University of Texas System - Put office name here

There are many resources available to students and parents on applying for college and for financial aid. Your high school guidance counselor is a good place to start. There are also many resources on the web that can help! The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has a great website called College for Texans with everything you need to know about preparing for, applying to, and paying for college.

Read on for additional suggestions and tips...

How do I find out about a college or university?

Begin with the college or university's website. While you should not base your decision solely on what you see online (it's always a good idea to visit a campus in person or talk to family or friends who have gone there), websites can give you a good place to learn about their degree programs, campus life, and costs.

A list of University of Texas campuses with links to their homepages.
Descriptions of the UT campuses.
Find out about the colleges and schools at each UT campus.
You can find other Texas universities online.
You can find a list of all U.S. universities by state online.

How do I find out about admissions requirements?

Almost all colleges and universities require a high school diploma and SAT or ACT scores. They differ widely, however, in their selectivity -- in other words, how high your grades and scores must be. In addition, many may have additional requirements such as essays or letters of recommendation.

It is important to find out the admissions requirements for each university you plan to apply to well in advance. You don't want to find you're missing some requirements at the last moment. Admissions offices for most schools can be found on their websites.

A list of UT admissions offices is available online.

Helpful tips on college admissions can be found on the College for Texans website.

How do I decide which school(s) to apply to?

Selecting a college is ultimately a personal decision. Ask yourself which school is right for you. Consider location, cost, academic programs, selectiveness, and reputation. Look at the degree programs offered. Consider the availability of extracurricular activities -- Greek societies, athletics, music, fine arts, etc. Would you prefer a large or small school? Urban, suburban, or rural? Do you want to live on or off campus?

You can help yourself make this decision by breaking the process into several steps:

Identify what's important to you in a school. (For some ideas about points to consider visit www.mheso.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=930.)
Search for schools that have programs you are interested in.
Plan a visit to as many schools as possible. If you are interested in a school, but cannot visit, then make sure to visit them online. Ask friends or family who may have gone there. Check with the admissions office and see if they have a video or other promotional material. There are some commercial videos of campus tours that you can purchase. Just remember that this is not the same as seeing it for yourself.
Evaluate and compare schools that you like. Perhaps you can rank the schools in each of the areas that are important to you.
Apply to schools you want to attend. Remember to apply to a number of different universities. You don't want to be stuck if you don't get into your first (or only) choice.
Decide which school to attend. This is a big decision, consider all the facts...but don't forget to trust your instincts.

For tips on selecting the school that is right for you, try these useful sites:

College PowerPrep.
How Stuff Works -- How College Admission Works.
Mapping Your Future -- A guided tour of Selecting A School. On the tour, you'll find out what characteristics to look for when choosing a college or training program and how to find the best school for you.

How do I apply?

Once you have narrowed your search, it is time to submit applications to those institutions. Some people recommend applying to as many as eight different schools -- three "reach" schools; three "likely" schools; and two "safety" schools -- that way you can be assured you'll have a choice.

Each school will have a different application process, as well as different admissions requirements and deadlines for submission. Check with the admissions office of the school(s) you are interested in to make sure you have submitted everything required. Many schools now offer online applications--and most prefer this method.

Helpful tips on college admissions can be found on the College for Texans website.
For Academic Universities - Use the Texas Common Application. Complete one application for all colleges and universities in Texas.
For Health Institutions - Use the Texas Medical and Dental School Application.
Links to the official applications for hundreds of colleges and universities in the U.S.

How do I pay for college?

You've already applied to college. Congratulations! Now you (and perhaps your family) will need to plan for the cost of attending college. Luckily there is a lot of help out there. From grants and scholarships to work-study programs and student loans, there is financial aid out there for everyone -- both merit-based and need-based.

Begin your search for financial aid as soon as possible. There are several standard federal and state sources, but don't overlook private sources as well. Often local businesses or organizations offer scholarships for academic excellence, sports, or fine arts. These aren't always easy to find, so do your research. Your high school guidance counselor may know the best place to start, or contact local businesses and community organizations in your area. Following are some excellent sources for more information about tuition, fees, and scholarships.

How much will college cost?

Tuition and fees varies widely depending on the school. In general, in-state is cheaper than out-of-state and public is cheaper than private. Even within these groups, however, there can be wide differences. You should check with the admissions office at each school you are considering attending.

A good source for information about paying for college is College for Texans. Find out the cost of Tuition and Fees at UT institutions through their individual websites.

Don't forget, tuition, and fees are only one part of the cost of attending college. Books and supplies have to be considered. Whether you live on- or off-campus, there will be cost-of-living expenses for housing, food, and transportation. And there are always miscellaneous expenses for personal goods and entertainment.

There are several sites that offer budget worksheets to help students and potential students figure out their monthly cash flow.

Estimate the cost of college and available aid
Adventures in Education In School Budget Worksheet
Student Monthly Budget Worksheet

What are the requirements of the new tuition flexibility law for tuition set-asides for financial assistance?

20% of tuition increases approved by the UT System Board of Regents will be set aside for financial aid grants. Of this 20%, 5% goes to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for a new, forgivable loan program called the "B-on-Time" program.

The UT System is committed to tuition policies that enable low- and middle-income families to afford a high quality education for their sons and daughters.

What kinds of financial aid are available?

The federal government provides about 70 percent of the student financial aid available across the country.

The largest amount of federal financial aid is loans (Stafford subsidized loans - now at 2.87% for enrolled students, and other loan programs) - total of $40 billion in 2001 (9.4 million students). Federal grants to students (Pell Grants) are about $8.7 billion a year (3.9 million students). Work-study programs are $1.01 billion (1 million students).The government also has a system of tax credits and tax deductions for tuition and fees.In addition, several State financial aid programs are available to help students. The College for Texans website has an excellent list of financial aid resources.Each of the UT campuses offers a range of additional scholarship and grants, many of which are funded through private donations. See each individual campus financial aid and scholarship website for more information.

Are there tax benefits for the families of students enrolled in college?

Yes, there are tax deductions and tax credits. See the IRS for more information.

How do I find financial assistance for my child's education?

There are many federal, state, local, and private sources of financial aid. Some are merit-based (based on a student's academic record or other activities), some are need-based (based on a family's income). Financial aid can include grants and scholarships or loans and work-study. The resources available are different for each university, so it is important to speak with the UT Financial Aid Office at the universities you are considering.

How can I reduce the financial demands of a college education?

Encourage your children to take more credits per semester and to graduate on time. Each additional semester spent in school beyond a traditional four years results in additional living expense and additional time out of the job market, or extends the time away from graduate and professional schools. In addition, learn about all the types of financial aid that are available and take advantage of these programs. Every college and university offers free financial aid counseling.

What resources are available for financial aid?

Following is a list of some resources that may be available to you:

The College for Texans website has an excellent list of financial aid resources.

Federal Pell Grant is for undergraduates and is based on need.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is given to undergraduates with need.

TEXAS Grants are awarded to undergraduates with financial need. Many other states offer similar programs. Federal and State Loan Programs are usually available to almost every student and are not dependent on financial need. Payments on student loans can often be deferred until after the student is no longer enrolled in university.

What is a Stafford Loan?

With the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, you have the option either to pay the interest during in-school periods, or to let it accumulate (accrue) and be added to your loan amount (capitalize) when you begin repayment after you are out of school. Borrow as little as possible overall, and only when necessary to meet your costs, from these more expensive loan programs.

What is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans?

If you are awarded a subsidized loan, the federal government pays the interest charged during periods of at least half-time enrollment, as well as during the six months after you cease to be enrolled at least half-time (graduation, withdrawal).

It is generally recommended that individuals borrow as much as possible from these programs before borrowing from unsubsidized loan programs to save on interest charges. For unsubsidized loans, interest is due and payable as soon as the first disbursement of loan funds is made by your lender.

What is the TEXAS Grant program? Who qualifies?

The TEXAS Grant program provides a grant for eligible students to attend public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education in Texas. A qualified student will be a Texas resident with financial need and an expected family contribution of no more than $8,500 who has applied for any available financial aid or assistance and has not been previously granted a baccalaureate degree. Students must enroll at least three-quarter time in an undergraduate degree or certificate program at a Texas non-profit college or university.

What are Pell Grants? Who qualifies?

Federal Pell Grants generally are awarded to families making less than $40,000. A Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Generally, Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. (A professional degree is usually earned after earning a bachelor's degree in a field such as medicine, law, or dentistry.) In some cases, you might receive a Pell Grant for attending a post-baccalaureate teacher certificate program. Click here for more information.

What other options are available?
Federal Work-Study / State Work-Study funds are limited and are awarded until depleted to undergraduate students who show a calculated financial need and who requested employment awards on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. University scholarships are most often awarded based on academic merit, although some are given based on financial need. Check with the Financial Aid and Scholarship at your university for more information.

How do I find out more about financial aid?

Almost everyone qualifies for some form(s) of financial aid. Here are some sites that will help you find out about resources.

Financial Aid and Scholarship offices of the 15 University of Texas campus web sites. Free Application for Federal Student Aid provides online forms, information, and guidelines for federal student aid. This site is a must-see if you plan to receive financial assistance from the U.S. government. (Llene su Solicitud FAFSA en Español)

FinAid.com is a great resource on financial aid, loans, scholarships, savings plans, and military aid.

Federal Student Aid Programs (U.S. Department of Education) website where you'll find help for every stage of the financial aid process, whether you're in school or out of school.

Funding Your Education If you have not yet enrolled in college or any kind of postsecondary school, you should read this, an introductory publication that gives an overview of the Student Financial Assistance Programs and of how to apply for aid. (Cómo pagar su educación)

The Student Guide (Guía para estudiantes) If you're already enrolled in college, you may want to consult the Student Guide, which provides more information about the aid process while you're in school.

Financial Aid Supersite provides reviews of some of the more popular FAFSA-related sites and programs for free and offers for-hire financial aid guidance services.

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