Financial Aid - Frequently Asked Questions
- What is UT Health Science Center at San Antonio School Code (FICE)?
- What is verification?
- What if my financial circumstances have changed since I have applied?
- I have not lived with my parents for sometime, why am I still considered a dependent student?
- What are my rights and responsibilities?
- What happens if I withdraw from the University?
- How is my financial need calculated?
- How does my Fee Bill get paid?
1. What is UT Health Science Center at San Antonio Federal School Code (FICE)?
003659
2. What is verification?
Verification
We recommend that all the records and other materials used to complete the FAFSA be saved because the student may need to provide a copy of this information to the Financial Aid Office. If selected for verification, a copy of your, your spouse's (if applicable), and your parents’ (if considered to be a dependent student) U.S. IRS Income Tax Returns, W-2 forms, and/or other information must be submitted to our department. If this information is not provided, the student will not receive financial aid. If a student is awarded and receives financial aid based on incorrect information, the student will have to repay these funds
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3. What if my financial circumstances have changed since I have applied?
Unusual Circumstances
Students who have experienced extreme changes (such as involuntary loss of employment or major medical expenses not covered by insurance) in their personal life or financial situation should contact our department to schedule an appointment with a Financial Aid Counselor. Additional documentation may be required. Once the required documentation has been submitted, a review of the circumstance will occur. All information is considered confidential and will be retained by the university.
Please Note: Providing information for unusual circumstances does not guarantee that an adjustment will be approved.
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4. I have not lived with my parents for sometime why am I still considered a dependent student?
Independent vs. Dependent Students
Some students are automatically independent; in other words, they may file the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA without including parental information. In order to qualify for independent status, you must be able to meet and document at least one of the following conditions:
- Be born before January 1, 19XX (see FAFSA for the applicable year) for which aid is applied for. Must be 24 before January 1 of the school year that the student is applying for.
- Be a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Be an orphan or ward of the court or was a ward of the court until age 18.
- Have children or legal dependents, other than a spouse, for whom you provide more than 50 percent support.
- Be graduate or professional student admitted to the University.
- Be a currently married student.
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5. What are my rights and responsibilities?
Student Rights & Responsibilities
You have a right to ask the University:
- What financial assistance is available, including information on all federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.
- What the priority dates are for submitting applications for each of the financial aid programs available.
- What the cost of attendance is and what the policies are concerning refunds to students who withdraw.
- What criteria are used to determine financial need.
- How your cost of attendance is determined or how cost of attendance affects financial need. This process includes how costs for tuition and fees, room and board, travel, books and supplies, personal and miscellaneous expenses, etc., are considered in calculating your need.
- What resources (such as parental contribution, other financial aid, your assets, etc.) are considered in the calculation of your need.
- How much of your financial need has been met.
- To explain the various programs in your student aid package. If you believe your circumstances require additional analysis, you may request reconsideration of the offer that was made to you.
- What portion of the financial aid you receive must be repaid and what portion is gift aid. If the aid is a loan, you have the right to know the interest rate, the total amount that must be repaid, the length of time you have to repay the loan, and when repayment is to begin.
- How the school determines whether you are making satisfactory academic progress and what happens if you are not.
It is your responsibility to:
- Review and consider all information about the University's financial aid programs before you enroll.
- Pay special attention to your application for student financial aid, complete it accurately, and submit it on time to the right place. Errors can delay your receiving financial aid. Intentional misreporting of information on application forms for federal financial aid is a violation of law and is considered a criminal offense subject to penalties under the U.S. Criminal Code.
- Provide all additional documentation, verification, corrections, and new information requested by either the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which you submitted the application.
- Read and understand all forms that you are asked to sign and keep copies of all of them.
- Accept responsibility for all agreements you sign.
- If you have a loan, notify the lender of changes in you name, address, and/or school status. Also, notify the Financial Aid Office of address changes so that financial aid information can be sent to you in an expeditious manner.
- Perform, in a satisfactory manner, the work that is agreed upon in a Federal/State Work-Study job.
- Know and comply with the deadlines for application or reapplication for aid.
- Understand your schools’ refund policy.
- Report any funds you receive from assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, employment, etc., after your Financial Aid Offer has been made or accepted.
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6. What happens if I withdraw from the University?
Return of Federal Funds
Students who fail to complete at least 60% of their term may be required to return all or a portion of their student financial aid proceeds. Students receiving Federal Title IV funds have their eligibility recalculated based on the percentage of the enrollment period completed as calculated under the following formula:
# days completed by student
Total # of days in term
Unearned Federal aid (the amount that must be returned to the appropriate program) will be returned in the following formula: Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, Federal Pell Grant and Federal SEOG.
The following links contain 2 examples of the Return of Federal Funds:
QJohn and PeterPan
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7. How is my financial need calculated?
Evaluating Need
The primary purpose of student financial aid is to provide financial resources to eligible students who would otherwise be unable to pursue a post-secondary education. A basic premise of the financial aid programs is that the main responsibility for meeting college costs lies with the family. Financial aid programs are available to assist students and families who do not have the financial resources to meet the full cost of attendance. The financial aid programs at UT Health Science Center at San Antonio are designed to meet the documented financial need of all eligible students making satisfactory academic progress towards a degree.
The expected family contribution (EFC) is determined from information provided by the student and the student's family on the FAFSA. The EFC is determined by a calculation called the Federal Methodology, which is legislated by the United States Congress. Factors included in the calculation are: family size and number of family members in post-secondary education, the student's income and assets, parent's income and assets, and allowances for various taxes and basic family maintenance. Parents and/or the spouse are expected to contribute money and resources for post-secondary education. Students are also expected to contribute from their own assets, earnings, and savings.
Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending the University and Expected Family Contribution. Cost of attendance for major categories of students is reviewed and updated each year by the Financial Aid Office. The cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, board, transportation, applicable loan fees, and miscellaneous expenses. Financial need minus any other outside financial assistance determines the student's Financial Aid Eligibility.
Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution = Financial Need
Financial Need - Outside Financial Assistance (i.e. VA Benefits, scholarships) = Need Based Financial Aid Eligibility
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8. How does my Fee Bill get paid?
Fee Payment
Students are responsible for ensuring that no fees or charges are past due to the University. Financial aid is typically applied to a student's account no earlier than 10 days prior to the 1st class day with the exception of the Federal Pell Grant which is applied to student accounts on the 13th class day. Once applied to a student account the aid is applied to any outstanding current year charges. Residual funds are subsequently mailed to the students’ home address or direct deposited into the students’ bank.
In general, financial assistance is disbursed once each semester. We recommend that students read their Fee Statement and their Fee Information Bulletin carefully to avoid difficulties with University charges. To change your address, please contact the Registrar’s office, or update online at http://inside.uthscsa.edu.
Please note: Students whose fees are not paid by the deadline published in the class schedule may have their registrations canceled. Any student whose aid has not arrived and does not have the personal resources to make the required payment should contact our department prior to the first class day.