Am I eligible to apply for financial aid?
To apply for federal financial aid (grants, work-study, loans), you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen*
- Have a valid Social Security number
- Have a high school diploma or a GED (general equivalency diploma)
- Be accepted for admission by the university and enrolled in an eligible degree or certification program
- Not be in default on any Title IV loan (Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan) or owe a refund on educational funds received at any institution
- Be registered with the Selective Service, if required
- Enroll in and maintain at least half-time class load at UNT Dallas and demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
* Non-Documented Students may qualify for state assistance under Texas Senate Bill 1528.
How and when do I apply?
To receive first consideration for awards, submit your FAFSA and all required documentation by the priority deadline.
If you miss the priority deadline, you can still submit your application. Student Financial Aid and Scholarships will continue to process applications received after these dates.
Learn how to apply for financial aid using our step-by-step process for applying for financial aid.
When I complete the FAFSA, will I be applying for scholarships?
No. Applying for scholarships is separate. However, many scholarships could require you to complete the FAFSA. For information about scholarships, visit our scholarship page.
What types of financial aid are available?
Grants: A grant is a type of need based aid that does not have to be repaid. Your financial need is determined by the FAFSA. Many federal, state and institutional grants are available at UNT Dallas.
Work-study: Work-Study jobs are partially funded by the state or federal government. Your eligibility for the work-study program is determined by financial need. Work-study students work 10 to 20 hours per week on campus and receive an hourly wage. A typical award is up to $4,000 per nine-month academic period.
Loans: Loans are available at low interest rates to students and parents of dependent students and must be repaid after you graduate or drop below half-time status. Some loans are based on financial need and others are available regardless of your financial circumstances. Several loan programs are available at UNT Dallas .
Determining Your Financial Need
The federal Department of Education determines your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on information you provide on the FAFSA. Parent and student resources are considered the first source of funds to finance an education. Parents' income is not included in the EFC for an independent student. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance (COA) and the EFC. Each university determines its own COA, which includes the average cost of tuition, books, room and board, and personal and travel expenses. If your COA is $18,506 and your EFC is $5,000, the financial need would be $13,506. Student Financial Aid and Scholarships will review your eligibility for need based programs up to the amount of your financial need, then review your eligibility for aid programs that are not based on need up to the amount of your COA . Your eligibility for need-based aid ($13,506 in the example) is not a guarantee that you will receive that amount.
Financial need is the difference between the Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Expected
Family Contribution (EFC). Each university is required to determine its own COA. Student
Financial Aid and Scholarships will review your eligibility for need-based programs
up to the amount of your financial need, then review your eligibility for aid programs
that are not based on need up to the amount of your COA.
Tuition Rate Plans and Financial Aid Eligibility
For new students, UNT Dallas offers two tuition plan choices to give you flexibility and convenience, the Focus Fixed Tuition plan and the Traditional plan. You are eligible to receive financial aid and/or scholarships no matter which tuition plan you choose. The Focus Tuition plan locks in your total academic costs (tuition and fees) for four years as long as you continue to meet the requirements.
Special circumstances
Representatives in the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office can use professional judgment and take special circumstances into consideration as decisions are being made about financial aid award packages. Examples of situations that are considered to be “special circumstances” include:
- Loss or reduction of employment, wages, or unemployment compensation
- Loss of untaxed income or benefits, such as Social Security or child support
- Separation or divorce
- Loss of a parent or spouse
- Unusually high medical expenses
You or your parents should call the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to explain your special circumstances. The financial aid administrator will then give you forms to complete so you can describe your situation.
When will I know?
Student Financial Aid and Scholarships will receive your FAFSA data electronically about
two weeks after you have completed
your FAFSA and you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). If you feel corrections
are necessary, contact Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. If your SAR is accurate,
keep it for your records.
Student Financial Aid and Scholarships will notify you via your student portal with additional instructions. It is important that you respond to all requests for additional information in a timely manner. Your file must be complete and you must be admitted to UNTD before processing of aid can continue. Again, applying for and receiving financial aid is a process.
The amount of your financial aid award will be posted on myUNTDallas, where you can accept or decline each award.
Do I have other options?
Yes. There are other UNT Dallas programs and services available to help you finance your education. These include:
- Tuition and Fee Installment Plan
- Veterans Programs—If you need to speak to a financial aid counselor, call 972.780.3662 or visit our office on the first floor of Building 1.
Class Attendance May Effect Your Federal Aid
Many federal aid programs, like the Pell Grant, Iraq Afghanistan Service Grant, and TEACH Grant awards, require class attendance for the courses you are enrolled and receiving grant funds. If you are marked as “Not Attending” on the official class roster (e.g., 12th day of each fall and spring term), your award amounts may be reduced or cancelled based on the courses you have actually begun attending. If you fail to begin attendance in all of the courses for which you are registered, you will have failed to establish eligibility for financial aid. In this situation, you will be required to repay all of the financial aid that you have received.
Enrollment Information
| Undergraduate | Graduate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Full-time |
12+ undergraduate hours |
Full-Time |
9+ graduate hours |
|
¾ time |
9-11 undergraduate hours |
¾ time |
6-8 graduate hours
|
|
½ time |
6-8 undergraduate hours |
½ time |
5 graduate hours |
|
Less than ½ time |
1-5 undergraduate hours |
Less than ½ time |
1-4 graduate hours |
Pending Aid
Most of your pending financial aid awards can serve as a payment arrangement for your class schedule. It is important to make necessary payment arrangements for your classes prior to published payment deadlines.
Which financial aid awards can be counted as Pending Aid?
The following types of financial aid awards are counted as Pending Aid:
• scholarships you have been awarded
• grants you have "Accepted" on myUNTDallas
• federal or state student loans you have "Accepted" on myUNTDallas
• federal Parent (PLUS) Loans for borrowers who do not have an adverse credit
history and Student Financial Aid and Scholarships has received a credit approval through the
Federal Direct Loan Program.
Which financial aid awards are not counted as Pending Aid?
The following types of financial aid awards are not counted as Pending Aid:
• work-study
• federal Parent (PLUS) Loans that have been denied due to adverse credit history
by the lender and/or SFAS has not received a credit approval by the lender.
How do I know if my Pending Aid will hold my class schedule?
The total of your Pending Aid must be equal to or greater than your Tuition and Fee
balance. If the total of your Pending Aid is less than your Tuition and Fee balance,
payment for the difference must be made prior to the published payment deadlines to
prevent your classes from being dropped. Payments can be made online at myUNTDallas.
If the total amount of your Pending Aid does not cover your full tuition and fee balance,
you must make arrangements to pay the difference by contacting Student Business Services in order to prevent your classes from being dropped (regardless of whether your financial
aid and scholarship proceeds are available by the payment deadline).