Grants

Federal Pell Grant

To be eligible for a Pell Grant, you must meet the federal government’s definition of an eligible student. Additionally, you must be an undergraduate pursuing your first bachelor’s degree.

To apply for a Federal Pell Grant, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Both your grant eligibility and the amount of grant money you receive will depend upon certain information you report on your FAFSA as well as the number of credit hours you are taking each semester. The maximum grant in 2024-2025 is $7,395. When you complete the FAFSA, you have applied for this program. Additionally, if you are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant at one school, you should be eligible at all of the schools to which you have applied, assuming the school is participating in federal student financial aid programs.

Pell Grants are unique in that, unlike almost every other grant program, the government will give you this grant if you meet their eligibility requirements, regardless of how many other students have applied. While the Congress sets an annual allocation, if the program exceeds that yearly allocation, the grant you receive is not usually adjusted. Applications must be received before the end of the academic year, but there is funding available all year.

The FAFSA Submission Summary you receive after you submit the FAFSA will indicate whether you are eligible for a Pell Grant.

One limitation of this program is that you may only receive it for the equivalent of up to six years of full-time enrollment.

Find additional information regarding Federal Pell Grants.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

To be eligible to receive FSEOG, you must meet the federal government definition of an eligible student.

Each year the federal government gives The University of Texas at Dallas an allocation of FSEOG funds to award to our students. We are required to award the funds to our neediest students. Because there is a limited amount of money, we do everything we can to award the funds in a fair and equitable manner. In order to be considered for FSEOG funds, it is important that your FAFSA is submitted as soon as possible after October 1. There is no separate application for the FSEOG program.

Find additional information regarding FSEOG.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

The TEACH Grant is different from other federal student grants in that it requires you to take certain kinds of classes in order to receive the grant and then to become employed in a certain profession to keep the grant from turning into a loan.

While UT Dallas does not have a school of education, we do have programs that can lead to certification as a teacher in Texas. The TEACH Grant program provides grants to students who are completing, or plan to complete, coursework needed to begin a career in teaching and agree to teach, for at least four complete academic years, in a high-need field at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families. The maximum award amount for any TEACH Grant is $4,000. Since most qualified students are eligible for the maximum amount of TEACH Grant, it is important to remember that this maximum is subject to reduction by the federal government based on budgetary constraints. You may not necessarily receive $4,000 every year.

To apply for this program, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and also contact your UT Dallas financial aid counselor. Your counselor will speak to you about the requirements of the program and will explain the program’s service obligations.

Find additional information regarding the TEACH Grant program.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants

Like other federal grants, the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant provides money to students to help pay their educational expenses. However, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants have special eligibility criteria. You are eligible to receive this grant if your parent was killed as the result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of September 11, 2001, and you were under 24 years old, or you were enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death, and you meet the definition of an eligible student.

The amount of this grant is the same as the maximum Pell Grant awarded for the year.

Find additional information regarding Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants.

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

Like other federal financial aid programs, the Children of Fall Heroes Scholarship provides money to students to help pay their educational expenses. However, the Children of Fall Heroes Scholarship has special eligibility criteria. You are eligible to receive this scholarship if your parent was killed in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer or while serving as a fire police officer.  To be eligible, you must have been under 24 years old, or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death.  You must meet the definition of an eligible student as well as be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.

The amount of this award is the same as the maximum Pell Grant awarded for the year.

All Texas grant programs have the following requirements. You must:

• Be a Texas resident or qualify to pay in-state tuition, depending on the program’s requirement.
• Be registered for the Selective Service unless you are exempt from registration.
• Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress towards your degree.

Toward EXcellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant

The TEXAS Grant is offered to students who demonstrate financial need and who are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree. Because funds for this program are limited, it is important that you apply for financial aid as early as possible. The TEXAS Grant award amount (including state, federal, and institutional grant and/or scholarship funds) is equal to the student’s tuition and required fees.

Initial Requirements

To be eligible for an initial award, you must:

• Be a Texas resident.
• Have not been convicted of any felony or any offense involving a controlled substance.
• Demonstrate financial need.
• Have a Student Aid Index (SAI) less than or equal to $6,472 (as of 2024-2025).
• Register for Selective Service unless exempt from registration.
• Be enrolled for at least nine credit hours as an undergraduate student who qualifies through one of the following four pathways:
  • High School Graduation Pathway: Graduation from an accredited public or private high school in Texas and enrollment at an approved institution before the end of the 16th month after high school graduation. The student must not have attempted more than 30 credit hours, excluding credits for dual enrollment or by examination.
  • Associate Degree Pathway: Enrollment in an eligible institution before the end of the 12th month after the calendar month in which the student earned an associate degree from a public or private nonprofit Texas institution of higher education.
  • Honorable Military Discharge Pathway: Enrollment in an eligible institution of higher education no later than 12 months after being released from active duty military service with an Honorable Discharge, General Discharge under Honorable Conditions, or Honorable Separation or Release from Active Duty, as documented by a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD214) issued by the Department of Defense. Enlistment in the military must have occurred within 12 months after graduation from an accredited public or private high school in Texas. The student must not have attempted more than 30 credit hours, excluding credits for dual enrollment or by examination.
  • TEOG Transfer Pathway: Completion of at least 24 credit hours with a minimum 2.5 GPA after receiving an initial year Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) in fall 2014 or later and transferring to an eligible institution with a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Renewal eligibility requirements for receiving TEXAS Grant in subsequent years can be found on the Renewable Aid page.

Texas Public Education Grant

You will be considered for a Texas Public Education Grant if you demonstrate financial need. You must be enrolled at least half-time and must register for Selective Service unless you are exempt. Annual award amounts vary. Funding for this program is limited. You will be given preference for this program if your application and supporting materials are received by our published deadline.

Undergraduate/Graduate Assistance Grant

You may be considered for an Undergraduate or Graduate Assistance Grant if you are a Texas resident and demonstrate financial need. You must be enrolled at least half-time. Annual award amounts vary. Funding for this program is limited. You will be given preference for this program if your application and supporting materials are received by our published deadline.

Undergraduate/Graduate Assistance Grant for Specific Majors

You may be considered for a major-specific Undergraduate or Graduate Assistance Grant if you meet the eligibility requirements detailed above while enrolled in a major with additional fees. Changing majors could result in a loss of eligibility. 

Comet Promise Grant

With Comet Promise, eligible students will have their tuition and fees covered through scholarships, grants, and tuition exemptions from federal, state, and institutional funds with any remaining tuition costs covered by Comet Promise Grant funding. There are limited funds, and you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• At the time you are admitted to UT Dallas, you must be a resident of the state of Texas.
• You must be admitted by December 1 (encouraged) to UT Dallas for the fall semester as a first-time college student or transfer student pursuing their first bachelor’s degree. This allows a student time to be processed and meet the financial aid deadline below.
• Your financial aid application must be complete on or before February 15.
  • A complete application is defined as a FAFSA that has been processed by the government without errors and with any required documents submitted to our office or a TASFA with all required documents submitted to our office.
  • To meet this requirement, we strongly encourage you to submit the FAFSA or TASFA at least two (2) weeks before the deadline. This will allow us to identify what additional information you need to submit and for you to provide the documents.
• You must begin enrollment at UT Dallas in the fall semester of the academic year and enroll for at least nine credit hours during the fall and spring terms.
• Your family’s total income reported on the FAFSA or TASFA must be $85,000 or less. This includes both your income and your parents’ income.
• You must have demonstrated financial need as determined by information provided on the FAFSA or TASFA.

Information on your eligibility to complete a FAFSA or TASFA is available on the Receiving Aid page.

Comet Promise FAQs are available on the Comet Promise page.

Renewal eligibility requirements for receiving Comet Promise in subsequent years can be found on the Renewable Aid page.