Important Updates for Graduate Students

Graduate students are awarded based on part-time enrollment (4-8 hours*).  If you are enrolled in full-time graduate hours (9 hours or more/ 5000 and higher level courses), please complete an Enrollment Change Form and submit to Enrollment Services to have your financial aid eligibility reevaluated. 

Graduate Students Enrolled in Undergraduate Courses

Graduate students must be enrolled in at least part-time graduate courses (4 hours of 5000 and higher level courses in Fall/Spring) to be eligible for Federal Financial aid.  If enrolled in a combination of graduate and undergraduate courses, at least 4 hours has to be graduate level courses in order to receive financial aid.

*During the summer sessions, graduate students may enroll in a minimum of 3 credit hours for part-time enrollment status.

Example 1: If enrolled in 6 hours of graduate courses and 3 hours of undergraduate course which is a total of 9, you will only be awarded based on the graduate hours enrolled, so in this scenario, you would be considered enrolled as a part-time graduate student.  

Example 2: If enrolled in 3 hours of graduate courses and 3 hours of undergraduate course which is a total of 6, you will not be eligible for financial aid because you are not enrolled in at least 4 hours of graduate level courses.  Even if you received an award letter, keep in mind we are awarding you at the time assuming you will be enrolled in at least the minimum graduate hours.   

Special Graduate Student Status

Students taking classes as prerequisites for enrollment in graduate school, who have been approved by the Graduate Admissions Office as a Special Graduate student (not fully admitted to the program), will only receive financial aid as a Special Graduate for one academic year and need to provide documentation from the Graduate School to our office.  Special Graduate students cannot receive graduate level grants but can receive Federal Stafford loans at the senior undergraduate limits.  Undergraduate aggregate limits for Stafford loans apply in this situation.  You must complete the Request for Financial Aid as a Special Graduate form.

Aid and Certificate Programs

Any graduate student enrolled in a certificate program cannot receive aid unless also enrolled in a degree program at the graduate level.  The only exception is K-12 teaching certification, which is an approved program for financial aid.  Certification programs such as principal certification, urban and regional planning, higher education, etc. are not approved programs for financial aid.  

Any graduate student wishing to receive funding for teacher certification courses taken at the undergraduate level cannot count those toward graduate student enrollment (see the examples listed above in the section Graduate Students Enrolled in Undergraduate Courses).

Complete FAFSA Application

FAFSA Application
If your entry semester is summer, you must complete the UTSA Summer Application to our office.
Common FAFSA Mistakes
FAFSA FAQ’s
Need a FAFSA 4caster?

Your Award Notification is sent.

New UTSA graduate students will receive an award letter by mail.
Returning UTSA graduate students will receive an email notification to your myUTSA email account. Check your myUTSA email account for Financial Aid notifications regularly.

Accept/Decline Award on ASAP

Want to know other ASAP Services that are available?

Check ASAP for incomplete documents.

Submit Financial Aid Rights and Responsibilities to our office if you are a first time Graduate Student.
Review for Forms web page for additional documents required.

Accepted Loans?

Sign and submit your Master Promissory Note.
Complete Stafford Entrance Counseling
IMPORTANT! Please read our Graduate Student Loan Policy

Accepting the Graduate PLUS Loan?

Please visit the UTSA Graduate PLUS Loan website http://www.utsa.edu/financialaid/Loans/graduateplus.html for application instructions and information regarding the Graduate PLUS loan interest rate, origination fee and repayment terms.

Are you accepting an Alternative Loan?

Choose and lender and apply for the loan.
Follow any other directions sent by lender.

Awarded a Perkins Loan?

Complete Perkins Loan Entrance Counseling.
Sign and Submit Perkins Promissory Note to our office.

Were you selected for Verification on your UTSA award letter?

Independent Student- Attach Independent Verification Worksheet. Submit your 1040 tax return

Have you applied for any scholarships?

Submit the General Scholarship Application to our office.  Attach all required documents such as essays, proof of residency, etc…
Submit any outside scholarship checks and supporting documentation to our office.
Check with your college or department for scholarships in the area of your major.

Review what you need to do in order to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Is an employer or outside agency paying for your tuition?