Texas Application for State Financial Aid 

Program Eligibility

The Tarleton State University Office of Financial Aid is committed to helping all of our students attain their educational goals by providing quality assistance in addressing their financial needs. The State of Texas has the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) for students who are not US Citizens, but who are Texas residents.

Certain categories of foreign-born and immigrant students in the State of Texas can meet state requirements for residency under Texas Education Code. In most cases, to be considered a Texas resident, a student or their parent must live in Texas as their permanent residence for twelve consecutive months right before the semester the student plans to enroll in college. A student is presumed to be domiciled in the same state as the student’s parent unless the student is eligible for resident tuition under Texas Education Code 51.053(a)(3). A student must also be lawfully present in the U.S. to be considered a Texas resident. As Texas residents, such students are eligible to apply for some student financial aid programs offered by the State of Texas.

To qualify for this program, students must meet the below criteria:

  1. Must have lived in Texas at least three years before receiving their high school (in Texas) diploma or Certificate of High School Equivalency
  2. Must have lived in Texas at least three years before enrolling in a public college/university (in Texas)
  3. Must also be lawfully present in the U.S. to be considered a Texas resident.
  4. Must submit an Affidavit of Intent with the Registrar’s Office declaring that they will apply for permanent residence in the United States as soon as the student becomes eligible.
  5. Male students between the ages of 18-26 must register with Selective Service or have an approved exemption.

Information regarding residency determination can be found here: https://www.tarleton.edu/admissions/residency/.

TASFA Priority Deadlines

Funding is limited, not all eligible students who apply will be awarded state grants. We encourage all students to apply and complete their financial aid paperwork as soon as possible to maximize their chances of receiving an award.

TASFA Filing Dates for the Academic Year

If You Plan to Attend College FromYou Will Submit This TASFAYou Can Submit the TASFA FromUsing Income and Tax Information FromPriority Deadlines
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 20262025 – 2026December 2, 2024 – June 30, 20262023March 15, 2025
July 1, 2026 – June 30, 20272026 – 2027October 1, 2025 – June 30, 20272024January 15, 2026

Complete and Submit the TASFA

If you meet the criteria above and are not eligible to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) click on the buttons below to access the TASFA. 

After you have filled out and signed your TASFA application (if you are a dependent student, your parent will need to sign your application), submit your TASFA and tax document(s) to finaid@tarleton.edu, fax to 254-968-9600, or submit in person at the Financial Aid Office at any of our Tarleton Campus locations.

See the checklist below for additional required documents. Submission of the application does not guarantee an award.

2025 – 2026 TASFA Checklist

For the 2025-2026 aid year, below are the required documents:

  1. Complete the 2025-2026 TASFA in English or Spanish
  2. Submit Tax Documents:

You are a dependent student if you were required to report your parents’ tax information on your TASFA form.

  • Signed 2023 parent tax return
  • Signed 2023 student tax return
  • 2023 parent W-2 forms
  • 2023 student W-2 forms

You are an independent student if you were not required to include your parents’ tax information on your TASFA form.

  • Signed 2023 student (and spouse, if married) tax return
  • 2023 student (and spouse, if married) W-2 forms

If you did not file taxes, please submit a letter of non-filing form the IRS.gov website, or submit a signed Non-Tax Filers Affidavit explaining why you or your parents did not file.

2025-2026 Non-Tax Filers Affidavit

  1. Male students between the ages of 18 – 25 must register for Selective Service and provide a copy of the registration acknowledgment card or registration printout from the Selective Service System.

2026 – 2027 TASFA Checklist

For the 2026-2027 aid year, below are the required documents:

  1. Complete the 2026-2027 TASFA in English or Spanish

Submit Tax Documents:

You are a dependent student if you were required to report your parents’ tax information on your TASFA form.

  • Signed 2024 parent tax return
  • Signed 2024 student tax return
  • 2024 parent W-2 forms
  • 2024 student W-2 forms

You are an independent student if you were not required to include your parents’ tax information on your TASFA form.

  • Signed 2024 student (and spouse, if married) tax return
  • 2024 student (and spouse, if married) W-2 forms

If you did not file taxes, please submit a letter of non-filing form the IRS.gov website, or submit a signed Non-Tax Filers Affidavit explaining why you or your parents did not file.

2026-2027 Non-Tax Filers Affidavit

  1. Male students between the ages of 18 – 25 must register for Selective Service and provide a copy of the registration acknowledgment card or registration printout from the Selective Service System.

Your application is not considered complete until all required documentation has been submitted. Please monitor your go.tarleton email account for requirement updates.

Submission of the application does not guarantee an award.