The following basic criteria must be met to qualify for federal aid:
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A student must be accepted by the University of Utah School of Medicine and through the University of Utah Graduate Admissions Office to qualify for aid or to receive an offer of aid. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 5 credit hours (half-time status). Full-time status is required for certain aid.
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Financial aid is offered with the expectation that the student will register for and complete a required number of credit hours each semester. If a student withdraws from classes and his or her completed credit hours for that semester fall below half-time status, an interview with a financial aid counselor should be arranged immediately to determine eligibility for current and future awards. Failure to do so could result in the denial of future financial aid and/or the placement of registration and transcript holds.
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Only United States citizens, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen are eligible for assistance through the University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Students who declare themselves eligible non-citizens may be asked to provide a copy of their Alien Registration Card annually. Citizenship status will be verified with the Department of Homeland Security.
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Eligibility for most financial aid is based on need. A student's financial need equals the difference between what the University of Utah estimates it will cost to attend this institution (referred to as student budget) and the amount the student and the family will be expected to provide, as determined by the U.S. Department of Education using information submitted in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The standard student budget includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, the cost of mandatory health insurance, disability insurance and miscellaneous expenses. Budget amounts vary according to where the student will live during the school year (on-campus, off-campus, or with parents) and to the student's year in college. If a student has exceptional circumstances regarding day care or elderly care expenses, they may talk to a financial aid program manager and adjustments may be made through the appeal process.
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Federal law and regulations require that all students receiving financial assistance from federal Title IV funds maintain satisfactory academic progress. Title IV funds include Federal Direct Stafford Student Loans, Federal Perkins Student Loans, and Federal Work-Study. Students must be making satisfactory progress toward their medical degree in order to continue to be eligible for financial aid. Students are expected to satisfactorily complete all required medical school courses within four years. Each student's progress is monitored by the School of Medicine and the University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.