Summer Financial Aid for Students
Summer is around the corner and it’s a difficult time for everyone, especially students who are trying to graduate and find themselves in financial need. The good news is that UTRGV offers a variety of opportunities to help students pay for their education.
UTRGV announced its Summer Lift-Off Program, in which it will pay $500 for tuition and mandatory fees. This upcoming summer, all eligible students may receive up to $500 for tuition once all other financial aid has been applied to their account, according to the UTRGV website. Undergraduate and graduate students who register for six credits or more for the Summer 2021 sessions will receive their Summer Lift-Off. To be eligible, students must enroll in classes by today.
Besides this help, UTRGV also offers other financial assistance for students, such as Pell grants, summer Pell grants, student loans, work-study aid and others.
“The Pell Grant is available for eligible students. Also, student loans. And then there’s also some small grants, state grants that are available,” said Jael Perez, associate director for Financial Aid Operations and Community Liaison. “We do have the summer boost and the TPEG grant that’s for undergraduate students.”
The Texas Public Educational Grant (TPEG) is a campus-based grant for undergraduate and graduate students who have demonstrated financial need. TPEG is usually awarded until funds are exhausted. It is best recommended for students to finish their FAFSA as soon as possible to broaden their possibilities of receiving the grant.
For graduate students, its equivalent is the Graduate Tuition Assistance Grant (GTAG).
“Student loans are also available in the summer,” Perez said. “The students get awarded whatever they haven’t used during fall and spring. That’s what’s going to be available to them in the summer.”
According to the UTRGV webpage, there are also the Federal Pell Grant funds for Summer 2021, even if students received a full Federal Pell Grant during the fall and spring semesters. Summer Pell will make tuition more affordable for students to enroll in the summer and finish their degree faster.
“The Pell is different in the summer,” Perez said. “If a student uses their full Pell during fall and spring, so meaning they attended school full time for both fall and spring, then for the summer Pell, they have to be enrolled for a minimum of six hours.”
Work-study aid is also available for students during the summer. Perez said work-study aid is always available for eligible students. If the student has a job during spring, for example, UTRGV automatically awards them for summer in case they plan to enroll and continue at their on-campus job. If a student did not receive work-study aid but they’re interested in being awarded in the summer and applying for a job, it is always available via the additional aid requests. Loans and work-study aid requests are available year-round to eligible students.
Perez recommends submitting the summer notifications as soon as possible. He added that even if a student is unsure about enrolling for summer classes, it is better to submit the notification to secure the money.
“That’s one way … to make sure that you get considered for the summer grants that are not Pell … because Pell is an entitlement,” Perez said.
He said that students should also keep in mind that Pell Grant money varies. A student may not get what a student is originally awarded, especially if the student is enrolled in less than six hours for a summer session. Perez encourages to always check on students’ online bills.
“Also, to keep in mind that enrollment changes change eligibility … because programs may have enrollment requirements,” he said. “Keep that in mind if they’re making any last-minute enrollment changes.”
If students have problems or questions regarding the application process for financial aid, they are encouraged to contact UCentral.
For more information summer financial aid availability and eligibility, 882-4026 or email ucentral@utrgv.edu or finaid@utrgv.edu.
