Insights on UT Dallas financial aid

Hey fellow applicants, is anyone familiar with UT Dallas’ financial aid packages? I've heard a lot of diverse reviews, and it'd be great if y'all could help me parse through it.

University of Texas at Dallas offers a variety of financial aid options which are primarily divided into grants, loans, work-study programs, and scholarships. As an institution, it does its best to cater to the financial needs of its students, however, the amount and type of aid you receive largely depends on your family's financial situation, your academic standing, and timely application.

Let's break it down a bit.

FAFSA: All applicants are encouraged to fill this out to be considered for federal aid offerings, including federal Pell grants, federal student loans, and work-study programs. The amount of aid can vary widely depending on your and your family's financial situation and your SAI (Student Aid Index), so be sure to fill it out accurately.

AES Program: UT Dallas offers a highly competitive program known as the Academic Excellence Scholarship (AES) program. Under this initiative, there are several levels of awards (AES Honors, AES Distinction, and AES Achievement) depending on your high school GPA, test scores, class rank, and leadership activities. These scholarships range from providing partial to full tuition cover, and in some cases include living stipends and/or study abroad stipends.

UTD Comet Transfer Scholarship: If you're a transfer student with a stellar academic record, you might want to look into this scholarship, which offers a significant amount of aid based on GPA.

Third-party scholarships: Keep in mind that many students also fund their education through external scholarships.

Although UT Dallas aims to support as many students as it can with financial aid, every student’s situation is unique and aid packages can vary widely. You can also visit UTD's affordability page to access an estimated price calculator, explore scholarships, or schedule a meeting with a counselor: https://enroll.utdallas.edu/affordability/. And with every school you're applying to, it's crucial to follow all application procedures and deadlines carefully to maximize your chances of receiving aid.