Paying for college Applying for Financial Aid
Even if you think you’re not likely to qualify for need-based aid, it’s still a good idea to apply. Many scholarships awarded by the university require applicants to apply for need-based aid. Applying is free, and many students are pleasantly surprised when they discover the aid they are eligible to receive.
Types of Financial Aid
For information about the types of financial aid that might be available to you at The University of Texas at Austin—including grants, loans, work-study and scholarships—visit the Funding Sources page on the Office of Student Financial Services web site.
Applying for scholarships
Find out about the process of applying for UT Austin scholarships and about college, departmental and program scholarships.
Apply for Financial Aid
Apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All need-based financial aid is awarded based on your FAFSA information. If you submit the FAFSA, you’re guaranteed to get at least one type of financial aid.
Steps in Applying for Financial Aid
1. Submit your FAFSA.
- Complete the FAFSA online, or see your high school counselor for a paper FAFSA.
- Be sure to list UT Austin (FAFSA code: 003658) as one of the colleges you’re considering so that the information you provide on the FAFSA will be reported to us.
- Submit your completed FAFSA by the recommended deadline (February 15 for summer applicants and March 31 for fall/spring applicants).
Applicants to the university can view secure information about receipt of their FAFSA data online (through Status Check) after the information is downloaded into the university’s data system; this usually happens by mid-March of each year.
For questions about your FAFSA data, please contact the Office of Student Financial Services.
2. Watch for your Financial Aid Notification.
If you’re admitted, we’ll send you an electronic financial aid notification that lists all forms of financial aid (and dollar amounts) we can offer you.
3. Decide on your aid.
Review the information you receive (also called your financial aid award package) to determine whether you want and need to accept all the forms of aid you’ve been awarded in the amounts listed. (You may decide not to accept all or some of the loans you’re awarded, for example.)
4. Respond to your financial aid notification.
Respond to your notification to let the Office of Student Financial Services know about the aid you want to accept, and they’ll tell you what to do next.
Aid for International Texas Residents
International students who qualify for Texas residency may also qualify for some state-funded financial aid programs.
Qualified students who wish to apply for state-funded financial aid should complete the PDF FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and submit a printed copy directly to the UT Austin Office of Student Financial Services. (Because international Texas residents are not eligible for federal aid, they should not complete the online FAFSA, which goes directly to the federal government.)
International Texas residents should mail the PDF FAFSA to:
Attn: Assistant Director of Student Financial Services
The University of Texas at Austin
P.O. Box 7758
Austin, TX 78713-7758
For questions about qualifying for international Texas residency, contact Deana Williams, the UT Austin Residency Officer, at 512-475-7408 or by e-mail.