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Financial Aid & Scholarships
Applying for Financial Aid
Students should apply for financial aid as soon as possible after January 1, even if they have not yet been admitted. All financial aid applicants must accept the offer of admission before aid can be awarded even if their financial aid file is complete.
To apply for financial aid, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Be sure to indicate 003652 for the University of Houston school code.
Soon after the FAFSA has been submitted to the Central Processor at the Department of Education, students will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Students should review their SAR and make corrections to the Central Processor. At the same time that students receive their SAR, the UH Office of Financial Aid will receive the student's information electronically.
Eligibility
Prospective UH College of Pharmacy students interested in financial assistance should meet the minimum criteria:
- Be enrolled for at least six hours
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Be registered with selective service if required
- Be making satisfactory academic progress
- Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program
- Sign a certificate on refunds and defaults
The College of Pharmacy has a financial aid officer available to answer questions and assist professional students with financial aid matters. All financial aid forms, applications and information for students are available online at the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid Web site and must be returned to the main financial aid office.
You may contact Scott Parker (sparke2@central.uh.edu or in person) in the University Student Financial Aid Office at the UH Welcome Center if you have specific financial aid questions.
Pharm.D. Program Cost of Attendance
UH College of Pharmacy Cost of Attendance, 2012-2013
First-Year Pharm.D. Student
Student cost of education budgets are carefully developed based on the cost of living in this geographic area. With careful planning and budgeting, these budgets allow a financial aid recipient to maintain a modest standard of living. The costs listed below are the actual costs for the 2012-2013 academic year for an on-campus student. These costs are based on full-time enrollment for a 9-month period. Tuition and fees are subject to change by the state Legislature and/or university action.
Tuition and fees for Texas Residents: $16,438
Tuition and fees for Nonresidents: $25,644
Books: $3,400
Room and Board: $10,200 (may vary if a student lives on campus or with parents)
Miscellaneous: $2,700
Transportation: $2,800
Total Texas Residents: $35,538
Total Nonresidents: $44,744
Types of Financial Aid
Loans and Grants
There are several federal loans and grants available to graduate and professional students. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if they wish to receive any federal loan and grant monies. Students may apply for financial aid at any time while enrolled in college; however, the priority deadline is March 15th of each year for the following fall/spring semesters. Students must complete a separate Summer Aid Application for the summer aid.
Direct Unsubsidized Loan
The purpose of the Direct Loan Program is to provide low interest education loans that enable a student to pay the cost of attendance at a public or private, non-profit college of university.
Direct unsubsidized loans are available at 6.8% interest.
- Fixed interest rate of 6.8% for loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2009 (loans disbursed before July 1, 2006 have a variable interest rate).
- Maximum loan amount per academic year, including summer, is $37,167.
- There is a 6-month grace period from the time the student graduates, withdraws from the University, or drops below half-time enrollment before they must begin to repay the loan.
- Aggregate loan limits for PharmD students total $224,000
- There is a 1% origination fee for the Direct unsubsidized loan.
Perkins Loans
The Federal Perkins Loan is a federal loan borrowed through the university. The purpose of the loan program is to provide low interest loans to students with exceptional financial need.
- Fixed interest rate is 5%
- Loan is subsidized while student is enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours)
- Maximum loan amount per year varies
- There is a 9-month grace period from the time the student graduates, withdraws from the University, or drops below half-time enrollment before they must begin to repay the loan.
- The FAFSA and all required documents must be complete with the University by the priority deadline - March 15.
- The student will sign a Master Promissory Note, good for ten years, and will complete an entrance interview.
Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG)
A grant is a need-based award that does not need to be repaid. Grants are almost exclusively awarded on financial need. The following grants are awarded on a first come first serve basis. Maximum grant amounts vary by year and require that students enroll in at least six hours.
- Graduate Tuition Grants (Texas residents only) is an institutional grant awarded to graduate and professional students who demonstrate need and meet the priority deadline of April 1. The award range is $400 - $2,000 per academic year.
- Texas Public Education Grants (TPEG) is a program administered by the state of Texas to provide assistance to students with financial need, seeking either a first bachelor's, graduate or professional degree. It is available for Texas residents and nonresidents who meet the priority deadline of March 15.
- Pharmacy Tuition Grants
** Per federal regulations, Pell Grants are not available for professional students.
Alternative Loans
Private/Alternative loans are available to students who have a cost of education that is not met by the usual financial aid sources. Because the application for private/alternative loans includes a credit check and debt to income factors, many times a creditworthy co-signer is needed. Each individual lender determines the fees for their private loans. Interest is variable and usually changes quarterly. Each lender will offer a slightly different program, so research into choosing a lender is encouraged.
Other Loan Programs
Emergency Deferment: This plan defers the payment of all the current semester’s tuition and mandatory fees. (non-housing students). For more information go to UH Cost & Financial Aid Site.Short Term Deferment:This plan defers the payment of all the current semester’s tuition and fees. (housing students only). For more information go to UH Cost & Financial Aid Site.
Book Loans: This plan, found on the optional fee page, provides students with a short term book loan to assist in buying books. For more information go to UH Cost & Financial Aid Site.
Loans for other emergency expenses are available to students only through the University's Dean of Students Office.
Scholarships
University of Houston College of Pharmacy Scholarships
Scholarships are available from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy and are awarded in the fall of each year. Scholarship recipients are primarily selected based on cumulative pharmacy GPA with secondary consideration given to financial need, extracurricular activities, career goals and college involvement. All pharmacy students in good academic standing are highly encouraged to apply. Scholarship awards may vary from $200 - $5,000 per year.
Deadline for fall/spring scholarship applications: Late March
University of Houston Private Donor Scholarships
The University of Houston Office of Scholarships regularly posts current scholarship information and applications on its website.
Scholarship Web Sites
Students may find additional scholarship information from the Office of Scholarship or other sources below. Students are encouraged NOT to use sites or companies that charge a fee for service; however, if students choose to use these companies, first check with the Better Business Bureau or other resources.