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Types of Federal Student Aid
Types of Federal Student Aid
If you need help paying for college or career school, the office of Federal Student Aid can assist you with getting the money you need. Check out this video to learn about grants, loans, and work-study jobs and how they can help fund your education.
Understanding the Types of Financial Aid
The 2026-2027 FAFSA is expected to open October 1 and all seniors will be required by the state of Texas to complete the application. The priority deadline to submit the FAFSA is January 15. Send confirmation of completion to your counselor to have your graduation requirement marked complete.
Why is it important to complete the FAFSA?
It’s how you get access to financial aid from the government and from your college.
Students who submit the FAFSA get $15,000 per year (on average) in financial aid-- via a combination of grants, work-study, and loans.
Many private/outside/merit scholarships also require the FAFSA.
The state of Texas now requires all graduating seniors to complete the FAFSA as a graduation requirement.
FAFSA Waiver
FAFSA Waiver
If you choose not to complete the FAFSA (or TASFA), please sign the Opt-Out Waiver (Spanish) and return it to your counselor.
FAFSA FAQs
FAFSA FAQs
Can I share my FSA ID with my parents? (No, everyone needs their own FSA ID)
Does my name for my FSA ID need to match the name I put on my FAFSA? (Yes, and they should both be your full, legal name, as it appears on your Social Security card.)
How do I add or edit colleges later on? What if I end up applying to different colleges than what I put on the FAFSA? (You can always "make a correction" on the FAFSA website to update your college list later.)
Which tax year should I be using, when completing the FAFSA? (the year prior).
Are personal retirement accounts (like 401ks) included on the FAFSA? (No.) What about college savings accounts? (Yes, under parent investment net worth.)
Which parent should I report, if mine are separated? (The one you live with more, or if you split time evenly, the one who provides more for you financially.) Does it have to be the same parent who lists me as a dependent on their taxes? (No.)
What happens if my parents didn't file taxes? (That's okay - You'll just say your parents didn't file and don't plan to. You'll still need to answer some other questions about any federal benefits they received, their cash savings, and their investments, though.)
TASFA: This form lets foreign students and noncitizens who have filed taxes and are not eligible for FAFSA apply for financial aid.
Additional Financial Aid Resources
Additional Financial Aid Resources
College for All Texans: Find out your options on how to pay for college education costs. Understand tuition and fees, financial aid, and scholarships and loans
College Affordability and Transparency Center: The CATC was designed by the U.S. Department of Education to provide information to student and parent consumers about college costs, compare colleges tuition and fees, net price, and other characteristics
Understanding College Costs: Valuable information from the College Board
uAspire College Cost Calculator: uAspire’s College Cost Calculator is a free online tool that helps students compare financial aid offers and the total costs of attending different colleges. With the calculator, students can know the full costs of attending college, including estimates for their indirect expenses and loan repayment. Students are empowered with clear information on the short-term and long-term costs to make more informed financial decisions about college. Check out their blog and video providing an overview of this tool.
BigFuture College Cost Calculator: Use this calculator to see how much college will cost by the time you enroll
Financial Aid Award Letters - 8 Things to Consider
txoc-financial-roadmap-infographic-final_rd_8x11.pdfWhen students opt in to SSS the information students can expect from colleges and scholarship programs includes:
Information on financial aid, scholarships, or other ways to make college more affordable
Details on campus life and student services
Overviews of majors, courses, and degree options
Deadline information
There are a variety of ways students can opt in to Student Search:
SAT® online registration
PSAT-related assessment, SAT School Day (preadministration) (students opt-in on answer sheet)
Online, on BigFuture™, and on studentsearch.collegeboard.org
Ways to Pay for College- English & Spanish.pdfPage updated
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