Decode Your Financial Aid Offer

At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, we value service, research, creative pursuits, entrepreneurship, internships and more. Most of all, we value you.

Your financial aid offer is just the beginning of our commitment to you as a Volunteer. Understand your offer, explore additional aid options, and take the steps to accept your awards.

One Stop staff support student at kiosk.

Something that really sets UT apart is its investment in my ambition. UT has invested in me and my experience to make sure that I could do things I never thought possible. It’s really made all the difference.

Meredith Bailey
Greeneville, TN

View Your Financial Aid Offer

When you first receive your estimated financial aid offer, you will receive an email with a personalized link to view your award letter online. Be sure to save the email containing your custom link as it’s the only direct way to access your award letter later.

If you lose track of your custom link, you can still view your financial aid offer by logging in to MyUTK with your NetID and password. The financial aid details in MyUTK are the most accurate and will continuously update as financial aid is processed.

MyUTK Instructions

Log in to MyUTK using your NetID and password. You can locate your NetID in your Go Vols Portal and create your password here.
Select “Accept Award Offer” from the “My Financial Information” section
Select the 2026-27 financial aid year
Follow the on-screen prompts to view your award offer

Types of Financial Aid

Understanding the different types of financial aid available can help you plan college costs with confidence. UT students receive a combination of scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans—each with their own eligibility and steps to accept or maintain funding.

Scholarships

Scholarships help support your education and do not have to be repaid. If you’ve been awarded a scholarship listed on your financial aid offer, it will be automatically applied to your account—no additional action is required. Each scholarship has eligibility criteria you must maintain to continue receiving funds each term, and there are also new scholarship opportunities available annually.

UT and the State of Tennessee offer several types of scholarships that may appear in your financial aid award letter:

State Scholarships

Funded by Tennessee, such as the HOPE Lottery Scholarship. Eligibility is based on residency, academics, and a submitted FAFSA

Institutional Scholarships

Awarded and funded by UT based on factors like academic achievement, leadership, or financial need

Departmental Scholarships

Awarded by specific UT colleges, schools, or academic departments

*May not be included in your financial aid award

External Scholarships

Offered by private companies, nonprofits, community organizations, or foundations. Application requirements and deadlines vary

*May not be included in your financial aid award

Grants

Grants are need-based aid that do not have to be repaid. Eligibility is determined through the FAFSA, which must be completed every year to continue receiving grant funding. If you’ve been awarded a grant, it will be automatically applied to your account—no additional action is required. Some grants have ongoing eligibility requirements, so be sure to maintain any criteria outlined in your award.

Additional/Optional Funding

After scholarships and grants are applied, you may choose to accept additional aid to help cover remaining costs. These options are not automatically applied to your account—you must accept or decline them in MyUTK. Each program has eligibility requirements you must maintain to continue receiving funds.

Student Loans

Student loans can help cover remaining educational expenses after grants, scholarships, and other types of aid are applied. Loans are optional and not automatically applied—you must accept or decline them in MyUTK. If you borrow, you are responsible for repaying the loan and any interest to your loan servicer. Only borrow what you need.

There are two main types of student loans:

Federal Loans

Direct Subsidized Loans: Low-interest loans from the federal government for eligible undergraduate students. The government pays interest while you’re enrolled at least half-time until six months after graduation or you otherwise leave school.
Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Loans from the federal government for eligible undergraduate students. You are responsible for interest from the time the loan is disbursed.
Parent PLUS Loans: Credit-based federal loans taken out by a parent or legal guardian, who is responsible for repayment, including interest.

Alternative (Private) Loans

Private loans are offered by banks or other lenders. Interest rates, terms, and eligibility vary by lender, and you are responsible for repayment under the lender’s agreement. Carefully compare options before borrowing.

Loan Calculator

Loan calculators can help you estimate monthly payments, interest costs, and total repayment based on how much you borrow. These tools support smart borrowing decisions and long-term planning.

Explore calculators at studentaid.gov/h/manage-loans.

Federal Work Study

If offered Federal Work-Study, you can earn money through on- or off-campus jobs to help with educational and personal expenses. FWS provides flexible, part-time employment that supports your academic schedule. To receive these funds, you must accept the award in MyUTK and secure a qualifying position.

All Federal Work-Study funds are paid bi-weekly to students hired to a FWS position through payroll in alignment with the student’s work hours.

Accept Additional/Optional Aid

After scholarships and grants are applied, you may choose to accept additional aid, such as Federal Work-Study or student loans, to help cover remaining educational costs. These awards are not automatically applied to your account. You must actively accept or decline them in MyUTK for the funds to be processed.

To accept your Federal Work-Study offer and Student Loans:

Log in to your MyUTK account using your NetID and password
Select “Accept Award Offer” from the “My Financial Information” section
Select the 2026-27 aid year
Follow the on-screen prompts to accept or decline your award offers

First-time Student Loan Borrowers

Students must complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Loan Counseling (ELC) before loans can be disbursed. We strongly encourage borrowers to schedule an appointment with the Center for Financial Wellness to build a borrowing and repayment plan that supports your long-term financial goals.

First-time Federal Work-Study Recipients

Students must complete Federal Work-Study onboarding after accepting the award. You cannot begin earning your FWS funds until you complete onboarding and are hired into a FWS position.

Accepting your aid early ensures your funding can be applied to your account on time and helps protect your schedule from late fees and registration holds. Find all financial dates and deadlines that affect financial aid disbursement on the Intro to Billing & Payments webpage.

Financial Aid Verification

The federal government randomly selects students who are receiving financial aid to complete a process called “verification.” The verification process serves as a double-check of your FAFSA information. If you have been selected, we’ll contact you via your UT email account and MyUTK account.

Learn More

Your Next Steps

Before you begin your journey on Rocky Top, there are a few important steps to complete, so your enrollment, financial aid, and scholarships can be finalized. From confirming your admission and submitting final documents to accepting your aid and completing required verification, staying on top of these tasks will ensure a smooth transition to UT and prevent delays in registering for classes or receiving financial aid.

Admissions Next Steps

Navigating College Costs

More than half of UT students graduate with no student loan debt, and the average loan debt for UT students is considerably lower than the national average. That’s because we know that making informed financial decisions is an important part of your UT journey—and you don’t have to navigate it alone. UT provides tools, guidance, and personalized support to help you understand costs, explore funding options, and plan confidently for the future.

Center for Financial Wellness (CFW)

The CFW empowers you to make smart choices about money—now and after you graduate. Our financial wellness coaches can help you:

Understand the cost of attendance and set realistic financial goals
Compare student loan options and build a repayment plan that fit your needs
Create spending and saving strategies that support academic and personal success
Learn essential financial skills, including credit maintenance, budgeting paychecks, and navigating insurance

Meet with a coach virtually or in person, attend workshops, or explore online resources at financialwellness.utk.edu.

College Financing Plan

You can view your UT College Financing Plan in the My Financial Information section of MyUTK. This standardized format—used by colleges nationwide—summarized your financial aid offer clearly, making it easier to understand costs and compare offers across institutions.

How to View Your UT College Financing Plan

You can view your UT College Financing Plan in MyUTK. This standardized format summarizes your financial aid offer clearly and helps you understand costs and compare offers across institutions nationwide.

Log in to MyUTK
Navigate to the My Financial Information section
Select TN HOPE, SAP & Requirements
Click View financial aid award information
Select the College Financing Plan tab

Explore Payment Options

UT offers structured support and resources to help you navigate billing, payments, refunds, and financial aid processes throughout your Rocky Top adventure. Explore tools for budgeting, finding additional funding, and accessing one-on-one financial guidance through the Center for Financial Wellness.

Discounts and Waivers

Discover the discounts, waivers, and benefits that can help make your education at UT more affordable. From employee and graduate assistant waivers to support for veterans, senior citizens, and students with permanent disabilities, you may qualify for cost-saving opportunities through the university or the state of Tennessee.

Explore your options, review eligibility requirements, and submit required forms so we can help you take full advantage of the resources available to you.

Payment Plan

A payment plan lets you spread your semester balance over three installments, giving you more time and flexibility to manage your costs. Eligible students can enroll through MyUTK by paying 50% of their total charges by the semester due date, followed by two monthly payments. Review the payment schedule each term to stay on track and avoid late fees and registration holds.

One-Time Payment

If you prefer to pay your full semester balance at once, you can make a one-time payment through MyUTK. Paying in full by the semester due date helps you avoid late fees and registration holds. Be sure to check your account regularly— new charges, such as housing or course fees, may appear after your initial payment.

One Stop Student Services

One Stop is your go-to resource for questions about financial aid, scholarships, registration, student records, and enrollment. Staff are cross trained to provide guidance across all areas, making it easy to get answers and support in one place. Connect with One Stop at onestop.utk.edu/resources/contact-one-stop/.

You should contact One Stop if you need assistance with:

Understanding or adjusting your financial aid offer
Updating or verifying documents for additional funding
Changing your decision after accepting or declining aid in MyUTK

Keep Your Financial Aid

Understanding a few key financial aid requirements can help you stay eligible for funding throughout your time at UT. Making sure your courses count toward your degree (CPOS), meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards, and filing the FAFSA each year are essential steps to keep your aid in place and support your path to graduation.

Course Program of Study (CPOS)

To continue receiving federal or state financial aid while at UT, you must be enrolled in an eligible degree program and registered for courses required for that program, as outlined in the Academic Catalog. If you take classes outside your required curriculum, your financial aid may be reduced or canceled. Staying in CPOS-approved courses helps protect your aid and keep you on track to graduate.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

To keep receiving financial aid, you must meet all SAP standards:

Maintain a Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
Complete your degree within 150% of the published program length
Students who withdraw from UT three times while receiving aid are no longer eligible

Failing to meet SAP will place a hold on your account and prevent financial aid from being disbursed. Students who only receive departmental awards and no federal, state, or university funding are not subject to SAP’s yearly progress and maximum time frame requirements.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Filing

To continue receiving federal, state, and some institutional aid—including grants, scholarships, and loans—you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. Your FAFSA determines your eligibility for aid and must be renewed annually.