• FINANCIAL AID

• • Applications Deadlines
  • Application Process
  • Financial Aid Information
  • Cost of Attendance
  • Enrollment Status / Minimum Hours
  • Eligibility
  • Financial Aid Checklist
  • Financial Aid Award
  • Loan Orientation Counseling & Exit
  • Policy:
  •     Appeal Process
  •     Satisfactory Academic     Progress
  •     Withdrawal and Refunds
  • Study Abroad
  • Tuition

SCHOLARSHIPS

• • Applications & Deadlines
  • Applying for Scholarships
  • Eligibility
  • Policy:
  •     Deferments
  • Scholarships:
  •     College & Departmental
  •     Freshman
  •     Need
  •     Private
  •     Transfer
  •     Tuition Waivers

WORKING THROUGH COLLEGE

• • Federal Work Study
  • Student Employment
  • U of U Employment

OTHER

• • UHEAA
  • Fast Web

AWARD INFORMATION

Federal Pell Grant   |  Academic Competitiveness Grant  | Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant |  Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant  | Federal Perkins Loan  |  Subsidized Stafford Student Loan  |  Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan  |  Federal Work Study  | Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program  |  Utah Education Fund Grant (UEF)  | UCOPE Grant | UCOPE Work Study | Need Based Tuition Assistance Grant (NBTAG)  | Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority Grant (UHEAA) | PLUS Loan (Parent Loan requires completion of the FAFSA)  |  Federal Graduate/ Professional PLUS Loan

Federal Pell Grant:

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid as long as eligibility is maintained. Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree or professional degree. This award is based upon the full-year projection of the highest enrollment status you anticipated on your application. If you enroll for more or fewer credits in any semester, the award may be adjusted for that semester. Therefore, please contact us prior to making any enrollment changes. This can be done by coming in to our office at 105 Student Services Building, by calling our office at (801) 581-6211, or in writing. (Return toTop of Page)

Academic Competitiveness Grant:

The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) builds on the Pell Grant program to provide increased funds for freshman students who complete a rigorous high school program of study and sophomore students with a cumulative 3.0 GPA during his or her freshman year. ACG is awarded only to Federal Pell Grant eligible applicants who are enrolled full-time and who are U.S. citizens. The amount of ACG in combination with the Federal Pell Grant and other financial aid cannot exceed a student’s demonstrated financial need. The ACG does not have to be paid back as long as eligibility is maintained.  For more information,  ACG. (Return toTop of Page)

Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant:

The Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant builds on the Pell Grant program to provide increased funds for junior and senior students who major in specific physical, life, or computer science; engineering; mathematics, technology; or a critical foreign language. Students in his or her major coursework must maintain a 3.0 GPA. SMART is awarded only to Federal Pell Grant eligible applicants who are enrolled full-time and who are U.S. citizens. The amount of SMART grant in combination with the Federal Pell Grant and other financial aid cannot exceed a student’s demonstrated financial need. SMART does not have to be paid back as long as eligibility is maintained.  For more information, SmartGrants (Return toTop of Page)

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant:

A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need - that is, students with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC) - and gives priority to students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Like the Federal Pell Grant, an FSEOG doesn't have to be paid back as long as eligibility is maintained. (Return toTop of Page)

Federal Perkins Loan:

The Federal Perkins Loan program is campus-based and awarded by the University of Utah. It is available to undergraduate and graduate students who attend school half-time or greater. Students must be enrolled full time (6 or more credit hours per semester for undergraduate students, 5 or more credit hours per semester for graduate students) by the last day to add classes for each semester, as published by the Registrar's Office, and maintain that enrollment throughout the term. The loan interest rate is 5 percent with a nine month grace period. The grace period begins when the student drops below half-time or does not attend. Repayment on the loan will begin at the end of the grace period. You will need to sign a new promissory note each academic year. The funds will be disbursed on a semester basis after the promissory note is received and a loan orientation is completed. A loan orientation must be completed each year that a loan is disbursed. The student will repay the loan to the University of Utah. (Return toTop of Page)

Subsidized Stafford Student Loan:

A Subsidized Stafford Student Loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. You will not be charged any interest while you're enrolled in school at least half-time, during a 6-month grace period, or during authorized periods of deferment. The federal government "subsidizes" the interest during those periods. Interest will begin to accrue - that is accumulate - when you enter repayment. The interest rate on the loan could change each year of repayment depending on changes to the Federal Treasury Bill interest rate, but it will never exceed 8.25 percent. This rate applies to all Stafford Loans that are disbursed on or after July 1, 1994. If you have loans that were first disbursed before July 1, 1994, the interest rate on those loans may be different. Check with the lender or agency that holds your loan to verify your interest rate. Stafford Loans disbursed as of July 1, 2006, will have a fixed interest rate of 6.8%. You may be required to pay an origination fee, which may be up to 3% of the loan depending on the lender. This fee is deducted proportionately from each disbursement of your loan. A loan orientation must be completed each year that a loan is disbursed.

Delivery of the first disbursement of Stafford Loan funds is dependent on timely completion of your financial aid file. (Return toTop of Page)

Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan:

An Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan is not awarded on the basis of need. You will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is repaid in full, including in-school, grace, and deferment periods. You may choose to pay the interest during these periods, or it can be capitalized. If you choose to have the interest capitalized, it will be added to the principle amount of your loan and additional interest will be based upon the higher amount. This will increase the amount that you have to repay. If you choose to pay the interest as it accumulates, you'll repay less in the long run. The interest rate on the loan could change each year of repayment depending on changes to the federal treasury bill interest rate, but it will never exceed 8.25 percent. This rate applies to all Stafford Loans that are disbursed on or after July 1, 1994. If you have loans that were first disbursed before July 1, 1994, the interest rate on those loans may be different. Check with the lender or agency that holds your loan to verify your interest rate. Stafford Loans disbursed as of July 1, 2006, will have a fixed interest rate of 6.8%. You may be required to pay an origination fee, which may be up to 3% of the loan depending on the lender. This fee is deducted proportionately from each disbursement of your loan. A loan orientation must be completed each year that a loan is disbursed.

Delivery of the first disbursement of Stafford Loan funds is dependent on timely completion of your financial aid file. (Return toTop of Page)

Federal Work Study:

The Federal Work Study (FWS) program provides opportunities for students attending half-time or greater, to work on campus while attending school. Most employing departments are flexible with the student’s school schedule. The student is responsible for obtaining his/her own employment. However, the potential employing department must obtain authorization (Job Referral Notice - JRN) from the financial aid office before the student may begin working under the program. The student receives a paycheck twice per month for the hours worked and regular taxes are deducted. FWS earnings do not count against financial aid eligibility for the following year.  Work-study is one form of federal financial aid that is awarded to students with demonstrated financial need.  Students may not be required to apply for work-study in order to receive other forms of student aid such as an assistantship, tuition waiver, scholarship or grant.

The student is awarded the amount of FWS that may be earned. When the full amount of the FWS award has been earned, the employer has the option to hire the student as a regular hourly employee and pay the full hourly rate, or terminate him/her. A student who has FWS is awarded on a yearly basis with the award covering a period of eligibility within the fiscal year, July 1 to June 30. The student must reapply for FWS each year he/she would like to be considered. After the award has been made the student has a limited time period in which to find a job or their FWS award may be cancelled. Once the student is employed, he/she must work on a consistent basis.

FWS funds are limited. If the student is not initially awarded FWS, he/she should contact the Financial Aid Office for the procedure to request possible available funds.

Students electing to participate in the FWS program must review and understand the FWS Information and Policy. If you have additional questions, contact the FWS Coordinator at faws@sa.utah.edu. (Return toTop of Page)

Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program:

The Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program (LEAPP) is available to Utah resident undergraduates who demonstrate financial need. You must be a full-time student (12 or more credit hours) to receive the LEAPP. A LEAPP does not have to be paid back, as long as you maintain eligibility for the funds you received. (Return toTop of Page)

Utah Education Fund Grant (UEF):

The Utah Education Fund Grant is available to Utah resident undergraduates who demonstrate exceptional economic need and who are educationally disadvantaged. You must be a full-time student (12 or more credit hours) to receive the UEF Grant. A UEF Grant does not have to be paid back, as long as you maintain eligibility for the funds you received. (Return toTop of Page)

UCOPE Grant:

The Utah Centennial Opportunity Program for Education (UCOPE) Grant is available to Utah resident undergraduates who qualify for Pell Grants. UCOPE was established by the Utah State Legislature and serves as a supplement to increasingly inadequate grant assistance from Federal Government financial aid programs. You must be a full-time student (12 or more credit hours) to receive the UCOPE Grant. Like other grants, UCOPE does not have to be paid back, as long as you maintain eligibility for the funds you received. (Return toTop of Page)

UCOPE Work Study:

Utah Centennial Opportunity Program for Education (UCOPE) Work Study is a financial aid award established by the Utah State Legislature. It is designed to give undergraduate students who are attending school full-time the opportunity to work on campus. UCOPE is awarded on the basis of need to students who are Pell Grant eligible and residents of the state of Utah. The UCOPE program operates similar to the Federal Work Study (FWS) program and its regulations. Students can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester. The student receives a paycheck for the hours worked twice per month and regular taxes are deducted. Funding for this program is very limited. (Return toTop of Page)

Need Based Tuition Assistance Grant (NBTAG):

The Need Based Tuition Assistance Grant (NBTAG) is available to undergraduates who demonstrate financial need. You must be enrolled for at least half-time, (6 or more credit hours) to receive the NBTA Grant. A NBTA Grant does not have to be paid back, as long as you maintain eligibility for the funds you received. (Return toTop of Page)

Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority Grant (UHEAA):

The Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority Grant (UHEAA) is available to undergraduates students who demonstrate financial need. You must be at least a half-time student ( 6 or more credit hours for undergraduate ) to receive the UHEAA Grant. A UHEAA Grant does not have to be paid back, as long as you maintain eligibility for the funds you received. (Return toTop of Page)

PLUS Loan (Parent Loan requires completion of the FAFSA):

PLUS loans enable parents with good credit histories to borrow to pay the education expenses of each child who is a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours or more). To be eligible to receive a PLUS Loan, you and your parents must complete the FAFSA and your parents generally will be required to pass a credit check. If they don't pass the credit check, they might still be able to receive a loan if someone, such as a relative or friend who is able to pass the credit check, agrees to endorse the loan, promising to repay it if your parents should fail to do so. Your parents might also qualify for a loan even if they don't pass the credit check if they can demonstrate that extenuating circumstances exist. You must meet the general eligibility requirements for Federal Student Financial Aid. Your parents must also meet some of these general requirements. For example, your parents must meet citizenship requirements and may not be in default or owe a refund to any student financial aid program.

The yearly limit on a PLUS Loan is equal to your cost of attendance minus any other financial aid you receive. The interest rate for Plus Loans disbursed before July 1, 2006, are variable but will not exceed 9%. Parents will be notified of interest rate changes throughout the life of their loan(s). Check with the lender or agency that holds your loan to verify interest rate(s). Plus Loans disursed after July 1, 2006, have a fixed 8.5% interest rate. Interest is charged on the loan from the date the first disbursement is made until the loan is paid in full. An origination fee of up to 4% will be charged on the loan and will be deducted proportionately each time a loan payment is made.

Repayment on a PLUS Loan generally begins within 60 days after the final loan disbursement for the academic year. There is no grace period for these loan. This means that interest begins to accumulate at the time the first disbursement is made. Your parents must begin repaying both principal and interest while you're in school.

Delivery of the first disbursement of PLUS Loan funds is dependent on timely completion of your financial aid file. (Return toTop of Page)

Federal Graduate/ Professional PLUS Loan:

The Graduate PLUS loan enables graduate students with good credit histories to borrow additional funds for education expenses. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree or certificate program. To be eligible to receive a Graduate PLUS Loan, students must meet the general eligibility requirements for Federal Student Financial Aid, complete the FAFSA, and pass a credit check. 

The yearly limit students may borrow on a PLUS Loan is equal to their cost of attendance minus other aid. Effective July 1, 2006, the interest rate on the Plus Loan is a fixed 8.5%. Interest is charged on the loan from the first date of disbursement until the loan is paid in full. Students are responsible for paying the interest that accrues. An origination fee of up to 2.5% will also be charged on the loan and deducted proportionately each time a loan payment is made.

Repayment on a PLUS Loan begins within 60 days after the final loan disbursement for the academic year. However, payments can be deferred while a borrower is enrolled at least half-time and has requested an in-school deferment.

Delivery of the first disbursement of PLUS Loan funds is dependent on timely completion of your financial aid file. (Return toTop of Page)