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Frequently Asked Questions

What incentives are there to Promote a Timely Graduation?

As an incentive to promote a timely graduation, students are encouraged to enroll in more than 14 hours each semester and are not charged above 14 semester credit hours. 

As an encouragement for students to focus on degree-required coursework and to discourage dropping classes, UTPA charges an additional amount of designated tuition for excess credit hours beyond the amount listed in the student's degree plan.

Are Students Billed Tuition Charges Beyond 14 Hours?

As an incentive to promote a timely graduation, students are encouraged to enroll in more than 14 hours each semester and are not charged above 14 semester credit hours. 

What is Excess Credit Hour Tuition?

Charging an additional amount of designated tuition for excess credit hours, in addition to recovering lost formula funding for the University, will encourage students to focus on degree-required coursework and will discourage dropping classes. It is presumed that this allowance to recover foregone revenue has been provided by the legislature with the intent to promote timely graduation.

What are the different types of fees?

Incidental Fees - Fees permitted under Texas Educ. Code § 54.504 to be charged at rates to reflect the actual costs of materials or services and which are not separately authorized under other statutes. Examples are the voluntary fees, some mandatory fees, and several course and program fees.

Mandatory Fees - Fees which are assessed to all enrolled students. At UTPA, these include the computer access fee, library technology fee, registration fee, medical service fee, student service fee, student union fee, the international education fee, and (for undergraduates only) the advisement fee.

Voluntary Fees - Fees which are avoidable and are not requirements for enrollment in a particular class or program. Examples include the late registration fee and library fines.

What is a the difference between a subsidized and an unsubsidized loan?

A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. You won’t be charged any interest before you begin repayment or during deferment periods. The federal government “subsidizes” the interest during these periods.

An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of need. You’ll be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it’s paid in full.

What type of loans are available for parents?

A PLUS loan is a loan your parents can get to pay for your education expenses if you’re a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half time. Also, your parents must have no adverse credit history. PLUS loans are unsubsidized.

What different types of tuition exist?

Statutory Tuition - Tuition required to be charged at the rate mandated by the state to all students except in those cases in which a waiver is specifically authorized by statute. The statutory tuition is further broken down into resident and non-resident components. The resident rate is set by statute while the non-resident rate is set via regulation by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Graduate Differential Tuition - This is often referred to simply as differential tuition, since it is the differential in rates between the undergraduate and graduate programs. State statute allows the governing boards of higher education institutions to charge tuition, above the statutory amounts described elsewhere, for graduate programs at an amount that is not more than twice the statutory rate. However, the state does not require institutions to charge the same rate to all graduate programs. Further, the state allows institutions to set the rate for pharmacy and law schools at a rate up to three times the statutory rates.

Designated Tuition – This is the rate that the state allows the governing boards of higher education institutions to charge as tuition, in addition to statutory tuition and graduate differential tuition. More specifically, higher education institutions are allowed to charge a rate which the board “considers necessary for the effective operation of the institution.” More importantly, the state requires institutions to set aside 20 percent of resident undergraduate and 15 percent of resident graduate designated tuition rates that are in excess of $46 per Semester Credit Hour (SCH) for need-based financial assistance.