How to Apply for Financial Aid
A student should apply on or after January 1 of the year they plan to attend college.
To apply for financial aid at Texas A&M University - Central Texas, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on paper or electronically. There is no charge for processing the FAFSA. It is free. Some students will not have to complete an entire FAFSA, but can use a Renewal FAFSA, preprinted with last year's data, and simply change or add information as needed. The Central Processing Center will mail Renewal FAFSAs to students who applied for federal student aid in the previous year.
For the summer semesters only, you must also complete a summer office application. These applications are available in the Financial Aid Office from February to May 29th.
The FAFSA paper form may be obtained from your high school counselor, the financial aid office of any college or university, or by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243.
FAFSA on the Web is a free U. S. Department of Education web site where you can complete a FAFSA online and submit it via the Internet. The Internet address is www.fafsa.ed.gov. Please note the school code 003631 will be listed as Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX, and this is the correct code for A&M - Central Texas.
If you apply by mail, your application will be processed in approximately four weeks, and you will receive a Student Aid Report in the mail. The results will also be sent electronically to the schools that you list on your application. If you apply on the web or by express, you may have to mail in a signature page before the application can be processed. You will receive a SAR in the mail approximately one week after your completed application, including a signature (if required) is received.
Review your Student Aid Report carefully, follow the instructions on the SAR and make corrections if necessary. Most corrections can be made electronically if you contact the Financial Aid Office.
After your electronic data is received and you have completed admission requirements to the university, the Financial Aid Office will:
- Review the data for completion and data integrity
- Request additional documents and/or missing information if necessary.
- Evaluate and verify reasonable academic progress
- Determine your Cost of Attendance (COA) budget
- Make an award package based on your academic and financial eligibility and the availability of aid funds.