Applying for Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid, you must submit a form each year to determine your financial need and eligibility. If you are a US citizen, a legal permanent resident (a green card holder), or have an immigration status that allows you to receive federal aid, you should complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and when you submit it, you are applying for federal, state, and institutional financial aid.
What if I don’t qualify to submit the FAFSA?
If you don’t qualify for federal aid, you can still apply for financial aid by completing the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA). With the TASFA, you are applying for state and institutional aid that is available to international students and those who are Texas residents but not US citizens or permanent residents. The TASFA is available online at highered.texas.gov/students-families/tasfa.
The FAFSA is available online at studentaid.gov. You will need to create an account with your full legal name, date of birth, and social security number. Other people who will need to provide information, like your spouse if you are married or your parents if you are a dependent student, are called “contributors” and will also need to create an account. When you complete the form, include UTEP’s federal school code: 003661.
What information do I need to provide?
Both the FAFSA and the TASFA ask you to provide personal and financial information about you and your family. The FAFSA also receives tax information from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) about you and your contributors. This personal and financial information is used to calculate your student aid index, which helps us determine what types of financial aid you are eligible for.
Even if classes have already started, it's not too late to submit a FAFSA until the end of the award year. Some types of financial aid, like the Pell Grant and student loans, are available year-round as long as you're eligible and complete all requirements.
Other types of financial aid, especially state and institutional aid, have limited funds, so it's still the best idea to submit your FAFSA or TASFA as early as possible every year. Both applications open the first day of October for the year that begins the following fall, giving you and us enough time to finish the process and calculate your eligibility before it's time for you to register.
Texas has a priority deadline that is January 15. This means you have a better chance of receiving state aid if you submit before that date, but UTEP will continue to award all types of financial aid until funds run out.
UTEP will receive your FAFSA or TASFA along with information about your eligibility and other requirements. We will notify you about any additional documents you may need to submit; after the process is completed, we will provide you with your award offer, listing the types and amounts of financial aid you qualify for. Information about pending requirements and your awards can be found in the student portal, Goldmine.
When and how will I receive my financial aid?
After you register for classes, your financial aid will be authorized, and your statement will show the amount you are expected to receive. Ten days before the semester begins, your financial aid will disburse to your UTEP account, but only if all pending requirements have been completed.
If your financial aid does not cover all your charges for the semester, you will need to make a payment or enroll in a payment plan. If your financial aid is more than your charges, you will receive the difference as a refund to help you pay for school supplies and living expenses.
Refunds are issued as checks, or you can sign up for direct deposit to receive your funds directly in your personal bank account.
