Detailed Checklist Information for Returning Students
In order to help you through the financial aid process, we have created this page to list the steps necessary to completing your financial aid process at UTSA. Before UTSA can award you financial aid, you must have completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and included UTSA school code: 010115. More information regarding the FAFSA can be found in our FAFSA Frequently Asked Questions.
As a returning student to UTSA, you have been through the financial aid process here before. However, there are some things we want to remind you of so that you will receive your financial aid award in a timely manner. You will receive your financial aid award by mail to the address you have provided on your ASAP account. For explanations about your award letter and terminology used, please refer to our Understanding Your Award Letter webpage. In addition, please review the guidelines for submitting paperwork found on our Paperwork Guidelines webpage. With the following checklist you will be able to easily keep track of the items you have completed and items that may still need your attention.
For most students receiving financial aid at UTSA, here are the steps you must follow:
- The most efficient way to accept your financial aid and scholarship awards is online on ASAP. For information regarding the acceptance of financial aid awards and to determine what awards you should accept, please read the forms included with your financial aid packet or review the Financial Aid Complete Guidelines. For scholarship awards, please refer to your scholarship award letter for instructions on accepting awards and for deadlines and additional required documents.
- If you have been awarded a Stafford Loan and wish to receive it, we will use the lender (who will have your Master Promissory Note) you chose last year. If you have never accepted a Stafford Loan at UTSA before, you must follow these instructions in addition to accepting it via ASAP.
- You must complete the Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling at www.mapping-your-future.org. To expedite the procedure, you can email the Confirmation Number to financialaid@utsa.edu.
- UTSA and the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation (TG) have teamed up to provide a web-based application for new UTSA student borrowers to apply for Stafford loans. After you have accepted your Stafford loan via ASAP and beginning June 1st, you will be able to choose your lender via TG Loans by Web. You must choose a lender. If you do not choose a lender, no one will send the Stafford Loan money to UTSA to cover your charges. Exact instructions for choosing a lender can be found on our TG Loans By Web webpage.
- You also must complete a Master Promissory Note with your lender. Depending on the lender, this may be completed electronically or by mailing the master promissory note to your lender. Master Promissory Notes are not submitted to UTSA.
- If you have been awarded a Parent PLUS Loan and wish to receive it, you must follow these instructions in addition to accepting it via ASAP each year you accept the Plus Loan.
- Parents who wish to borrow under the PLUS program must be pre-approved from the lender of their choice and complete and submit a Parent PLUS Request Form.
- Upon pre-approval from your lender, you must submit notification from your lender that you have been pre-approved for the Parent Plus Loan.
- After approval, your lender will send you a Master Promissory Note to complete.
- If you have been awarded an Alternative Loan and wish to receive it, you must select a lender of your choice. After selecting a lender and receiving pre-approval, an application and instructions will be sent from the lender to the student. More information on Alternative Loans can be found on our Alternative Loan webpage.
- If you were awarded the Perkins Loan, be certain to complete online Perkins Loan Entrance Counseling and then sign the Perkins Master Promissory Note that will be available at UTSA. Information about the Perkins Promissory Note can be found on our Perkins Loan webpage.
This is the financial aid process for the majority of returning students. However, we do understand that situations can change from year to year. The following is a list of other financial aid issues people may have:
Scholarships
Over 70 General scholarships are available through the Financial Aid Scholarship Division. Please be advised that the application deadline for General scholarships is February 15, which is prior to awarding each year. More information about general and departmental scholarships can be found on our UTSA Scholarships website.
Verification
A select number of students are selected for Verification each year. If you have been notified by UTSA that you have been selected for verification, please refer to our Verification webpage for help to complete the verification process.
Work Study
If you have been awarded work study, you must then apply for jobs on campus. You will be given the opportunity to attend a Job Fair during the later part of August, but you can look for on-campus positions on your own or through Career Services. More information can be found on our Work Study webpage.
Hazlewood Exemption
Some Texas veterans may qualify for an educational benefit through the Hazlewood Exemption. Please refer to the Hazlewood Exemption webpage for additional information.
Educational Aid Exemption
For people who have been employed full-time as an educational aide, they may be eligible for educational benefits. Please refer to the following website for additional information: www.collegefortexans.com.
Please be certain to read other information regarding special circumstances for changes to budgets and awards, how and when aid is disbursed, what happens to financial aid if a student withdraws from UTSA, and how students’ grades and class completion impact financial aid satisfactory academic progress.
Please contact Student Financial Aid and Enrollment Services with help or additional questions: (210) 458-8000 or 1-800-669-0919 or financialaid@utsa.edu