Financial Aid Booklet 2023

AN AFFORDABLE DEGREE STARTS HERE.

Financing your UTC education

GO MOCS!

AFFORDABLE, QUALITY EDUCA TION

UTC AWARDS MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN FINANCIAL AID EVERY YEAR.

Choosing a college has a big impact on your life and your finances. We know that college is a significant investment of your time and your money. That’s why we work hard to provide an affordable, quality education at UTC.

We also know that the financial aid process can be confusing and time intensive. We’re here to take the stress, worry, and confusion out of financial aid by giving you the knowledge and confidence to make the best decisions for your future.

More than 75% of our students receive some form of financial assistance.

11,200+ Students

150+ Degree Programs and Concentrations

100+ Acre Campus

18:1 Student-Faculty Ratio

COLLEGE IN CHATTANOOGA

With its small-town feel and mid-size city amenities, Chattanooga is the perfect college town. Tucked between Lookout and Signal mountains, along the beautiful Tennessee River, Chattanooga is known for its natural beauty. Located downtown, the UTC campus is the perfect place to take advantage of all the great things the city has to offer.

City leadership and the local community welcome and support UTC students. The University has a long history of partnering with local businesses to provide students with hands-on learning experiences including internships, co-op experiences, research opportunities, and more.

HERE’S WHAT MAKES UTC A TOP COLLEGE CHOICE

Outstanding academics, friendly atmosphere, a gorgeous campus, and a whole lot more. Everything you want is waiting for you at UTC. We’re more than just a college, we’re a community of Mocs who fly together. With an average class size of 18, you’re treated like family, not a number.

100+ Student Organizations

Top Performer on Social Mobility —U.S. News and World Report

Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs

—U.S. News and World Report

Best College for Veterans —College Consensus School of Nursing ranked best in Tennessee 2022

—RegisteredNursing.org

downtown Chattanooga

Northshore TennesseeRiver

WAYS TO FINANCE YOUR EDUCATION

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID

There are several ways to finance your education. Financial aid can come from different sources—state and federal governments, corporations and nonprofits, and private organizations. Based on FAFSA information, you may not be eligible to receive all forms of aid listed. If your income or your parents’ income has changed, please contact the Mocs One Center.

LOANS

Money you borrow from the government, a bank, or another source to pay for college. Students must repay their loans upon graduation. Some loans accrue interest while the student is completing their degree. All students must be enrolled at least half-time to receive student loans.

Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

Low-interest student loans. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest while you’re enrolled at least half-time in school. Unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest immediately.

Direct Parent PLUS Loans Available to parents, with good credit histories, of dependent students. Parents can borrow to help cover their student’s costs.

Private Loans Students who need additional funds beyond what they qualify for in federal student aid can apply for a private education loan after exhausting federal loan options first.

GRANTS

A form of financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid. Grants are often based on financial need and usually are offered by federal and state governments.

SCHOLARSHIPS

A form of financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid. Scholarships are offered by UTC, private companies and non-profits, and can be based on merit, talents, financial need, or other criteria.

WORK-STUDY

A federal work program through which undergraduate students are given an on-campus job to help pay for school.

BORDER STATES AND REGIONAL TUITION RATES

Undergraduate students residing in states that border Tennessee, plus South Carolina, pay 50% of the current out-of-state tuition. Eligible states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Students residing in counties surrounding UTC qualify to pay in-state tuition plus 25% of the out-of-state tuition. Eligible Counties: Jackson, Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, and Fannin counties. Learn more at utc.edu/out-of-state

UT PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP

UT Promise is an undergraduate scholarship program guaranteeing free tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying Tennessee residents attending UT’s campuses in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Martin, Memphis, and Pulaski.

This innovative scholarship covers a student’s last-dollar amount of tuition and mandatory fees after other financial aid is applied (such as Pell grants, or other institutional scholarships) if they qualify for the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship and if their annual family income is below $60,000. For more information, including application steps, requirements, and deadlines, visit utpromise.tennessee.edu

UTC SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH utc.edu/scholarships

Institutional scholarships are just the beginning. There are many ways to earn a scholarship, and we’ve outlined all of them on our website including searchable databases.

MAKING IT EASIER TO AFFORD COLLEGE

Instead of making one large tuition payment every semester, our Tuition Installment Payment Plan (TIPP) lets you make smaller payments throughout the semester. Restrictions apply.

MYMOCSNET

YOUR PATHWAY TO ACCEPTING FINANCIAL AID

MyMocsNet is your online portal to UTC financial aid. You can view financial aid requirements, accept any aid and scholarships, access your fee statement, check your satisfactory academic progress report, and more.

FINISH HERE START HERE

Set Up Your MyMocsNet Account

Activate your MyMocsNet account at utc.edu/activate-mocsnet.

You will need the following to set your password the first time:

University of Tennessee (UT) NetID. This typically is the same as your UTCID and available on your admissions acceptance letter. Your UTCID is six characters in the format of ABC123.

One of the following identifiers: Social Security Number. TN Unique ID—available on your electronic admissions acceptance letter.

You will be asked to complete three steps: Set up your password recovery questions. Sign up for Duo Mobile two-factor authentication which will be required once you are enrolled in classes. Set your new password and save.

That’s it! You can log in to MyMocsNet at any time in the top toolbar on any UTC webpage.

NOTE: all aid informaton will come to your UTC email in MyMocsNet.

Review and Accept Aid

Log in to your MyMocsNet account. Click on the “Money” tab near the top of your screen.

Choose “Accept Financial Aid” from the buttons below the “Money” tab.

On the next page, choose “Award Offer” at the top.

When you have been awarded aid, it will appear in boxes here. First, you will see any grants and scholarships awarded. Second, you will see any loans you are qualified to receive. Start by accepting any grants and scholarships offered. If you have a remaining balance, choose any loans you wish to accept. (Make sure you understand repayment terms of any loans you accept).

After accepting the aid of your choice, click “Submit.”

Read and accept “Terms and Conditions” and click the “Accept Award” button.

TERMINOLOGY AND FAQS

COMMON FINANCIAL AID TERMS

Award Letter An official document from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships that lists all the financial aid awarded to a student.

Bursar’s Office The university office responsible for the billing and collection of student fees as well as the disbursement of financial aid funds.

Cost of Attendance An estimate of the typical educational expenses during an academic year, including tuition, fees, meal plan, room and board, books, supplies, and other living expenses.

Expected Family Contribution The amount a family is expected to contribute to a student’s educational costs. EFC is based on earnings, assets, family size, and other factors.

Financial Aid Office The university office that is responsible for processing all financial aid for students. This includes determining student eligibility, collecting required paperwork, developing award packages, notifying students, and providing information and resources to assist students in paying for college.

Financial Need The difference between the student’s educational costs and the Expected Family Contribution.

Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants, scholarships, or other financial aid.

Room and Board The cost of housing (room) and meals (board) while attending college.

Subsidized Loan A need-based loan that does not accrue interest while a student is in school.

Unsubsidized Loan A non need-based loan that accrues interest while a student is in school.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How and when will I receive my financial aid? All aid awarded by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships or received from any outside source will reduce the amount due on your bill. Institutional scholarships and federal and state aid will disburse during the second week of classes. If your total disbursed aid exceeds your UTC charges, you will receive a refund of the excess amount.

What do I do if I’m eligible for the Tennessee HOPE scholarship, but it’s not showing up in my UTC account? Make sure UTC is selected as your school of choice in the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) online student portal. TSAC is a government agency that administers many state student financial aid programs, including the Tennessee HOPE scholarship. You can log in to this portal at tn.gov/collegepays.

Can my parent take out a loan on my behalf? Dependent students can cover a portion or all of their remaining balance (cost of attendance minus other financial aid received) with a Parent PLUS Loan, a credit-based federal loan given to eligible parent applicants. If the loan is approved, the U.S. Department of Education will notify UTC, and it will be added to your financial aid award.

GO MOCS!

ONLINE RESOURCES

Net Price Calculator

Estimate your costs for attending UTC. utc.edu/calculator

Fee Schedule

A list of all the fees associated with a UTC education. utc.edu/fee-info

WE’RE HERE TO HELP!

Navigating the financial aid process can be confusing. You don’t have to do it alone. Our knowledgeable counselors can help you one-on-one to develop a personalized plan to pay for college.

Mocs One Center

We’ve combined the knowledge of offices across campus— Registrar, Bursar, and Financial Aid and Scholarships— so that we can help with everything from scholarships to requesting a copy of your transcripts.

Office Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. EST, Monday–Friday

Visit

Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

Email: finaid@utc.edu

Phone: (423) 425-4677

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a comprehensive, community-engaged campus of the University of Tennessee System. UTC is an