFSA
*These grants are extremely limited in funding and thus applying soon after FAFSA or summer notification become available increases likelihood for eligible students to receive them.

5. How can I keep my Financial Aid?
***Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)***
Three factors taken into consideration in determining Satisfactory Academic Progress:
Quantitative (Grade Point Average minimum)
3.0 for graduate students or 3.25 for doctoral students.
Qualitative
Student must pass 75% of their overall attempted classes. Calculation will occur at the end of every semester of enrollment.
To calculate your percentage, add up all the hours you have passed and divide it by all the hours you have ever attempted (includes DP, F, DF, W)
Maximum Time Frame
Masters students have 63 hours to obtain a degree*
Second Masters students have 45 hours to obtain a degree
Doctoral Students have 99 hours to obtain a degree
*Certain programs that are longer in length have different MTF lengths (ie. Physician Assistant and Occupational Therapy programs)

6. UTRGV Online Scholarship Application
UTRGV Scholarship Application
Available in September 2018
Deadline: February 1, 2019

7. Outside Scholarships
South Texas Academic Rising Scholars (STARS) at South Texas Academic Rising Scholars (STARS) at
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) at
Deadline:
March 31st
Deadline:
March 30th

8. Thank You! For any questions or additional information you may visit
or contact us at GradCentral:
(833) 887 – 4842
Monday – Thursday 8 am – 6 pm
Friday 8 am – 5 pm
or visit us at either Edinburg or Brownsville campuses