Student Loans
Students who are eligible for Federal Direct Stafford Loans, and/or Perkins Loans should be aware that a completed entrance loan counseling session and master promissory note are required for all loan applicants. Only Federal Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans are available for graduate study.
NOTE: A student already awarded a student loan that needs additional funds may submit an additional financial aid request available online at www.utrgv.edu/finaid.
The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Stafford Direct Loans) Program
The Direct Loan Program is one of the federal student aid programs offered by the Department of Education, which provides students with a simple, inexpensive way to borrow money to pay for education after high school. The Direct Loan program offers unsubsidized Stafford Loans for students pursuing graduate degrees. The first step in the application process is the completion of the FAFSA. After the student’s FAFSA is processed, the Financial Aid Office will review the results and advise the student as to his or her loan eligibility. Before receiving any loan disbursements through the Direct Loan program, every student borrower will have to complete an entrance counseling session and an electronic master promissory note and must be enrolled for at least half-time (6 hours for traditional graduate programs and 3 hours for Accelerated Online Programs). Once these requirements are complete, the Financial Aid Office will receive electronic confirmation that the information has been completed and funds will be credited to the student’s university account 10 days before the first day of class. When loans are awarded for one semester only the first half is credited first and the second half is credited approximately mid-semester.
Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)
The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. This program allows the student to earn money to help pay educational expenses and also encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study.
The FWS salary will be at least the current federal minimum wage. Students employed by UTRGV through the Federal Work-Study Program will be paid bi-monthly.
Work-study employment may be on campus or off campus. If off campus, the employer is usually a private nonprofit organization or public agency, and the work performed must be in the public interest. The amount a student receives in wages under work-study cannot exceed the total amount awarded.
The employer must consider the student’s class schedule when preparing the work schedule. Funds are limited; therefore, funds are awarded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.
More information about work-study programs can be found at www.utrgv.edu/finaid