Texas Transfer Grants Pilot Program

The Texas Transfer Grants Pilot Program provides portable, need-based grant aid to encourage high-achieving students to transfer from Texas public two-year to participating Texas public four-year higher education institutions and select health-related institutions (HRIs). The program was developed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund. MDRC, a non-profit social policy evaluator, is assisting the THECB with the design, implementation, and assessment of the grant program.

The Spring 2023 Texas Transfer Grant may be used at any participating Texas public four-year institution, including public universities and select HRIs. For a full list of participating institutions, see below. The grant will be incorporated in eligible recipients’ financial aid packages upon successful transfer for the Spring 2023 semester.

Grant funds can be used to cover costs associated with transfer institutions’ Cost of Attendance, which includes the costs of tuition, room and board, and textbooks. Recipients who are eligible for other forms of financial assistance may still receive Texas Transfer Grant aid as long as the total amount of the grant plus any additional aid (excluding loans and work-study) DOES NOT exceed the transfer institution’s Cost of Attendance. In some cases it may not be possible to incorporate the grant into a financial aid package when a student is already eligible for other aid that would fully cover a transfer institution’s Cost of Attendance.

To receive the grant, eligible students must (1) file the 2022-2023 FAFSA and ensure that their chosen institution is listed on the FAFSA, (2) enroll at a participating Texas public four-year institution for the Spring 2023 semester and (3) remain enrolled in at least 9 semester credit hours (SCHs) at their chosen institution as of the institution’s standard census date. Recipients are encouraged but not required to consider using Texas’ free online web portal GoApplyTexas.org to submit their transfer application.

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Texas Transfer Grants Evaluation

As part of this initiative, the THECB and MDRC are conducting an evaluation that will analyze de-identified student academic and financial aid information collected by Texas colleges and universities to understand whether the Texas Transfer Grant successfully leads to a greater number of students enrolling at Texas four-year institutions. The data being analyzed will not include students’ names or other information that could readily identify them. Student participation in the Texas Transfer Grant Pilot Program and the associated evaluation is optional.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I’m eligible for a Spring 2023 Texas Transfer Grant?

If you have received an award offer via email or letter for a Spring 2023 Texas Transfer Grant, you are eligible for a grant. The Spring 2023 grant is separate from Fall 2022 grant – the prior Fall 2022 grant does not renew and cannot be carried over into the Spring semester. Any earlier emails or letter you may have received about the Fall 2022 grant do not apply for the Spring 2023 semester.

How was I determined to be eligible for the Texas Transfer Grant?

You were determined to be eligible for the grant based on your past enrollment in Texas public two-year higher education institutions, your postsecondary grade point average (GPA), and your anticipated financial aid status. Because there was not enough grant funding to provide grants to all qualifying students, the THECB and MDRC conducted lotteries to award grants to a random subset of qualifying students. If you have received an email or letter about the Texas Transfer Grant Pilot Program, you were determined to be eligible to receive a grant through a lottery. Eligibility for both the Fall 2022 grant and the Spring 2023 grants was determined through lotteries.

What do I need to do to receive the grant?

You need to (1) file a 2022-2023 FAFSA and ensure that your chosen higher education institution is listed on the FAFSA (2) enroll at a participating Texas public university or HRI for the Spring 2023 semester and (3) remain enrolled in at least 9 credits through the census date of your chosen transfer institution. If you do these three things, the grant will be incorporated in your Spring 2023 financial aid package. When filing a 2022-2023 FAFSA, be sure to list your chosen transfer institution and the institution’s federal school code.

What if I have already transferred to a participating Texas public four-year institution? (For example, if I transferred in the Spring or Summer semesters of this year?)

If you received a notification about the Spring 2023 semester grant, you can still receive the Texas Transfer Grant for the Spring 2023 semester regardless of your prior enrollment in 2022, provided that your institution is listed below as a participating institution, and that you meet the three conditions listed above, under “What do I need to do to receive the grant?”

Can I defer this grant until a later semester, or do I have to use this grant for Spring 2023?

The Spring 2023 Texas Transfer Grant can only be used for the Spring 2023 semester. The grant cannot be carried over to a different semester or academic year.

I received a Texas Transfer Grant for Fall 2022. Can I use this grant in Spring 2023?

The Fall 2022 Texas Transfer Grant cannot be carried over to a different semester or academic year.

How do I know if my intended transfer institution is part of the Texas Transfer Grant Pilot Program?

Scroll down for a list of participating Texas public universities and HRIs.

Can I withdraw from the evaluation?

Yes. Your participation in the evaluation is voluntary and you don’t have to participate if you don’t want to. For more information on how to withdraw, see the question below, “Who do I contact if I have questions about the Texas Transfer Grant or evaluation?”.

Will I still get all my regular financial aid if I decline the Texas Transfer Grant?

Yes. Declining the Texas Transfer Grant will not affect your eligibility for other aid that you would have received in the absence of the Texas Transfer Grant.

Who do I contact if I have questions about the Texas Transfer Grant or evaluation?

If you have any questions about the Texas Transfer Grant Pilot Program or evaluation, or to withdraw from the program and evaluation, please submit a ticket at https://www1.thecb.state.tx.us/Apps/CRAFT/Home/Create, and select "Financial Aid Question" under “Contact Reason”. Alternatively, if you have questions about the Texas Transfer Grant Pilot Program, you can also call the Texas Financial Aid Information Center toll-free at 1-888-311-8881. Lastly, you can also contact the financial aid office of your intended transfer institution with any questions.

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Participating Institutions