General Information
At the University of Houston, we realize the important role financial aid plays in funding your education. In order to have access to this valuable resource in a timely fashion, it is important for you to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1 (prior to the academic year) to ensure you receive your award in time to pay tuition and fees. Since we know the financial aid process can be confusing, staff in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid are available to help answer your questions on a walk-in basis or by appointment.
How to Apply
To apply for federal, state or university funding, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The University of Houston Federal School Code is 003652.
Awards may range from scholarships and grants to student loans and student employment. Most, but not all, programs require a student to demonstrate financial need.
You must have your FAFSA and all required documents submitted to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid by the priority deadline of February 15, to receive the maximum consideration for limited financial aid resources.
Please visit our web site at http://www.uh.edu/financial/graduate/ for details on all the financial aid programs available to graduate students at the University of Houston.
Disbursement of Aid
Each semester, financial aid disbursement begins no earlier than the first day of classes. Proceeds from loan funds will begin disbursing on the first day of class and proceeds from grant funding will begin paying after the 13th class day. If you have satisfied all application and disbursement requirements and met the conditions of your award, your financial aid will be automatically credited to your UH student account as payment. If you have a credit balance remaining after your tuition has been paid, you will receive a refund that will be processed by the Office of Student Business Services.
Revisions and Cancellations of Aid
The university reserves the right to review, revise, or cancel all financial aid at any time due to changes in your financial and/or academic status or failure to comply with federal or state laws and regulations, including financial verification, audit procedures, and university policies. In addition, financial aid may be subject to revision based on funding received by the university from the federal or state government, and any changes to federal or state laws, regulations or policies.
Aid Revisions After Drop/Add Period
If your financial aid is disbursed at the beginning of the semester and you reduce your number of enrolled hours within the drop/add period, your aid will be adjusted to reflect your semester enrollment (registration). If your reduced enrollment results in less eligibility for aid, your will be charged for the overpayment of financial aid - creating a balance due on your UH student account. If you have questions about the financial impact of dropping classes, please contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
Maintaining Eligibility
The various federal and state regulations governing student financial assistance programs require that an institution develop a standard to measure students’ reasonable progress towards a degree objective - Satisfactory Academic Progress. Academic progress is reviewed at the conclusion of each academic year. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress will result in the denial or cancellation of your financial aid.
The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid may administratively grant one probationary semester of assistance for students whose academic progress has changed to “warning” at the conclusion of their first semester of enrollment at UH.
The following qualitative and quantitative standards must be met to remain eligible for financial aid at the University of Houston. Certain programs, including the Graduate Tuition Fellowship, may have higher standards than those listed below.
Qualitative Measures of Academic Progress
The qualitative measure of academic progress is a grading scale of 0.00 to 4.00, based on students’ enrollment classification.
Classification |
GPA Minimum Requirement |
Undergraduate |
2.00 |
Post-baccalaureate |
2.00 |
Graduate |
3.00 |
Law & Optometry |
2.00 |
Quantitative Measures of Academic Progress
Students cannot receive financial aid beyond a specified total of attempted credit hours, and they must complete a certain percentage of the credit hours for which they are enrolled.
Classification |
Maximum Attempted Hours Including Transfer Hours |
Ratio of Passed Hours to Attempted to Hours |
Undergraduate |
180 credit hours |
67% |
Post-baccalaureate |
100 hours beyond bachelor’s |
67% |
Graduate and Professional |
100 hours beyond bachelor’s |
67% |
Law & Optometry |
200 hours beyond bachelor’s |
67% |
NOTE: Hours passed DO NOT include grades of: I (incomplete), U (unsatisfactory), F (failed), or W (withdrawal); however, these hours are included in hours attempted.
Withdrawal Policy
For any student who officially or unofficially withdraws from the university or fails to earn a passing grade in any class, federal regulations require a refund calculation for all students receiving Federal Title IV Funds. The calculation of the return of these funds may result in you owing a balance to the university. Also, any future aid will be canceled. For any withdrawal prior to the 12th class day, all state and institutional aid will be canceled. Withdrawing from classes will impact your Satisfactory Academic Progress and may cause you to be ineligible for future financial aid. All students should visit with a financial aid advisor prior to withdrawing.
Fraud Policy
Misconduct Involving the Administration and/or Receipt of Financial Aid
There are situations where students and/or parents may willfully falsify or misrepresent information or engage in other misconduct for the purpose of obtaining financial aid. As administrators of Title IV programs and funds, the university is obligated to ensure processes are in place to protect against fraud by applicants, staff, or third party servicers. When identifying actual or suspected cases of fraud and abuse, the university will follow the law [34 CFR 668.53(a)(5), 668.14(g)] and refer all cases to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid must identify and resolve discrepancies in the information received from different sources with respect to a student’s application for Title IV aid. These items include, but are not limited to:
- Student aid applications
- Need analysis documents (e.g., Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) and Student Aid Reports (SARs))
- Federal income tax returns
- Documents and information related to a student’s citizenship
- School credentials (e.g., high school diploma)
- Documentation of the student’s Social Security Number (SSN)
- Compliance with the Selective Service registration requirement and other factors related to students’ eligibility for Title IV funds
Some forms of financial aid fraud include, but are not limited to, the following:
- False claims of independent student status;
- False claims of citizenship;
- Use of false identities;
- False statements of income;
- Forged signatures on an application, verification documentation or master promissory notes
- Falsified documents, including reporting members that are not part of your household
- Use of fictitious names, addresses, SSNs
Procedures for Fraud
If a financial aid officer suspects or determines misrepresentation of facts, false statements, or alteration of documents which resulted or could result in the awarding or disbursement of funds for which the student is not eligible, the information shall be reported to the Executive Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid. The Executive Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid shall consider the information, and if deemed advisable, refer the matter to university officials for further review.
If an employee of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid suspects a supervisor or a director of fraud, an anonymous complaint can be filed with Mysafecampus.com. The complaint will be reviewed and referred by an independent university official for further action.
Once university officials ascertain the possibility that suspicious activity or misconduct occurred, the university will refer the matter to the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Education, and/or other applicable federal or state regulatory or law enforcement authorities as necessary and without delay.
Students and/or university personnel who engage in or who are suspected of engaging in fraud or misconduct will be dealt with in accordance with university policies and may face disciplinary sanctions for their involvement, up to and including dismissal from the university.
Cases of fraud will be reported to the Office of Inspector General (OIG):
Inspector General’s Hotline: 1-800-MIS-USED
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline.html
Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1510
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