Completing the process of Financial Aid
When you apply for financial aid and scholarships, the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS) reviews your application and waits until you’re admitted to make you a financial aid offer (sometimes called your “financial aid package”). Once you register for classes, your aid will be used to pay your tuition and fee bill and then to your housing expenses and other costs.
Checking Your Financial Aid Status
To determine the status of your financial aid award, find out if your bills have been paid, or check if your money has been sent to you, use one of the following resources:
- CA$H (Check Aid Status Here), the personalized OSFS information web site
- Student Accounts Receivable web site
Using Your Aid
For OSFS to apply your financial aid and/or any scholarships you are granted to your tuition and fee bill, you must first take several steps:
- When you receive notification of your aid package, accept your financial aid awards through the Electronic Financial Aid Notification (E-FAN). Submit any additional documents required.
- Register for full-time or approved part-time hours during orientation and choose a tuition/fee bill payment option.
Once your course registration is complete, your financial aid funds will be released to pay your tuition and fee bill (no earlier than several days before the beginning of each semester). After your tuition and fee debts are paid, the remaining funds are applied automatically to your on-campus housing bill, if you decide to live on campus.
If any money is left over after paying your university debts, the remaining funds will be released to you by direct deposit or a paper check.
Tuition and Fees Not Covered by Aid
If your financial aid award covers only a part of your university debts, you must pay the balance of your bill by the date indicated using one of the available payment options. Review the payment instructions enclosed with your bill or in the UT Austin Course Schedule to make sure you successfully pay your tuition/fee bill by the payment deadline.
Receiving Outside Scholarships
Many students receive scholarships from a variety of outside sources and donors (private companies, foundations, and religious and community organizations). If you received a scholarship check or if the donor wishes to send the funds directly to UT Austin, visit TexasScholarships.org for instructions about where to send these funds so they are processed appropriately.
Updating Your Contact Info
If any changes to your mailing or e-mail addresses occur, please notify us immediately. If your local, permanent, and e-mail addresses are not current, information sent to you by the university (including financial aid checks) may be lost, delayed, or returned to us. You can update your contact information online with your UT EID and password or in person with a photo ID at the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS).
E-mail is an official form of communication at UT Austin, so you should check your e-mail frequently.
Questions?
Access OSFS’s Ask Don! service for immediate answers to common financial aid questions. Or call OSFS at 512-475-6282, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Lobby hours 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.