Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions

Visit studentaid.gov and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There is no hard deadline for completing your FAFSA, but we recommend doing so sooner rather than later.

Make sure you complete entrance counseling AND sign your Master Promissory Note (both through studentaid.gov). Loans will not disburse without completing these steps.

The University’s School Code is 003658.

“Cost of attendance” (COA) is a term with specific meaning in financial aid. Every school determines an estimate for what it costs the typical student to attend their school or program. This budget includes tuition & fees, housing, food, books, and other miscellaneous typical expenses. For students receiving Federal aid (like loans), regulations do not allow students to receive more aid than this total amount from all sources.

Click here for the School of Law COA.
Video: Understanding Cost of Attendance in the MFA Portal

Yes, but only for specific allowed expenses and situations. Keep in mind that financial aid is intended to support a basic lifestyle, not luxury. Most students are able to keep their expenses within the total established COA budget even when specific components might be higher than the COA budget for those items.

However, we know there are many situations in which students will be in need of additional aid. Examples of expenses that qualify for COA adjustment include bar exam registration fees, a new laptop, childcare, or University health insurance. Expenses that would not qualify include late fees, consumer debt, moving expenses, or summer living expenses.

More information, and the form to submit a request, can be found at https://law.utexas.edu/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/.

All students will have a gap left after scholarships. Students cover their remaining tuition and expenses with a combination of personal resources and/or loans. See our Student Loan page for more detailed information on loans.

Yes. Students cannot receive more than the Cost of Attendance in combined aid, which includes scholarships and loans.

Students enrolling after July 1, 2026 are eligible for a maximum of $50,000 in Federal Unsubsidized loans. If that amount is not enough to cover your cost of attendance, students must rely on other sources such as personal savings or private loans. See our Student Loan page for more detailed information.

No. We encourage students to only accept the amount of loans they need. If you need the rest of your approved loans later in the semester, you can still receive them at that point. The last day to accept loans is in early December for the Fall semester and early April for the Spring semester.

Generally, an applicant must reside (not as a student) and establish a domicile in the state of Texas for a period of one year prior to enrolling as a student. The University’s Residency Officer (not the law school) makes determinations of residency status. Questions concerning a candidate’s classification as a resident or as a nonresident should be directed to the Residency Office at residency@austin.utexas.edu or 512-475-7391. Visit the Office of the Registrar for additional information.

Many highly qualified applicants receive non-resident tuition exemptions as part of their scholarship awarding process. There is no additional application needed for these waivers.

In My Tuition Bill (via my.utexas.edu), select BOTH the options “Confirm Attendance” and “Pay with Financial Aid.” Although aid disburses after initial tuition payments are due, this option tells the University you have funds coming to cover the bill. Until your aid is disbursed, however, your tuition bill will still show a balance.

There are several options, but we highly recommend students set up direct deposit. This will ensure you receive your funds as quickly as possible.

Students who do not set up direct deposit will have a physical check mailed to their address on file with the University, which can take up to a week or more to reach the student. Every year, several students discover their refund check was mailed to an old address in another city/state because they never updated their address with the University.

The soonest aid can disburse is 10 days before the first day of classes. However, that does not mean every student will have their aid disbursed on that date. Once aid is disbursed, students who have set up Direct Deposit will usually have access to their funds within 2-3 business days, depending on their bank. Students without direct deposit will have physical checks mailed to their address on file, which will significantly delay receiving the funds.

Students are encouraged to track their refund using Where’s My Check?

Students will not receive any of their aid until they Confirm Attendance so delaying completion of that requirement will delay aid.

Your aid and billing can change, especially at the beginning of the semester. Most often, students forget they dropped a class, meaning they have a lower Cost of Attendance. This requires the student to return a portion of the aid that was already disbursed.

If that does not describe your situation, email lawfinaid@law.utexas.edu for assistance.

My Tuition Bill will show the balance remaining on your tuition bill. Visit “What I Owe” via my.utexas.edu for other debts.

Our financial aid system is called My Financial Aid, often referred to as “MFA” or simply “the portal.” You can find links to it many places, including our website and my.utexas.edu.

Texas OneStop has navigation guides and an extensive FAQ covering all the available features and uses of the portal. Topics include:

• Viewing your aid
• Uploading/Submitting Documents
• Accepting your loans

Accepting awards is only required for Federal Direct Student Loans. You are not required to accept, adjust or decline any other funds in your financial aid package.

Step 1: Log in to the My Financial Aid

Step 2: If you have any pending actions on your home page, click on “Financial” in the navigation bar at the top of the homepage to see your financial aid summary. Many pending actions will prevent release of your aid.

Step 3: Select the relevant academic year from the tabs under “Financial Information.”

Step 4: Click the pencil icon next to the loan you would like to accept.

Step 5: Awards Summary

• Select “Start Loan Acceptance.”

Step 6: Accept Your Awards

• During this step, select either:
  • The full amount: This option indicates that you are accepting the total loan amount offered to you.
  • Another amount: This option allows you to enter the amount you wish to borrow for the academic year. Enter the TOTAL AMOUNT of funds you want for the year in this blank, NOT the additional amount you are accepting. I.e. if you accepted $5,000 and need another $2,000, then you would enter $7,000 in the blank.
• Select “Continue” after choosing one of the options.

Step 7: Confirm Your Awards Selection

• Review the summary of your loan acceptance.
• If you are a first-time borrower, you must sign your Master Promissory Note (MPN) and complete the Loan Entrance Counseling by selecting “Complete Loan Entrance Counseling.” You will automatically be redirected to Complete Your Student Loan Entrance Counseling Requirement.
• Click “Continue.”

Step 8: E-Sign Your Awards Letter

Select “Sign & Finish.”

During this step, you can view an updated copy of your award letter and fully accept your financial aid award.

Complete the step by indicating “I accept” and sign by entering your student ID and last name.