Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I apply for financial aid at the University of Tampa?

   UT automatically considers students for merit scholarships at the time of admission.

   The only application required to apply for need-based financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available online at  StudentAid.gov and should be completed soon after Oct. 1 for entry in the following academic year. Add UT’s school code 001538 to the list of schools to have results sent electronically to the Financial Aid Office. A financial aid package will be sent to applicants in the mail. 

   Other scholarships (like Departmental and Specialized scholarships) require a separate application. More information on these scholarships and the application process is available on the Scholarships and Grants page. 

   Note: The 2024-2025 FAFSA is expected to be available in December 2023. The U.S. Department of Education has not announced a specific date at this time. The Aid application is expected to be available on Oct. 1 in subsequent award years.
   
   
2. Where can I find information on the cost of tuition, meal plans, and room and board?
   

   The most current information can be found on the Tuition and Costs page of the UT website.

3. Besides federal grants and loans, what other types of aid are available?

   Check with your high school counselor or state agency to find out more about applying for aid from your state of residence. Florida residents should review the Aid for Florida Residents page for more information.

   Many community organizations, churches and businesses award scholarships. Start your search for  Outside Scholarships here.

   You should never have to pay an application fee or for anyone to help you find financial aid opportunities.

4. I am admitted to UT and cannot log into the Financial Aid Portal to view my aid offer. Where can I go for help?

   The Financial Aid Portal is intended for use by students who are applying for admission to The University of Tampa for a future term (applicants) and do not yet have access to MyUTampa. Applicants for admission will receive an email from utampa@myworkday.com to the email address on their admissions application.

   If you no longer have access to the email address listed on your SpartanStart portal or need to make an update, please contact the Admissions Office: 

   • Email:  admissions@ut.edu
   • Phone: (813) 253-6211

   If you’re still having trouble logging in, Contact Financial Aid for assistance:

   • Email:  finaid@ut.edu
   • Phone: (813) 253-6219

   UT students currently registered in coursework for the current or upcoming term who already have access to MyUTampa may login to Workday through MyUTampa after receiving emails with login information (MyUTampa username and password). Click on the Workday chicklet and once inside Workday, select the Finances app to view your financial aid. 

   Continuing students will receive an email notification in regard to the availability of their award package for the upcoming award year in late spring. 

5. What are the deadline dates for applying for financial aid?

   UT does not have an official deadline. However, funds are limited and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

6. Is the profile form processed by the College Scholarship Service (CSS) required by UT?

   No, UT uses the FAFSA to determine a student’s eligibility for institutional aid.

1. How is the institutional merit scholarship and scholarship amount determined when I apply to the university?

   Undergraduate applicants are automatically evaluated for institutional merit-based scholarships at the time of admission. Scholarship eligibility is based upon unweighted GPA and course rigor for coursework completed at the time of admission. Unweighted GPA is the average of class grades based on a 4.0 scalas determined and calculated by the UT Admissions Committee. Scholarships are renewable annually and require full-time enrollment and Satisfactory Academic Progress.

2. What can I do if I have accepted all my financial aid and it is still not enough to pay for school? How do I get more financial aid?

   UT offers robust financial aid packages, however, funding is limited. Other sources of funding are:

   • Parent PLUS Loan (for parents of dependent students)
   • Alternative (private) student
   • Tuition Payment Plan
     
     
3. Why isn’t my Florida Prepaid included in my financial aid award?

   The Florida Prepaid Program is managed by the Bursar’s Office. Information on how the Florida Prepaid College Program works is available on the Payment Options page.

4. Why is the amount of my aid in Workday different from the award letter that I originally received in the mail? 

   Your financial aid may change based on changes in enrollment, when adjustments are made to your FAFSA (like when Verification is completed), including updates made by the applicant or another school. Your financial aid award may also change as a result of receipt of outside funds. See Excessive Awards for more information.

5. Why was I not awarded the Pell Grant? 

   Undergraduate students their first bachelor's degree may be eligible for the federal Pell Grant. Eligibility is determined by the information provided on the FAFSA. For more information on how this is determined please visit studentaid.gov. Non-degree-seeking students, students who have earned their bachelor’s degree or are post-baccalaureate students, are not eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. 

6. Where do I find information for Florida Aid and Bright Futures? 

   Information regarding the Florida Bright Futures scholarship programs and other Florida aid programs (including the Florida Prepaid program) can be found on the Aid for Florida Residents page.

7. I plan to live off campus. Will my financial aid be affected?

   A student’s housing status affects the cost of attendance (COA). COA is part of determining a student’s financial need. Moving off campus may change a student's financial need, which in turn could affect the financial aid package. 

8. How do I know if my financial aid will be renewed? 

   Renewal requirements are different for each financial aid award. Information on each aid program and its renewal requirement is described on the Financial Aid Renewal Page. 

9. Where can I find a listing of part-time employment opportunities on campus? 

   Information about working on- and off-campus is available on the Student Employment Page.

10. Is there aid available for the summer sessions? 

    The availability of summer aid is dependent upon how much aid a student uses during the regular academic year. Students should contact their financial aid counselor to check on aid eligibility.

11. My parents have been denied the PLUS Loan. Are there any other options for me?

    When a parent is denied the PLUS loan, the student is eligible for an additional unsubsidized loan in the amount of $4,000 for freshmen and sophomore grade levels; and $5,000 for juniors and seniors. Parents may also choose to find a credit-worthy endorser or appeal the credit decision. Visit studentaid.gov for more information about these options.

12. Can my financial aid exceed the cost of attendance?

    Aid may not exceed the cost of attendance. The Financial Aid Office may need to reduce aid previously awarded when students receive outside funds may have aid previously. See Excessive Awards for more information.

13. Many of the aid descriptions require “full-time” or “half-time” enrollment. What does this mean? 

    Financial aid awards are determined by the number of credits in which a student is enrolled in an academic period. UT uses a federal methodology to determine enrollment levels like “full-time’ and “half-time.”

    Federal student aid programs calculate enrollment based on the number of credits in which a student is enrolled that count towards their program of study. This means your enrollment status may be different from the enrollment status used to determine eligibility for federal student aid programs.

14. How much do textbooks cost each semester?

    We estimate that textbooks will be about $50 per credit in which the student is enrolled. Costs may vary; please see The University of Tampa’s official bookstore website. Students may search for their textbooks by course and course section from the Barnes and Noble website, or by using the ISBN number of the book. Students may choose to purchase their books and supplies from any vendor. 

15. How do I know if my financial aid will be renewed?

    Renewal requirements are different for each financial aid award. The information on each aid program and its renewal requirement is described on the Financial Aid Renewal Page.

1. When do I fill out the FAFSA?

   Normally, the FAFSA is available Oct. 1 for the upcoming academic year.

   Note: The 2024-2025 FAFSA will be available in December 2023. The U.S. Department of Education has not published an exact date at this time. In future years, the FAFSA is expected to be released on the normal October 1 schedule.

2. Is there help available for filling out the FAFSA?

   The Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 4-FED-AID (800-433-3243) can assist with questions about the FAFSA application process and are available mornings and weekday evenings. Online help for completing the FAFSA is available. Help text is available for every question on the FAFSA when you apply online at studentaid.gov.

3. My family has experienced a change in finances. Should I report this on the FAFSA application?

   Information on the FAFSA cannot be changed to reflect your current income. After the FAFSA is submitted, you will need to contact your financial aid counselor to discuss your family's individual circumstances and how we may be able to assist you. More information on this is available on the Special Circumstances and Professional Judgment page. 

4. Do I have to be a U.S. Citizen to receive federal financial aid?

   You do not have to be a U.S. Citizen to fill out the FAFSA application. The Department of Education has exceptions for eligible non-U.S. citizens. These exceptions are explained on the studentaid.gov website.

5. If my parents aren’t paying for college, can I be considered independent? 

   Your dependency status will not change regardless of whether or not your parents contribute financially to your college education. Completing the FAFSA does not obligate your parents to assist financially with your education. 

6. What if my parents refuse to complete the FAFSA?

   If your parents refuse to complete the FAFSA, you may be eligible to receive an unsubsidized student loan. This is the only aid you would qualify for in this circumstance. Contact your financial aid counselor to discuss your eligibility for this option. 

7. My parents are divorced. Do they both need to provide financial information to UT?

   If your parents are divorced or separated and don't live together, answer the questions about the parent with whom you lived more during the past 12 months. However, if this parent is remarried, then the stepparent’s information must be reported on the FAFSA. Additional guidance is available on studentaid.gov.

8. My parents are not married but live in the same household. Do they both need to be on my FAFSA?

   In this case, report information on both parents on the FAFSA. Additional guidance is available on studentaid.gov.

9. What if I don’t know where my parents are living? What should I list for information on my FAFSA?

   If there is no contact with either biological parent, complete the federal form and contact your financial aid counselor for additional assistance. More information is available on the Special Circumstances and Professional Judgment page. 

10. Who is considered independent for financial aid purposes?

    Graduate students are considered independent for financial aid purposes, regardless of their responses to the dependency questions on the FAFSA.

    All other students are considered dependent for financial aid purposes, unless you are at least 24 years of age, married, on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, financially supporting dependent children, an orphan (both parents deceased), a ward of the court, an emancipated minor, homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Be advised that documentation may be requested to support your situation.

    Learn more about dependent and independent statuses at studentaid.gov.

11. I am unable to provide parent information on the FAFSA. What options are available to me?

    If you are considered dependent for financial aid purposes (i.e., you cannot answer “yes” to any of the dependency questions on the FAFSA) you must include parental information and have one parent sign your FAFSA application. Completing the FAFSA does not obligate your parents to assist financially with your education. 

    Federal regulations allow a financial aid administrator to use Professional judgment on a case-by-case basis under certain conditions; these are called special circumstances and unusual circumstances. For more information on these, see our Special Circumstances and Professional Judgment page. Contact Financial Aid if you feel these circumstances apply to you. 

1. What is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans? 

   An unsubsidized loan accrues interest during in-school and grace periods, while a subsidized loan does not. The Federal government pays the interest on the loan (this is the "subsidy") as long as the student is enrolled at school at least 1/2 time (six credit hours or more for undergraduate students and four credit hours or more for graduate students) in coursework that is required for your program of study. The most current information on student loan interest rates is available on studentaid.gov.

2. How do I accept or decline my federal student loans?

   Log into MyUTampa, open Workday and select the Finances app. Under Financial Aid, select the option to view your awards then choose the option to Accept/Decline Awards.

   Applicants may accept or decline their federal student loans after they receive a login to Workday on MyUTampa. For freshmen, this normally occurs around May 15 for Fall applicants and Nov. 15 for Spring applicants. Transfer students are normally provisioned with a Workday account around March 15 for Fall applicants and Nov. 1 for Spring applicants.

3. How will I receive my student loan?

   Students must complete the FAFSA for each academic year in which they wish to receive federal student loans. Once UT receives the results of your FAFSA, students can normally view their financial aid awards within one business day. Students who accept the federal student loan offer(s) must also complete the Master Promissory Note and Loan Entrance Counseling. Step-by-step instructions on how to complete the MPN and Loan Entrance Counseling is available on the Financial Aid Forms page on the UT website. Once the Financial Aid Office has received confirmation that these items are completed, the related Action Items will be marked “complete” in your Workday inbox and the loans to be applied towards your bill.

4. I originally declined my student loans but now wish to accept them. What can I do?

   Contact your financial aid counselor to request they put the loans back into an “offered” status to make them available to accept/decline.

5. Where can I find my federal student loan information and information on my loan servicer(s)?

   The U.S. Department of Education is the lender for all federal student loans. However, the Department has contracted with loan servicers to process and manage the repayment of your loans. To find information on the federal student loans you have borrowed, log into studentaid.gov. Your loan servicer and loans you have borrowed will be on your dashboard once you login or by selecting “dashboard” on the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

6. Where can I find additional information on student loans? 

   Additional information is available on the Loans page of the UT website.

7. When do I have to pay back my federal student loans?

   Federal student loans go into repayment six months after you drop below half-time enrollment, withdraw or graduate. This six-month period is called your “grace period.” The Financial Aid Office will send Loan Exit Counseling instructions to students who have borrowed and meet one of these criteria. The Loan Exit Counseling session provides information to students about their loans, repayment, forgiveness, forbearance and deferment options.

   UT has contracted with ECMC Solutions to provide free help to students with questions about their federal student loans. Contact ECMC Solutions: (877) 331-3262, www.ecmcsolutions.org

8. How and when will I receive information about repaying my federal student loans? 

   Your loan servicer or lender must provide you with a loan repayment schedule that states when your first payment is due, the number and frequency of payments, and the amount of each payment. Keep in mind that your loan may have a grace period. You will receive this information sometime after you graduate, withdraw or drop below half-time status. If you have graduated and have not received information from your servicer within a few months, you should contact your servicer to make sure they have your current information such as email and mailing address. You can also find out who your loan servicer is by going to your dashboard on StudentAid.gov then scroll down to the “My Loan Servicers” section. Additional information on loan servicers can be found on the StudentAid.gov website.

9. Do I have to complete exit counseling if I am starting another program/degree in the semester following graduation?

   Yes, you will need to complete Loan Exit Counseling. You may want to consider asking your loan servicer for an in-school deferment to stop your loans from going into repayment. You can always choose to make payments on your federal student loans while you are enrolled in school.  

10. Which student loans require exit counseling?

    If you borrowed a subsidized, unsubsidized and/or graduate PLUS loan(s), you must complete  Loan Exit Counseling.

1. What are the eligibility requirements for a parent to borrow a federal Direct PLUS Loan?

   You must be the biological or adoptive parent of the student for whom you are borrowing. Stepparents whose information is included on the student’s FAFSA application may also borrow a Parent PLUS loan.

   The student must be a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time at a school that participates in the Direct Loan Program. Generally, your child is considered dependent if he or she is under 24 years of age, has no dependents, and is not married, a veteran, a graduate or professional degree student, or a ward of the court.

   In addition, the parent-borrower and their student-beneficiary must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, not be in default on any federal education loans, not owe an overpayment on a federal education grant, pass a credit check and meet other general eligibility requirements for the federal student aid programs.

   Parents may complete the loan application process, credit check and master promissory note (MPN) at studentaid.gov.

2. Can more than one parent borrow a PLUS Loan?

   If a student’s parents are divorced, the biological parents may borrow a PLUS Loan for their dependent, undergraduate student. A stepparent may only borrow a PLUS Loan if they are married to the custodial parent and their financial information was reported on the FAFSA of record.

3. How do I request a Direct PLUS Loan?

   For more information and instructions on the Parent PLUS loan program, visit the Loans page.

4. How much can I borrow?

   There are no set borrowing limits for Direct PLUS Loans, but you may not borrow more than the Cost of Attendance (as determined by the Financial Aid Office) less any other financial aid received, such as grants, scholarships, Direct Subsidized Loan and/or Direct Unsubsidized Loan. If you wish to borrow the maximum amount allowable, you may select this option on the PLUS loan application.

5. How do I check the status of my PLUS loan?

   Once the Financial Aid Office receives the PLUS application from the U.S. Department of Education, we will add it to the student’s financial aid award in Workday. An email will be sent to the student with the subject “Your Financial Aid Award is Revised.”

6. How will I receive my loan money?

   If the required documents are completed for the parent loan, funds will be disbursed on the scheduled dates each academic period. UT will credit the loan to the student’s account to pay tuition, fees, and other authorized charges. Any remaining loan funds will be issued as a refund to the student or parent-borrower, as the borrower indicates on the loan application.

7. Can I transfer my loan to my child for repayment?

   A Direct PLUS Loan cannot be transferred from the parent-borrower to the student.

8. What if I want to change the amount of my PLUS loan?

   To change the amount of your parent PLUS loan, the borrower must make the request in writing to the student’s financial aid counselor.

   The amount of an Endorsed loan may be reduced, but not increased. To increase the amount of an Endorsed Parent PLUS loan, the borrower must apply for a new loan with Endorser.

1. What is the Program of Study (POS)?

   The program of study consists of courses required to complete a specific degree, inclusive of required coursework within the major, concentration, minor and catalog. Only the coursework that counts toward your degree will be used in determining your enrollment level (full-time, 3/4-time, half-time, less-than-half-time) for federal student aid purposes. For this reason, the enrollment level used to determine your federal student aid eligibility may be different from the load status on your academic record in Workday. The Financial Aid Office may need to make corrections to financial aid awards for students enrolling in courses that are not required to complete their degree.

2. How will I know if my courses are not counted for federal student aid purposes?

   On the Academics tab in Workday, review the "Unused Registrations" under Academic Progress. You may notice the changes made to your financial aid award in Workday. Your financial aid counselor may also notify you via email of the changes to your aid. Contact your financial aid counselor if you have questions.

3. One or more of my courses aren’t counted in my POS. What should I do? 

   Meet with your academic advisor to discuss options to change your schedule to register for courses that count towards your POS to reach the desired enrollment level (load status).

   An advisor will be able to review your account to determine whether the system is accurately assessing your enrollment. If your enrollment is not reported properly by the system and your enrollment has been approved to count as part of your declared major/minor, please have your academic advisor provide your assigned financial aid counselor with an email confirming this.

4. My academic advisor has determined that one or more of my courses are not required for my program of study. What can I do? 

   If an academic advisor determines that a course does not satisfy a requirement for your program of study (declared major/minor), it will not count toward your federal student aid eligibility. You should consult with an academic advisor and the financial aid office to consider an appropriate course of action (adding a required course, dropping the ineligible course or remaining enrolled in the ineligible course with the understanding that your aid will prorate).

5. Can I appeal this?

   There is no appeal process for courses that do not satisfy a requirement of your program of study.

1. How is my Enrollment or Load Status calculated? 

Financial Aid uses two Load Status calcualtions. The first takes into account all enrollment in an academic period, which is typically used for determining eligibility for institutional and Florida grant and scholarship aid programs. The second is the Program of Study (POS) Load Status, which only considers enrollment in courses that are required for your Program of Study. The POS Load Status is used to determine eligibility for federal student aid programs. 

For Undergraduates:  

• Full-time is defined as a minimum of 12 credits in an academic period (Fall, Spring or Summer).  
• ¾-time is defined as a minimum of 9 credits.  
• Half-time is defined as a minimum of 6 credits.  
• Enrollment in less than 6 credits is considered Less than Half-time, but greater than 0 credits.  

Most graduate programs define enrollment levels as follows:  

• Full-time is a minimum of 8 credits.  
• ¾-time is a minimum of 6 credits.  
• Half-time is a minimum of 4 credits.  
• Less than Half Time is enrollment in less than 4 credits, but greater than 0 credits.  

 Exceptions to the graduate enrollment levels are:  

• Doctorate in Nursing Practice:  Full-time is a minimum of 5 credits; 3/4-time is a minimum of 4 credits; Half-time is a minimum of 3 credits; Less than Half Time is enrollment in less than 3 credits, but greater than 0 credits. 
• Nonprofit Management Certificate:  Full-time is a minimum of 3 credits; half-time is a minimum of 2 credits; Less-than-Half-Time is enrollment in less than 2 credits, but greater than 0 credits. 

Undergraduate students must incur the full-time charges in the Spring Semester (not including Winter Intersession enrollment) to be eligible for institutional scholarships and grants.  

The Summer Term (12-week) is considered a “standard term,” which contains several modules, including: Summer 1 (6 week), Summer 2 (6 week), Summer Executive Business Term (12 weeks), Summer Graduate Education Term (an 8 week period during which a series of 1-week graduate education courses are offered). Load Status in the Summer Term standard academic period is determined by combining enrollment in the May Term all summer academic periods.  

2. What happens to my financial aid if I withdraw from a class or from the semester?

Withdrawing may affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress and future eligibility to receive financial aid in subsequent terms. You may also use all or part of your six-month grace period before your loans go into repayment. If your loans should go into repayment before you return to school, it is important to make payments on time to prevent default. When you re-enroll in school at least half-time, contact your loan servicer to request an in-school deferment. If you default on a loan, you will lose your eligibility for any future financial aid until the terms of the default have been cleared with your lender.

Withdrawing from a course. It is highly recommended that you contact your financial aid counselor before withdrawing from a course. In some cases, withdrawing from a course may result in a balance being owed, Please be sure to discuss this with the Bursar’s Officebefore your withdrawal.

Withdrawing from the term. Students who drop or withdraw from all of their courses during an academic period may require a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation. This may result in all or a portion of your aid being returned for the academic period and you may owe a balance to The University. See Question #2 below for more information. 

Withdrawing from UT. Review the information regarding Withdrawal from the University on our website. You will also want to speak to your financial aid counselor beforehand regarding your financial aid. Like students who withdraw from the term, withdrawing from UT before the end of an academic period may result in a balance being owed, Please be sure to discuss this with the Bursar’s Office before your withdrawal. All federal aid is subject to a Return of Title IV (4) (R2T4) calculation to determine the amount of aid you have earned at the time of your withdrawal.

3. What is the Return of Title IV (4) (R2T4) calculation?

Regulations require that the Financial Aid Office recalculates federal aid eligibility for a student who withdraws, drops or otherwise stops attending prior to the end of a term. This is called the federal  Return to Title IV (4) Calculation . Title IV (4) is the regulation under which federal student aid programs are administered. See Return of Federal Student Aid section of the current UT Catalog for more information.

See Academic Calendar for the “Last day for Federal Financial Aid return of funds” published by the Registrar for each academic period. When the withdrawal date occurs on or after the 60% point in the academic period, students are considered to have earned 100% of their aid.

The withdrawal date is the date the student begins the official withdrawal process, the last date of academically related activity, or the mid-point of the academic period if the other dates cannot be determined. The Financial Aid Office determines the withdrawal date.

Click here for more information on Special Circumstances and Professional Judgment. 

1. My family has experienced a change in finances. Should I provide this on the FAFSA application?

   Information on the FAFSA cannot be changed to reflect your current income. After the FAFSA is submitted, you will need to contact your financial aid counselor to discuss your family's individual circumstances and how we may be able to assist you. More information on this is available on the Special Circumstances and Professional Judgment page. 

2. How can I be considered independent for financial aid purposes?

   Per federal regulations, undergraduate students are considered independent if one or more of the following conditions apply: they are 24 years of age or over, married, orphan or ward of the court, on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, have dependents of hteir own, emancipated minor, homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Students who have Unusual Circumstances should contact their financial aid counselor to discuss a dependency override.