Navigating UTA Student Aid Disbursement: A Comprehensive Guide
Securing financial aid is a crucial step for many students pursuing higher education at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). UTA provides access to over $500 million in financial aid annually, and the university's staff aims to streamline the financial aid process. This guide provides essential information about UTA student aid disbursement dates, eligibility, refunds, and other important aspects of financial aid at UTA.
Understanding Your MyMav Account
Upon admission to UTA, each student receives an account on MyMav, UTA’s student portal. This portal is the central hub for viewing all charges and credits once they are posted to the student's account. It is essential to regularly check your MyMav account for updates on your financial aid status.
Financial aid will appear as "pending" in your Student Center until the funds are officially posted to your UTA MyMav account.
Disbursement of Financial Aid Funds
Due to federal regulations, the earliest that financial aid funds can be disbursed for the semester is 10 days prior to a student's first class day.
Refunds: What to Expect
If the financial aid offer exceeds the total amount of charges, the Office of Student Accounts will generate a refund for the student. Refunds are generated when a credit balance exists on the account. Credits are created when amounts applied to an account, such as financial aid and tuition reimbursements, exceed the allowable charges.
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UTA recommends signing up for direct deposit to receive refunds, as it is the most secure, reliable, and convenient method. Signing up for Direct Deposit is easy! You can also view the status of your refund by logging in to your MyMav Homepage.
If there is leftover financial aid after the bill is paid, it will be issued as a refund. Students may also be eligible for a refund of a portion of tuition and on-campus room and board paid to the University for the semester.
Potential Issues and Required Actions
If financial aid funds have not been posted to the student's account, there may be additional actions that need to be taken. These may include:
- Incomplete Entrance Counseling or Master Promissory Note: Students may need to complete the required Entrance Counseling or sign a Master Promissory Note to receive student loans. You must also complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note for your loans if you are first-time borrower at UTA.
- Revisions to Financial Aid Package: In certain cases, revisions must be made to the financial aid package after an offer is made or even after it is accepted.
- To Do List Items: Check your MyMav Student Homepage for a list of outstanding items. You only need to complete the forms UTA requests. You can find verification forms on UTA's forms webpage. Need to print a form UTA requested from you? Visit the Forms page, located under Apply for Aid, to download the form(s).
Understanding Financial Aid Eligibility
FAFSA and Application Process
All students wishing to receive federal and state financial aid must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The 2026-27 FAFSA form is available to compete on StudentAid.gov. UTA will begin receiving completed 2026-27 FAFSA forms in November 2025.
Beware of scams and companies who ask for money to complete the FAFSA.
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UTA's 2026-27 priority date is March 1, 2026.
Dependency Status and FAFSA Contributors
Dependency status is not based on living situation or financial status with parents. All FAFSA contributors (parent(s), stepparent, spouse) are required to create their own FSA ID to complete their section of the student's FAFSA form. If a dependent student's parent or an independent student's spouse does not have a SSN, they will be able to create an FSA ID. The parent(s) or spouse's address will be used for identification purposes in place of a SSN, if the parent or spouse does not have one. FAFSA Contributors who do not have a SSN may currently be encountering errors when trying to create their FSA ID or complete their section of the FAFSA.
If a student has had a financial hardship or change in circumstances, they should complete their FAFSA using the information for the year requested.
Eligibility with Mixed Immigration Statuses
The article does not contain information about eligibility for federal financial aid for students from a family with mixed immigration statuses.
Transfer Students
Financial aid does not transfer from one school to another. However, if you have completed the FAFSA, you do not have to complete it again for the same academic year.
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Study Abroad Programs
Students enrolled in a UTA affiliated study abroad program can receive financial aid for their study abroad courses. Once the student is approved for the study abroad program, the UTA Office of International Education will send the UTA Office of Financial Aid the student’s approved study abroad budget. If necessary, the student’s cost of attendance will be increased to match their approved study abroad budget. This may allow the student to apply for additional scholarships or alternative loans if they need additional assistance to cover their expenses.
Certification Programs
The only certification programs eligible for financial aid here at UTA are teacher certification programs.
Types of Financial Aid at UTA
UTA offers various types of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans. Grants are funds that normally do not require repayment. All grant funding is need-based and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to maximize consideration for grant funding for the 2025-2026 aid year, complete a 2025-2026 FAFSA, turn in all requested documents, and be admitted to UTA by March 1, 2025. In order to maximize consideration for grant funding for the 2026-2027 aid year, complete a 2026-2027 FAFSA, turn in all requested documents, and be admitted to UTA by March 1, 2026.
Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grants: Undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor's degree may be eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant based on their Student Aid Index (SAI). Students must enroll full-time to receive their full Pell Grant eligibility for the semester. If a student enrolls less than full-time, the Pell Grant will reduce accordingly based on the student's enrollment intensity. Students may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one college or university during the same semester.
- Federal Pell Grant Recalculation Date: For students enrolled in modular courses (for example, students enrolled in an Accelerated Online program or all students enrolled in a Summer term), universities are required to establish a Pell Grant Recalculation Date. After this established date each semester, no adjustments (increase or decrease) will be made to a student's Federal Pell Grant, unless they do not begin attendance in the course.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG): These federal grants are offered to assist undergraduate students with exceptional financial need.
Federal TEACH Grant: This grant is available to undergraduate and graduate students who plan to teach in designated shortage teaching areas at low income Title I schools. The student must teach at least four out of the eight years upon graduating or ceasing to be enrolled. Students may receive up to $3,772 per year, but the grant reverts to an Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan if the teaching obligation is not met.
State Grants
Texas Public Education Grants (TPEG): These grants are designated to pay tuition and fees and are available to both graduate and undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need.
TEXAS Grants: Toward Excellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS Grant): This grant is available to undergraduate students who are pursuing their first degree and meet both specific academic criteria and demonstrated financial need. Eligible students must be Texas residents who graduate from a public or accredited private high school in Texas, or transfer from a Texas community college with an associate degree. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first served basis. View UTA's TEXAS Grant page for a complete list of eligibility criteria, including the Priority Model Requirements.
- Please Note: State grants cannot be combined.
University Grants
- Mav Grants: These grants are designated to pay tuition and fees and are available to both graduate and undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need who are bona fide Texas residents. At least six undergraduate credit hours or five graduate credit hours of enrollment is required to qualify for a disbursement.
State Scholarships, Waivers and Exemptions
The state of Texas provides additional funds for students in specific situations.
Blaze Forward Program
The Blaze Forward Program makes it even easier for eligible students to get a world-class education here at UTA! Using a combination of grants, tuition waiver and scholarships, the Blaze Forward Program provides students meeting all eligibility requirements with funding that will cover 100% of their tuition and course fees for fall and spring semesters. The Blaze Forward Program does not cover other expenses including but not limited to housing, meals, and textbooks.
The deadline to be considered for the 2025-26 aid year was March 1, 2025.
Loan Deferment
Loan deferment requests are handled through the Office of Admissions, Records and Registration.
Impact of Dropping or Withdrawing from Courses
Students wishing to withdraw should complete the Withdrawal and Drop Policy Exception form in the Registrar’s Office located in the University Administration Building.
If a student needs to drop a course at any point after their financial aid has disbursed, they should contact UTA so they may review their situation.
There are many factors that go into the calculation of a refund when a student drops or withdraws from a class.
The Federal Return of Title IV Funds policy requires that a portion of federal aid be returned if the student withdraws on or before completing 60% of the semester for which the student received federal aid. The student participated in 31/110 calendar days, so the student earned 28% of the financial aid they received for the semester.
If a student receives an F for all grades in a semester or a combination of all F’s and W’s, they are subject to the Return of Title IV Funds calculation.
Federal financial aid regulations require UTA to confirm whether or not a student began attendance in at least one course in order to establish eligibility for federal student loans, and in each course for Pell and FSEOG grants. Instructors confirm which students began attendance/participated in their courses when they report grades at the end of each term. Instructors may reference attendance records, graded assignments, quizzes, exams, communications, or papers to confirm that the student began academic participation.
If the instructor confirms that attendance began in the class, there will be no adjustment to financial aid offers. If UTA does not receive confirmation that attendance began in the course(s), they are required to adjust financial aid based on the remaining eligible hours enrolled. UTA may be required to return a certain portion of these funds, and the student may be required to repay a portion of the funds. The student may owe an outstanding balance to UTA once they return the funds required through the Federal Return of Title IV Funds calculation.
If a student receives state grant funds (Texas Public Education Grant, TEXAS Grant, etc.) and withdraws prior to the census date (12th class day), they are ineligible for any portion of the state grant funds offered for enrollment during the semester. Any future loan disbursements will be canceled.
Federal Direct Subsidized, Federal Direct Unsubsidized, and Federal Direct PLUS Loans are normally certified for more than one semester, creating two disbursements.
In addition to being subject to the return of funds policy, if a student withdraws from UTA they will also be subject to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. Students who do not meet the SAP requirements are not eligible to receive financial aid in future semesters at UTA.
Completion of one course in a term does not exclude students from being counted as a withdrawal.
Financial aid offers may be adjusted for less than full-time enrollment. Undergraduate students must enroll full-time to receive maximum grant funding.
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