Grants at UHCL

Guaranteed Free Tuition for New Freshmen Starting Fall 2024 with Family Income (AGI) up to $65,000

UH-Clear Lake guarantees tuition and mandatory fees will be covered by grant assistance for new in-state freshmen with family incomes at or below $65,000, who meet certain academic and financial need requirements.

Eligibility is determined when a student has completed a FAFSA listing the University of Houston-Clear Lake and has been admitted for the 2024-2025 academic year, both by April 1st, 2024.  A separate application is not needed since Hawk Promise is comprised of various gift aid sources for which the student is eligible. Gift aid is aid the student does not need to repay, unless the student withdrawals.

To be eligible for Hawk Promise, you must be:

• A first-time-in-college freshmen for Fall 2024 admitted by April 1st, 2024
• A Texas resident for tuition purposes
• A graduate from a Texas high school with a recommended, distinguished or foundation diploma and enroll at the University of Houston-Clear Lake within 16 months of graduation
• A dependent member of a household whose parents' adjusted gross income does not exceed $65,000
• Eligible to receive Federal Pell Grant and must submit all financial aid forms with supporting documents by April 1^st, 2024
• Enrolled as a full-time student (at least 12 hours per semester and complete a minimum of 24 hours within the academic year) at the University of Houston-Clear Lake

The Hawk Promise guarantees tuition and mandatory fees will be covered by grant assistance to qualifying students for up to four years (not including summer), as long as students continue to meet the eligibility criteria and maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA.

Renewal Criteria

• Received Hawk Promise in first-year (both Fall and Spring terms) at UHCL
• A Texas resident for tuition purposes
• A dependent member of a household whose parents' adjusted gross income does not exceed $65,000
• Eligible to receive Federal Pell Grant and must submit all financial aid forms with supporting documents by January 15^th  of each year
• Enrolled as a full-time student (at least 12 hours per semester and successfully complete at least 12 hours each fall & spring term) at the University of Houston-Clear Lake
• maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA

Hawk Promise awards are primarily comprised of Pell and TEXAS Grants, with institutional funds added as needed to cover tuition and mandatory fees during the fall and spring terms only.  Students will not receive an award for summer terms.

Student must remain enrolled in at least 12 hours through the census date of each term or award may be cancelled for that term and the remainder of the Hawk promise will be forfeited.

Student must successfully complete at least 12 hours each term or the remainder of the Hawk Promise will be forfeited.

Student will need to sign a Terms and Conditions for the Hawk Promise before the 1^st day of class or the Hawk Promise will be forfeited.

Students should continue to complete the FAFSA application on October 1^st,  (or when it becomes available).  Since UHCL does not know if you will be selected for verification or require additional documentation, you should complete the FAFSA as soon as it becomes available.  Students who fail to complete the FAFSA and all required documentation by the Priority Deadline of January 15^th each year, will forfeit their Hawk Promise.

Typically, you may be awarded a Pell Grant by the U.S. Department of Education if you have adequate financial need and are working toward a bachelor's degree. Pell Grant awards vary from year to year based on Congressional funding for the program.

Eligibility

To determine eligibility, the U.S. Department of Education uses a standard formula to evaluate the information you report on your FAFSA. It's based upon Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and enrollment at your university of choice, and you must meet the following terms:

• No defaults on a federal student loan or an over payment on a grant.
• U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• Registered for Selective Service, if required
• Meets Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid purposes
• Completes the verification process as required by federal regulations

Awards are adjusted based on actual enrollment through the census date of the term.  For example, Census Date for Spring 2024 term is January 31, 2024. 

Students who change enrollment may have their award changed/cancelled.

For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's Pell Grant Information Page.

Also known as the FSEOG, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. It gives priority to students who receive Federal Pell Grants.

Eligibility

In order to receive FSEOG, you must meet all the eligibility requirements for the Pell Grant. The FSEOG award is based on availability of funds at UHCL, and these are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, there is no guarantee that every eligible student will receive an award. The U.S. Department of Education has more info on FSEOG.

Awards are adjusted based on actual enrollment through the census date of the term. Students who change enrollment may have their award changed/cancelled.

In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. As a recipient, you must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant.

Important: If you fail to complete this service obligation, all amounts of the TEACH Grants that you received are converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education, and you are charged interest from the date you received the grant.

Eligibility

To receive a TEACH Grant you must:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), although you do not have to demonstrate financial need
• Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in a post-secondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the TEACH Grant Program
• Be enrolled in coursework that is necessary to begin a career in teaching or plan to complete such coursework. The coursework can include subject area courses (for example, math courses for a student who intends to be a math teacher)
• Maintaining at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve
• Complete Entrance Counseling.
• Complete any additional documentation requested through the Office of Student Financial Aid. Emails will be sent each semester to your UHCL email account, with instructions on how to apply.

Awards are adjusted based on actual enrollment through the census date of the term. Students who change enrollment may have their award changed/cancelled.

Additional information for the TEACH Grant can be found online from the Federal Student Aid website.

The Texas Public Educational Grant Program (TPEG) provides grant assistance to students with financial need. At UHCL, these funds are available to undergraduate, graduate, non-resident and international students. Priority is given to applicants who complete the application process by the priority deadline date.

Eligibility

According to the College for Texans Website, TPEG recipients must:

• Be Texas residents, non-residents or foreign students;
• Show financial need; and
• Register for Selective Service or be exempt from this requirement.

The Towards Excellence, Access and Success Grant (TEXAS) Grant Program pays college costs for students with financial need who complete the Recommended High School Program or Distinguished Achievement Program in an accredited Texas high school. The program provides money to enable well-prepared, eligible students to attend public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education in Texas.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the TEXAS Grant at UHCL, you must meet the minimum eligibility requirements you must:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
• Be a Texas resident;
• Have not been convicted of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance;
• Show financial need;
• Be enrolled at least 3/4 time;
• Register for the Selective Service or are exempt from this requirement; and
• Have earned an associate degree from a public technical, state or community college in Texas and Enroll in any public university in Texas no more than 12 months after receiving their associate's degree OR have graduated from an accredited high school in Texas in a Recommended High School Program or Distinguished Achievement Program and enroll in any public university in Texas no more than 16 months

Awards are adjusted based on actual enrollment through the census date of the term. Students who change enrollment may have their award changed/cancelled.

To meet the minimum eligibility requirements to have your TEXAS Grant renewed, you must meet certain criteria.

At the end of the first year of receiving TEXAS Grant

• Maintain school's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements

At the end of the second year of receiving the TEXAS Grant

• Complete at least 75% of the hours attempted in the prior academic year
• Maintain an overall college grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Complete at least 24 semester credit hours per year

Maximum time frame for receiving TEXAS Grant

Recipient Entering the Program as a High School Graduate - Maximum time frame for receiving the grant is the first of:

• Five years from the start of the semester in which the student received the first award if in a degree plan of 4 years or less;
• Six years from the start of the semester in which the student received the first award if in a degree plan of more than 4 years;
• 150 SCH attempted which receiving the grant; or
• Completion of a baccalaureate degree.

Recipient Entering the Program with an Associate's Degree - Maximum time frame for receiving the grant is the first of:

• Three years from the start of the semester in which the student received the first award if in a degree plan of four years or less;
• Four years from the start of the semester in which the student received the first award if in a degree plan of more than four years;
• 90 SCH attempted while receiving the grant; or
• Completion of a baccalaureate degree.

Recipient Entering the Program as a Transfer Student - Maximum time frame for receiving the grant is the first of:

• If first award was made out of high school, no more than 150 SCHs,
• If first award was made after obtaining an associate's degree, no more than 90 SCHs; or
• Completion of baccalaureate degree.

Appeal Process

If you have become ineligible to receive a TEXAS Grant due to your not meeting the TEXAS Grant Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, you can file an appeal. The appeal must demonstrate a true hardship that you experienced during the period of poor academic performance. Examples of hardships include, but are not limited to, a severe illness or responsibility for the care of a sick, injured or needy person. You may also submit an appeal if you cannot enroll full-time due to a required student teaching or internship program. To appeal, you must submit a letter of explanation, as well as documentation of your hardship, to the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Appeal Deadlines

An appeal must be filed by the appropriate deadline in order to be considered for the current fall and spring semesters. The deadline to submit an appeal is October 1st of the academic year in which the funds are being sought.

For more information, visit the College for All Texans website.