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Grants

Grants are financial assistance awarded to eligible students demonstrating financial need. Often referred to as “gift-aid,” grants are not generally required to be repaid.

For grant consideration, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The following grants are available to students based on program enrollment, dependency status and eligibility:

UTHealth
UTMDACC

A student is ineligible for institutional, state and Federal Student Aid (FSA) funds if he/she is in default on an
FSA loan, owes an overpayment on an FSA grant or loan and has not made a repayment arrangement for the
default or overpayment. Additionally, a student is ineligible for FSA if his/her property is subject to a judgment
lien for a debt owed to the United States. A parent of a dependent student is ineligible for a PLUS loan if either
the student or parent is subject to such a lien.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is funded by the Federal government.  Pell Grants are usually awarded only to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelors or professional degree. Applicants who hold a degree from an unaccredited school or a foreign degree that is equivalent to a U.S. Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate or Post-Doctorate degree are ineligible for the Pell Grant.

The Pell Grant does not need to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund or over payment).

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • Must be enrolled in an undergraduate course of study

Pell grant amounts are determined based on the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) and may change yearly.  The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2022-2023 award year (July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023) is $6,495.  The amount awarded will depend on:

  • Financial need
  • Cost of attendance
  • Enrollment status (full time, half-time, etc.)

Students may only receive Federal Pell Grant funds from one school at a time during an academic period. 

Federal law limits the amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding.  Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%. 

 

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a grant program administered directly by the financial aid office of participating schools.  Students who will receive Federal Pell Grants and have the most financial need will receive FSEOG first.  Like the Pell Grant, FSEOG does not need to be repaid. 

 FSEOG awards are made on a first come, first served basis to those who qualify based on fund availability.  

 

Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG)

The Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) is a grant provided to students with financial need and is administered directly by the financial aid office of participating schools.  TPEG awards are made on a first come, first served basis to those who qualify based on fund availability.  

Eligibility Requirements for TPEG:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen with a valid social security number
  • Must demonstrate financial need as determined by the Department of Education
  • Must register for Selective Service, unless exempt
  • Must be admitted into a degree program leading to a recognized educational credential
  • Must be enrolled at least half-time
  • Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students who do not have a social security number and are Texas residents may apply for state aid using the TASFA.


Towards Excellence, Access and Success (TEXAS) Grant

The Texas Grant, administered by the state of Texas, is a need-based grant provided to students who have completed either a Recommended or Distinguished Achievement high school program at an accredited Texas High School. 

The state priority deadline for applying for the Texas Grant is January 15th of each year. Funding is limited and the program is subject to change by the Texas Legislature.

Texas Grant Initial Year Awards (IY):

UTHealth does not receive an allocation for Texas Grant Initial Awards (IY).  However, we encourage undergraduate students who have earned an associate's degree from a public or private nonprofit institution of higher education in Texas, and who enrolled at UTHealth within 12 months after receiving the associate's degree to self-identify by sending an email to Financial Aid at sfaregis@uth.tmc.edu.  The email should include the month and date that the associate's degree was earned. If the student meets all the requirements to receive a basic initial award, every effort will be made to secure funding. 

Eligibility Requirements for Texas Grant (Renewal Awards only):

  • Must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.50
  • Complete at least 24 semester credit hours per academic year
  • Be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours per semester of award and has not yet been granted a baccalaureate degree
  • Have not been convicted of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance
  • Have a calculated financial need

Eligibility ends when one of the following has been met:

  • 150 credit hours (90 credit hours if initially awarded based on an associate’s degree) have been paid for by the grant
  • 5 years or 10 semesters (3 years or 6 semesters if initially awarded based on an associate’s degree) have passed since the initial award
  • A baccalaureate degree has been granted

All students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) in order to receive an award.  Students must self-identify by sending an email to Financial Aid at sfaregis@uth.tmc.edu.  In the subject line of the email, please type Texas Grant.  The email should include the following information:

  • Student’s name
  • Name of the institution where the student received the most recent Texas Grant award
  • Term (Fall/Spring) in which the student received the award, or
  • The month and date that an associate’s degree was earned (IY only)

Once the email is received, please allow at least 30 days for review of eligibility.

Awards

Target (approximate) award amounts for Texas Grants (actual awards vary year by year, depending on the amount of funding received):

            Award Per Academic Year:   $5,000
            Award Per Semester:            $2,500

Disbursements

Texas Grant disbursements are scheduled for Fall and Spring semesters only. The earliest that a disbursement may be requested by the University on behalf of the student for a Texas Grant award is September 1st of each year.  After the request has been submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, it may take approximately 3-4 weeks for the funds to arrive. 

Hardship Provision

A student who is ineligible for a TEXAS Grant award based on the general requirements may be deemed eligible under a TEXAS Grant Hardship Provision.  There are restrictions on which eligibility requirements can be granted a hardship as funding is limited.

Hardship Conditions

Such hardship conditions may include, but are not limited to:

  • A severe illness or other debilitating condition that may affect the student’s performance;
  • An indication that the student is responsible for the care of the sick, injured or needy person and the provision of care is affecting the student’s performance;
  • Enrolling below ¾ time to complete the student’s degree plan;
  • Illness or death of family member

 Students enrolled less than 6 Semester Credit Hours (SCH) cannot be considered for a hardship and are not eligible for a TEXAS Grant award.


Please visit the College for All Texans website for more information and a complete list of requirements.

Check out this video with eligibility requirements and how to apply!


Designated Tuition Grant

Senate Bill 1304, passed by the 81st Texas Legislature, directs institutions of higher education to provide notices to students (Texas Education Code § 56.014, Notice to Students Regarding Tuition Set Aside for Financial Assistance) who pay designated tuition of the amount of the tuition that is set aside for financial assistance.  Therefore, UTHealth, UTMDACC and UTHealth Northeast are required by law (Texas Education Code, §§ 56.011, 56.012, and 56.465) to set aside a percentage of a student’s tuition for financial assistance programs.

  • Notifications are sent to students each semester they are enrolled via email after the 20th class day for Fall and Spring terms and the 15th class day of the Summer terms.
  • The set aside does not affect your financial aid awards nor does it guarantee that you will personally receive financial assistance. Financial assistance eligibility is determined by the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

 
Examples of the Financial Assistance programs funded from tuition set asides are:

  1. Grants
  2. Short-Term Student Loans (Emergency Loans)

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is tuition set aside?

Tuition set aside is a portion of the tuition paid by resident students (those classified as citizens of the State of Texas), “set aside” and dedicated to provide need-based financial aid to students.

Why are these funds being set aside?

The university is required by law to set aside a portion of tuition charged to a resident student.  See Texas Education Code §§ 56.011 and 56.012.

How much of my tuition is set aside?

Twenty percent (20%) per credit hour of designated tuition in excess of $46.00 per credit hour for an undergraduate resident and fifteen percent (15%) per credit hour of designated tuition in excess of $46.00 per credit hour for a graduate resident are set aside.  See Texas Education Code §§ 56.011 and 56.012

How much is designated tuition?

The designated tuition rate is subject to change. Check current resident tuition rates.

Am I being charged extra?

No, by state law, the University is required to put a portion of the designated tuition that stats resident pay into a fund to support financial aid to students.  No additional amount is assessed to compensate for this set-aside.

How is this money used?  Will I benefit from it?

Financial assistance provided by funds set aside includes grants, scholarships, work-study programs, student loans, and student loan repayment assistance.  To be eligible for assistance, a student must establish financial need in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.  In order to be considered for need based aid, the student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Will this impact my financial aid?

No, tuition set-aside does not affect your aid nor does it guarantee that you will receive financial aid.  Aid will be determined on a case by case basis and is based on your FAFSA and aid eligibility as determined by the Office of Student Financial Services.

What if I don’t want my money to be used this way?

Unfortunately, UTHealth, UTMDACC and UTHealth Northeast do not have the ability to change the requirements of the state law.  You may direct further questions and concerns to the Texas Legislature.

For more information regarding Grant programs, please contact the Office of Student Financial Services.