About Financial Aid

Financial Aid programs provide assistance to eligible students who, without such funds, would be unable to attend college. The founding idea behind most federal and state financial aid programs is that the primary responsibility for educational expenses must first lie with the family. It is only when the family lacks the financial resources to meet the full cost of attendance that financial aid programs may be used.

Financial aid for eligible students is available in the form of grants, scholarships, college work-study, loan programs, and veterans' benefits that are funded by federal, state, and/or local sources.

UTB/TSC uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility of students for most federal and state financial aid programs. A new application must be filed each year. Since this process can take up to 4 - 6 weeks, it is recommended that students apply in early February for the upcoming fall semester.

Grants, which do not have to be repaid, are typically awarded to the neediest students. Students offered work-study funds will be required to attend a work-study orientation and will have an opportunity to interview with prospective employers. Once placed in a position, students may work up to 20 hours per week at minimum wage. If an award is not sufficient to cover the student's educational expenses, or if the student prefers not to work while attending college, a student loan may be requested. Students will be required to attend a loan counseling session and must successfully complete a debt management test before a loan application can be processed.

Completing the application process on or before March 1 will guarantee that a financial aid package will be offered to eligible students for use during the REG PERIODS. Only some grants and/or scholarship funds may be credited to pay registration costs when used during REG PERIODS. If a balance remains, it will be disbursed during the first week of classes. Loan checks are usually released on or after the first class day.

Additional Financial Aid Resources

'FastWeb College Gold', by Mark Kantrowitz and Doug Hardy, recently moved into the top 200 of the Amazon.com bestseller list. All royalties from the book are used to provide one free copy to every college and high school FastWeb member, according to Kantrowitz. Information in the book is supplemented by a free companion site at www.collegegold.com which contains downloads from the book, worksheets, and interactive tools for students and parents seeking to learn more about student aid