Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I apply for financial aid at The University of Tampa? | Back to top.

The only application needed to apply for financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.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 at the end of the FAFSA to have the results sent electronically to the Financial Aid Office. A financial aid award letter will be sent notifying you of your aid eligibility.

2. What are the deadline dates for applying for financial aid? | Back to top.

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

3. Is the profile form processed by the College Scholarship Service (CSS) required by UT? | Back to top.

No, UT uses the FAFSA data to determine a student's aid eligibility.

4. Do students have to apply for financial aid each year? | Back to top.

Yes. The federal government sends students renewal applications each year.

5. I plan to live off campus next year. Will my financial aid be affected? | Back to top.

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 lower a student's need, which could affect the financial aid package.

6. Where can I find a listing of part-time employment opportunities on campus? | Back to top.

A listing of on-campus jobs is available on Handshake.

7. I have been asked to submit my tax return transcript. How do I get a copy? | Back to top.

Go to the "Order a Transcript" page on the IRS website and click on "Tax Return Transcript". You can click on the link to "Order a Transcript" and send it to the Financial Aid Office once you get it. Or, complete form 4506-T and have the IRS send your transcript directly to The University of Tampa. You may also request a tax return transcript by using the self-service line at (800) 908-9946.

In some cases, the Financial Aid Office may request a tax account transcript instead of (or in addition to) the tax return transcript. Please be careful to order the appropriate document to ensure faster processing of your aid.

8. Is there aid available for the summer sessions? | Back to top.

The availability of summer aid is dependent upon how much aid a student used during the school year and the student's class level. Students should contact their financial aid counselor to check on aid eligibility.

9. My parents are divorced. Do they both need to provide financial information to UT? | Back to top.

No. Only the custodial parent, or the parent the student lives with or last lived with, should report financial information on the FAFSA. However, if the custodial parent has remarried, then the stepparent's information is also required on the FAFSA.

10. What if I don't know where my parents are living? What should I list for information on my FAFSA? | Back to top.

If the student does not have contact with either natural parent, he or she should complete the federal form with their own information and contact their financial aid counselor for instructions on completing the application process.

11. My parents have been denied the PLUS loan. Are there any other options for me? | Back to top.

Yes. When a parent is denied the PLUS loan based on adverse credit, the student is eligible for an unsubsidized Direct Loan for up to $4,000 if he or she is a freshman or sophomore; $5,000 if a junior or senior.

12. I want to consolidate my student loan debt. Where can I find all of my loan information in one place and what lenders are consolidating student loans? | Back to top.

Students should start by checking the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), the U.S. Department of Education's central database for student aid. This site allows students to find out which types of loans they have taken throughout the course of their education (at UT and elsewhere), who their lenders are and the total loan debt. NSLDS receives data from schools, agencies that guarantee loans, the Direct Loan program and other U.S. Department of Education programs.

Consolidation allows a borrower to combine one or more of their eligible federal education loans into one new loan. Students may choose to have their loan lender, another bank or lender, or the Department of Education consolidate their loans. Contact information for your lender is available on the NSLDS Web site or you can do an Internet search for an alternate lender. To contact the Department of Education about consolidation, call (800) 557-7392 – TTY users may call (800) 557-7395 – or visit studentloans.gov.

13. Who is considered independent for financial aid purposes? | Back to top.

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

To be considered independent for financial aid purposes, undergraduate students must be able to answer "yes" to one or more of the dependency questions in Step 2 of the FAFSA.

As an independent student, you are not required to include parental information on the FAFSA nor have a parent sign the FAFSA. Independent undergraduates are eligible for up to $4,000 more in unsubsidized Direct loans for freshmen and sophomores; up to $5,000 for juniors and seniors.

Learn more about dependent/independent status.

14. I am unable to provide parent information on the FAFSA. What options are available to me? | Back to top.

If you are considered dependent for financial aid purposes (i.e., you cannot answer "yes" to any one of the dependency questions in Step 2 of the FAFSA) you must include parental information and have one parent sign your FAFSA application. Completing the FAFSA does not initiate a credit check or obligate your parents to assist financially with your education. If you have special circumstances which prevent you from providing parental information, the FAFSA On The Web will instruct you on how to proceed. Special circumstances may include:

Parents are incarcerated.
You have left home due to an abusive family environment.
You do not know where your parents are and are unable to contact them (and you have not been adopted).

Please contact your financial aid counselor after submitting your FAFSA, if you have special circumstances, to discuss your situation. Additional documentation will be required.

If your parents still refuse to participate on the FAFSA, you are eligible to take the maximum Direct loan for your grade level as unsubsidized only. For more information on Direct loans, go to the Loans page on the UT website.

15. Can my financial aid exceed the cost of attendance (over-award)? | Back to top.

The combination of University and non-University financial assistance may not exceed the cost of attendance, as determined by the Financial Aid Office. If students are receiving outside funds, the aid they already have been awarded may be reduced or changed.

16. Many of the aid descriptions require “full-time” or “half-time” enrollment. What does this mean? | Back to top.

Financial aid awards are determined by the number of credits in which a student is enrolled in a term. UT uses a federal methodology to determine enrollment levels like “full-time” and “half-time”. Variables used in the calculation include the program in which a student is enrolled and the number of weeks in the term. See Enrollment Levels.

17. How much do textbooks cost each semester?| Back to top.

We estimate that textbooks will be about $50 per credit based off of the student's enrollment. Costs may vary; please see The University of Tampa’s official bookstore website.