Financial Aid

Applying for Financial Aid

Get the most financial aid you can! File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You may be eligible for more money from different colleges. 

Financial aid is money that can help you pay for college.  There are three main categories of financial aid:

        1. Scholarship & Grants - free money from private organizations and/or your college institution that does not have to be paid back.

        2. Loans - for both parents and students that need to be paid back (usually with interest).

        3. Work-study - student is provided a job on campus but the earnings go back to the college institution.

Financial aid begins with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid known as the FAFSA for documented students or the Texas Application for State Financial Aid known as the TAFSA for undocumented students.

The FAFSA can be submitted as early as Oct 1st for graduating students. FAFSA applicants will complete the application using tax information from two years prior to their anticipated college entrance date. 

Students and families will need the following to complete their financial aid applications:

• Social Security Number (SSN).

• Parental Information (dependent students).

• Tax records - try using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

• Financial records or information - examples are checking and savings account balances, interest income, investments and other assets.

• Federal Student Aid Identification Number (FSA ID) - used to sign your electronic application. Student and parent each need one.

• Names of schools interested in attending.  Your FAFSA data will be sent to these schools.

The following are resource is made available from the CollegeBoard to assist students and parents with applying for financial aid.

• • • Financial Aid 101

    • 7 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid

    • Financial Aid Checklist - Grades 9-12

    • How to Complete the FAFSA

    • What to Do When Your Financial Aid Award Isn't Enough

    • Financial Aid Glossary

CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE

Some colleges and private scholarship programs may require the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.  This is a web-based financial aid application provided by the CollegeBoard.  It can be completed online at https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/.