Grants

Federal Pell Grant

To be eligible for a Pell Grant you must meet the federal government’s definition of an eligible student. Additionally, you must be an undergraduate pursuing your first bachelor’s degree.

To apply for a federal Pell Grant you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . Both your grant eligibility and the amount of grant money you receive will depend upon your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and how many credit hours you are taking each semester. The maximum grant in 2021-2022 is $6,495. When you complete the FAFSA , you have applied for this program. Additionally, if you are eligible for the federal Pell Grant at one school, you should be eligible at all of the schools to which you have applied, assuming the school is participating in federal student financial aid programs.

Pell Grants are unique in that, unlike almost every other grant program, the government will give you this grant if you meet their eligibility requirements, regardless of how many other students have applied. While the Congress sets an annual allocation, if the program exceeds that yearly allocation, the grant you receive is not usually adjusted. Applications must be received before the end of the academic year, but there is funding available all year.

The Student Aid Report (SAR) you receive after you submit the FAFSA will indicate if your family contribution falls within the eligibility range for a Pell Grant.

One limitation of this program is that you may only receive it for the equivalent of up to six years of full-time enrollment.

Additional information regarding this program can be found at studentaid.gov.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

To be eligible to receive FSEOG, you must meet the federal government definition of an eligible student.

Each year the federal government gives The University of Texas at Dallas an allocation of FSEOG funds to award to our students. We are required to award the funds to our neediest students. Because there is a limited amount of money, we do everything we can to award the funds in a fair and equitable manner. In order to be considered for FSEOG funds, it is important that your FAFSA is submitted as soon as possible after October 1. There is no separate application for the FSEOG program.

Additional information regarding this program can be found at studentaid.gov.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

The TEACH Grant is different from other federal student grants in that it requires you to take certain kinds of classes in order to receive the grant and then to become employed in a certain profession to keep the grant from turning into a loan.

While UT Dallas does not have a school of education we do have programs that can lead to certification as a teacher in Texas. The TEACH Grant program provides grants to students who are completing, or plan to complete, coursework needed to begin a career in teaching and agree to teach, for at least four complete academic years, in a high-need field at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families. The maximum award amount for any TEACH Grant is $4,000. Since most qualified students are eligible for the maximum amount of TEACH Grant, it is important to remember that this maximum is subject to reduction by the federal government based on budgetary constraints. You may not necessarily receive $4,000 every year.

To apply for this program, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and also contact your UT Dallas financial aid counselor. Your counselor will speak to you about the requirements of the program and will explain the program’s service obligations.

Additional information regarding this program can be found at studentaid.gov.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants

Like other federal grants, the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant provides money to students to help pay their educational expenses. However, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants have special eligibility criteria. You are eligible to receive this grant if your parent was killed as the result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of September 11, 2001, and you were under 24 years old, or you were enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death, and you meet the definition of an eligible student.

The amount of this grant is the same as the maximum Pell Grant awarded for the year.

Additional information regarding this program can be found at studentaid.gov.

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

All Texas grant programs have the following requirements. You must:

• Be a Texas resident or qualify to pay in-state tuition, depending on the program’s requirement.
• Be registered for the Selective Service unless you are exempt from registration.
• Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress towards your degree.

Toward EXcellence, Access and Success (TEXAS) Grant

The TEXAS Grant is awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and who are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree. Because funds for this program are limited, it is important that you apply for financial aid as early as possible. The TEXAS Grant award amount (including state, federal and institutional grant and/or scholarship funds) is equal to the student’s tuition and required fees.

Initial Requirements

To be eligible for an initial award, you must:

• Be a Texas resident.
• Have not been convicted of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance.
• Demonstrate financial need.
• Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) less than or equal to $6,047 (as of 2020-2021).
• Register for selective service unless exempt from registration.
• Be enrolled for at least nine credit hours as one of the following:
  • An undergraduate student who:
  • • Graduated from an accredited high school in Texas.
    • Completed the Foundation, Recommended, or Distinguished Achievement program (or the equivalent) in high school.
    • Enrolled in a non-profit public college or university in Texas within 16 months of high school graduation having accumulated no more than 30 semester credit hours, excluding those hours earned for dual or concurrent courses or awarded for credit by examination (AP, IB, or CLEP).
  • An undergraduate student who:
  • • Earned an associate’s degree from a public or private nonprofit institution of higher education in Texas.
    • Enrolled in a non-profit public college or university in Texas within 12 months after receiving the associate’s degree.
  • An undergraduate student who:
  • • Graduated from an accredited high school in Texas May 1, 2013, or later.
    • Completed the Foundation, Recommended, or Distinguished Achievement program (or the equivalent) in high school.
    • Enlisted in military service within 12 months of high school graduation and enrolled in an eligible institution of higher education within 12 months of receiving an honorable discharge.
  • An undergraduate student who:
  • • Transfers into a public university in Texas with at least 24 semester credit hours and a minimum 2.5 GPA.
    • Received an initial year Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) in fall 2014 or later.

Students entering the program from high school who continue in college and who meet program academic standards can receive awards for up to 150 semester credit hours, until they receive a bachelor’s degree, or for five years if enrolled in a four-year degree plan, whichever comes first.

Students entering the program with an associate’s degree who continue in college and who meet program academic standards can receive awards for up to 90 semester credit hours, until they receive a bachelor’s degree, or for three years if enrolled in a four-year degree plan, whichever comes first.

Renewal eligibility requirements for receiving TEXAS Grant in subsequent years can be found on the Renewable Awards page.

Texas Public Education Grant

You will be considered for a Texas Public Education Grant if you demonstrate financial need and are not in receipt of a full tuition and fee scholarship or exemption. You must be enrolled at least half-time and must register for Selective Service unless you are exempt. Annual award amounts vary. Funding for this program is limited. You will be given preference for this program if your application and supporting materials are received by our published deadline.

Undergraduate/Graduate Assistance Grant

You will be considered for an Undergraduate or Graduate Assistance Grant if you are a Texas resident, demonstrate financial need, and are not in receipt of a full tuition and fee scholarship or exemption.  You must be enrolled at least half-time and must register for Selective Service unless you are exempt.  Annual award amounts vary. Funding for this program is limited.  You will be given preference for this program if your application and supporting materials are received by our published deadline.

Comet Promise

With Comet Promise, eligible students will have their tuition and fees covered through scholarships, grants, and tuition exemptions from federal, state, and institutional funds with any remaining tuition costs covered by Comet Promise funding. There are limited funds, and you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• At the time you are admitted to UT Dallas, you must be a resident of the state of Texas.
• You must be admitted on or before January 15 for the fall semester as a first-time college student or transfer student pursuing your first bachelor’s degree.  
• Your financial aid application must be complete on or before January 15.
  • A complete application is defined as a FAFSA that has been processed by the government without errors and with any required documents submitted to our office or a TASFA with all required documents submitted to our office.
  • To meet this requirement, we strongly encourage you to submit the FAFSA or TASFA at least two (2) weeks before the deadline. This will allow us to identify what additional information you need to submit and for you to provide the documents.
• You must have begun enrollment at UT Dallas in the fall semester of the academic year, beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year.
• Your family’s total income reported on the FAFSA or TASFA must be $65,000 or less.  This includes both your income and your parent’s income.
• You must have demonstrated financial need as determined by information provided on the FAFSA or TASFA.  
• You must complete at least 30 credit hours each academic year (fall, spring, and summer semesters) to remain eligible for this program.

Information on your eligibility to complete a FAFSA or TASFA is available here.

Comet Promise FAQs are available here.

Renewal eligibility requirements for receiving Comet Promise in subsequent years can be found on the Renewable Awards page.