UTRGV Tuition Advantage
COVID-19 (coronavirus) is creating an environment of unprecedented uncertainty. At UTRGV, we believe that earning your degree should never be uncertain. We are committed to helping you pursue education, without fearing the unknown.
As always - and especially now - UTRGV understands the importance of supporting our students and families by making the university experience more affordable.
We are proud to announce an expansion of the UTRGV Tuition Advantage grant. Launching in Fall 2020, this program will now cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for students with a family income of $95,000 or less**.
Learn more about the Tuition Advantage grant below to see if you qualify.
Eligibility Criteria
|
First-Time Freshman |
New Transfer |
Readmit |
Continuing |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$95K Family Income or Less |
$95K Family Income or Less |
$95K Family Income or Less |
$95K Family Income or Less |
|
Financial Need |
Financial Need |
Financial Need |
Financial Need |
|
Minimum 19 ACT or 990 SAT or Top 10% of HS Class |
Minimum 2.5 Overall GPA |
Minimum 2.5 UTRGV GPA |
Minimum 2.5 UTRGV GPA |
|
Admitted to UTRGV by March 1st |
Admitted to UTRGV by March 1st |
Admitted to UTRGV by March 1st |
N/A |
|
*FAFSA/TASFA completed by March 15th |
*FAFSA/TASFA completed by March 15th |
*FAFSA/TASFA completed by March 15th |
*FAFSA/TASFA completed by March 15th |
| N/A | Must meet Financial Aid SAP (satisfactory academic progress) | Must meet Financial Aid SAP (satisfactory academic progress) | Must meet Financial Aid SAP (satisfactory academic progress) |
|
Texas Resident |
Texas Resident |
Texas Resident |
Texas Resident |
|
Enrolled 15 Semester Credit Hours or more no later than July 15th |
Enrolled 15 Semester Credit Hours or more no later than July 15th |
Enrolled 15 Semester Credit Hours or more no later than July 15th |
Enrolled 15 Semester Credit Hours or more no later than July 15th |
|
Covers: Tuition and Mandatory Fees |
Covers: Tuition and Mandatory Fees |
Covers: Tuition and Mandatory Fees |
Covers: Tuition and Mandatory Fees |
*Based on fund availability per academic year and awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
**Tuition and mandatory fees for students with an adjusted family income of $95,000 or less will be covered by Tuition Advantage up to available unmet financial need. For an explanation of unmet financial need please refer to our FAQs section below.
FAQs
The UTRGV Tuition Advantage grant is the university's commitment to making higher education more accessible. Students who qualify for this program have the potential to have tuition and mandatory fees fully covered. UTRGV understands the importance of providing financial assistance for students with unmet financial need and strives to provide transparency in the awarding process.
The UTRGV Tuition Advantage grant is a program designed to cover tuition and mandatory fees by first utilizing federal and state aid, like Federal Pell and Texas Grant, scholarships and other gift aid. Any remaining tuition and mandatory fees not covered by these programs will be covered by the Tuition Advantage.
Yes, if you are a new freshman or transfer student, you must have submitted the appropriate ApplyTexas Application and been admitted to UTRGV by the March 1 deadline.
Whether a new Freshman, Transfer Student, or a current UTRGV student, you need to complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid) by March 1st**. All students who meet this deadline will automatically be considered for the UTRGV Tuition Advantage grant.
**Please Note: If your FAFSA/TASFA application is selected for verification or you are under a verification review, your verification file must be completed and finalized by the financial aid office by March 1st. It is important to submit your verification documentation timely to allow the financial aid office to review and complete your file by March 1st.
For eligible students with a family income of $95,000 or less, tuition and mandatory fees will be covered through grants, scholarships and/or additional UTRGV financial aid. A student’s expected family contribution (EFC), as determined by the US Department of Education, is included in the Tuition Advantage calculation and may impact the award amount. A students EFC has the ability to reduce Financial Need. For an explanation of Financial Need please refer to our FAQ’s under the question, ‘What is Financial Need?’.
Students interested in being considered for the Tuition Advantage grant must file a FAFSA/TASFA every year, have an adjusted gross family income of $95,000 or less, and meet all eligibility requirements. Students currently attending UTRGV or returning to UTRGV as a Readmit student must meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to be eligible for the award.
Yes, transfer students new to UTRGV are eligible as long as the overall GPA is greater than 2.5 and all transfer eligibility requirements are met.
The UTRGV Tuition Advantage grant is for students seeking an undergraduate degree. Undergraduate students must be working toward the completion of their first undergraduate degree and meet the eligibility criteria.
Currently enrolled undergraduates working on their first bachelor’s degree are eligible for the UTRGV Tuition Advantage grant. Students currently enrolled at UTRGV must meet the Continuing Student eligibility criteria.
A Readmit Student is an undergraduate degree-seeking student who previously attended UTRGV but has not enrolled at UTRGV for one year or three consecutive semesters (fall, summer, spring). An application for (re)admission is required and students must be readmitted by March 1st to be considered for the Tuition Advantage Grant.
UTRGV. Note: Tuition Advantage is only available to students seeking first bachelor degree. Second degree-seeking and Graduate and Professional students do not qualify.
Financial Need is the difference between the cost of attendance and the expected family contribution. (Financial Need = COA – EFC).
Unmet Financial Need, sometimes referred to as a gap, is the difference between Financial Need and the student’s need-based financial aid awards. (Unmet Financial Need = Financial Need – Financial Aid).
Late payment fees, late registration fees, excess credit hour fees, class repeat fees, drop fees, and any fees for auxiliary services, such as parking or citation fees; are not covered by the UTRGV Tuition Advantage.
The UTRGV Tuition Advantage program is designed to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by other federal or state aid and scholarships. Meal plans and residence hall charges are not considered tuition and mandatory fees and will not cover these charges.
Continuing and Readmitted Students must be enrolled in 15 hours for the Fall term no later than July 15th. All other eligibility criteria must have been met by the deadlines outlined in the table above to qualify for UTRGV Tuition Advantage. Please Note: Tuition Advantage is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and fund availability.
First Time Freshmen and New Transfer students must be enrolled in 15 hours for the Fall term no later than July 15th. All other eligibility criteria must have been met by the deadlines outlined in the table above to qualify for UTRGV Tuition Advantage. Please Note: Tuition Advantage is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and fund availability.
The UTRGV Tuition Advantage is awarded for students that attend the entire academic year (Fall and Spring) and funds are typically not available for students that attend only in Spring.
UTRGV Tuition Advantage is awarded to undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor’s degree.
Scenarios:
Natalie plans to enroll in 15 hours in both the Fall and Spring. Her Family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $95,000 or less. For Fall 2021-Spring 2022, the average budget of attendance at UTRGV is $15,896 ($7,948 Fall/$7,948 Spring), and Guaranteed Tuition is $8,132 ($4,066 Fall/$4,066 Spring). She completed her FAFSA by the deadline and has an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $7,764. According to these figures, Natalie will have her tuition and fees fully covered by UTRGV Tuition Advantage.
