Completing the process for Financial Aid

After you complete the online FAFSA, the federal government must process your information before it’s available to universities. UT Austin typically receives FAFSA data after February 15.

If we have an e-mail address for you, we’ll let you know when we receive your FAFSA data. You should make sure that the university has a valid e-mail address for you to ensure that you’ll always receive official notifications from the university.

After we receive your FAFSA information, we’ll determine which kinds of aid you’re eligible for and the amounts of each type that you should be awarded. The decisions are made based on your financial need.

After you’re admitted, we’ll send you an Electronic Financial Aid Notification (EFAN). The EFAN offers details about the kinds of aid for which you qualify and the amounts. We’ll send you an e-mail about your EFAN (if we have a valid e-mail address for you); you’ll also be able to link to your EFAN through Status Check by logging in using your EID and password.

We begin making awards around the end of March or the first week in April.

When you’re notified of your financial aid award, you should review the information carefully to decide whether you want to accept all the types of aid you are being offered. Once you decide, indicate your decision through the Electronic Financial Aid Notification (E-FAN) and submit any additional documents required. This is also a good time for you to report any additional resources and/or scholarships you expect to receive or have received.

Depending on the type of aid you are offered, there may be additional requirements that you must complete in order to receive your funds. For example, student loan recipients must also sign a promissory note and receive loan counseling.

Any additional requirements will also need to be completed before the release of your financial aid.

The Office of Student Financial Services disburses aid funds a few days before classes begin. When your funds are disbursed, they will be directly applied to anything you currently owe to the university—your tuition and housing expenses, for example. You must pay any outstanding balance by the payment deadline.

If any funds remain after your university debts are paid, we release the funds to you, usually by direct deposit into your bank account or by check.

Receiving Outside Scholarships

Many of our students receive scholarships from a variety of outside sources and donors (private companies, foundations, and religious and community organizations). If you received a scholarship check or if the donor wishes to send the funds directly to UT Austin, visit TexasScholarships.org for instructions about where to send these funds so they are processed appropriately.