Financial Aid - Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights?

• Know what financial aid programs are available (Financial Aid Brochure).
• Know the priority dates/deadlines (TSU Catalog, Financial Aid Brochure).
• Know what it costs to attend TSU (Student Account Services).
• Know the refund policy (TSU Catalog).

What are my responsibilities?

1. Notify the OSFA of any outside resources awarded.
2. Attend entrance counseling for all first-time borrowers before loans are disbursed.
3. Attend exit counseling if graduating or ceasing at least half-time enrollment.

I probably don't qualify for aid. Should I apply for aid anyway?
Yes. Many families mistakenly think they don't qualify for aid, and prevent themselves from receiving financial aid by failing to apply for it. In addition, there are a few sources of aid such as unsubsidized Direct Student and PLUS loans that are available regardless of need. The FAFSA form is free. There is no good excuse for not applying.

I will need to borrow money to help pay my education. Who should I borrow from?
There are many types of loans available to you. Some are need-based and others are available to everyone. You can read more about the types of loans available to you from our loan FAQ page. Also, information on some of our trusted lenders is listed on our lenders list.

Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year?
Yes. You must apply for financial aid every year. If your financial circumstances change you may get more or less aid. The new form is available after January 1^st and should be filed by mail or on the web by February 15^th. FAFSA's filed after February 15^th may not meet the priority deadline.

How do I apply for a Pell Grant and other types of need-based aid?
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To indicate interest in student employment, student loans, and parent loans, you should check the appropriate boxes. Checking these boxes does not commit you to accepting these types of aid. You will have the opportunity to accept or decline each part of your aid package later. Leaving these boxes unchecked will not increase the amount of grants you receive.

What is a Student Aid Report?
After you file your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will process it in approximately four weeks. Then, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. The SAR will reflect the information from your application and, if there are no questions or problems with your application, your SAR will provide your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the number used in determining your eligibility for federal Student aid. List Texas Southern University (Code 003642) on your FAFSA so that will also receive a copy of your SAR.

When and how will I receive my financial aid?
Financial aid awards are normally released at the start of each semester. Financial aid award funds will first be used to pay your tuition/fees and on-campus housing bills. After all your University bills are paid for the semester, the balance of your financial aid money will be issued to you in the form of a check from the Cashiers Office.

What expenses can I expect financial aid to cover?
Financial aid is awarded based on an average Cost of Attendance (COA) that includes appropriate tuition/fees for your educational program, books/supplies, and other educational expenses. Other educational expenses consist of living, transportation, personal and miscellaneous expenses during the academic year as estimated by the University. In some cases child care expenses necessary for you to attend classes can also be covered.

How much will my family be expected to contribute towards my yearly college costs?
Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated each year you apply for aid using a national processing formula called the Federal Methodology. The formula considers your parent's and your income and assets, your family size and the number of family members enrolled in college. The EFC will be the same at any college you attend.

Can my financial aid change?
Yes. As stated in the student award notification, initial financial aid awards are our best estimate of what you are eligible to receive. Most changes in awards, however, involve factors that are under your control, or of which you should be aware. Your award may be increased, reduced, or even canceled, if:

• Your family's financial circumstances change, causing your need to change.
• You receive any additional outside resource, such as a privately awarded scholarship, which was not listed, on your award notification.
• You provided incorrect data on your FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA.
• You do not maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• The University suspends you.
• You do not enroll for the required number of hours to receive aid through the programs awarded to you.

What is verification?
Verification is a federally mandated quality control process which files are selected at random to check certain data elements on the FAFSA. If your file is selected for verification, the school is required to compare these data elements with the information on your tax returns to "verify" their accuracy. Your SAR will tell you if you have been selected for verification.

What if I am selected for verification?
You will need to submit to the Office of Financial Aid signed copies of parent and tax returns and a completed Verification Worksheet verifying household size, untaxed income, and number in college.

How can I get an In-school Deferment on repayment of my loan?
Request the deferment form from your lender and have the Registrar's Office complete it, then send it back to the bank. Continue to make all payments until your bank sends you confirmation of your deferment.

If I am in default on a previous loan, what documents are need to clear the default?
A letter is required from the agency, or holder of the defaulted loan, stating that the default has been cleared.

What happens to my financial aid status if I withdraw from school?
Depending upon when you withdraw from school, you may be required to repay a specified percentage of any aid you have received in the term in which you are withdrawing, since the funds you receive are designed to help you meet your living expenses for the entire term.

Can I get aid for the summer?
It depends. We consider summer session to be an "add on" to the regular academic year. If you have not already used up your full eligibility in the student loan program or Pell grant program, you may use either (or both) for summer school. Many scholarships are not available during the summer.

Who is a Dependent Student?
You will be considered dependent for financial aid purposes for the academic year unless you can answer "yes" to at least one of the following FAFSA questions (on the date the FAFSA is filed):

• Were you born before January 1, 1984?
• During the school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program?
• Are you married?
• Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
• Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2008?
• Are you an orphan, or are you or were you (until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?

Professional students are those enrolled in the Law and Pharmacy programs. Please note that Pharmacy students must have earned a bachelor's degree or have completed at least 179 earned hours.