What is financial aid?

Financial aid is money available to assist students with the costs of attending college. Financial aid comes from the federal government, state government, the institution, and from private sources in the form of scholarships.

What does the Financial Aid Office do?

Assists students in applying for financial aid from the federal or state government, and the institution; Provides students with general advisement regarding the application process; Provides applications for scholarships from the college or the private sector.

How do my grades and attendance affect my financial aid awards?

There are several federal policies which require students to attend class and earn passing grades, they are listed below and hyperlinks to web pages where more detail may be found are provided:

The Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

The Return of Title VI funds policy – Students must earn at least one passing grade in a semester or possibly will have to return funds.

Federal Pell Grant Eligibility requirements: The Department of Education requires that students attend class at least once before eligibility for Federal Pell Grants may be confirmed. STC sends rosters to all instructors after the census day of each term to confirm attendance. After the rosters are collected and eligibility is confirmed, any funds that the student is eligible to receive in excess of the cost of tuition and fees will be released to the student either by check or by direct deposit.

What determines whether or not I will receive financial aid?

The primary factor is financial need. Financial need is computed by determining your educational costs (tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and a personal allowance) minus your family contribution (based on federal and institutional formulas). The difference between these is the need for financial assistance.

Do I have to attend full-time to qualify for financial aid?

No, you may enroll on a part-time basis. However, any financial aid you may qualify for will be adjusted according to the number of hours you are enrolled.

Does coming from a large family or having more than one student in college at the same time increase the amount of financial aid?

When there is more than one undergraduate family member in college at the same time, your family contribution is divided among the college students. So, if there were two children in college one year and only one the following year, 100% of the family contribution would be expected to be available for the remaining student.

Why does my award change each year?

At STC, eligibility for financial aid is based on federal and institutional estimates of your family's ability to contribute to the cost of education. A typical award includes grant, and work-study.

Keep in mind that your award is likely to change each year for one or more of the following reasons:
The cost of education may rise; your family's income will change; the number of family members in college may change; you forget to reapply for financial aid, some awards are on a first come first serve basis.

How do I access my financial aid information at STC?

Students may take care of all of their financial aid business at the Financial Aid Office. Refer to the outside of this pamphlet for information regarding campus location, telephone numbers, fax numbers, etc.

Why can't you discuss my financial aid status with my spouse, parents, and outside agencies?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 limits access to educational records without express written consent. Outside agencies will have their own forms, which you may sign when they wish to access information about you.

Am I eligible for financial aid?

You may be eligible if you meet the following minimum qualifications: You are a U.S. Citizen or eligible Non-Citizen; are admitted to a degree seeking program at STC; have turned in documents requested by the Financial Aid Office; are not in default on any prior student loan or do not owe a repayment on any Title IV financial aid; and are enrolled in the required number of hours for whatever aid program is available and are meeting Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress.

What happens when I reach my award maximum?

Your department should notify you when you reach your award maximum. The department has the option of either continuing your assignment and paying you 100 percent from their departmentalbudget or ending your assignment altogether.

Are Non-Citizens eligible for Federal Financial Aid?

A Non-Citizen, who is a permanent resident, is eligible for financial aid. You should make sure that you have the proper documentation, such as, a resident alien card, because the FAFSA application requires that the number be listed. If you are on a temporary or student visa, you will not be eligible for federal student aid. Refer to the student eligibility criteria listed on the Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

How does the major that I select affect my eligibility for financial aid?

The U.S. Department of Education requires that a person must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program in order to receive Federal Student Aid funds. A regular student is someone who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate which is approved by the U.S. Department of Education and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. An undeclared program of study does not lead to any degree or certificate, and there are limitations associated with these programs.

Undeclared Degree Seeking Majors

Undeclared Degree Seeking students may be eligible while enrolled in that major up until they have a total of 30 credit hours (earned and transfer hours). When a student who is enrolled as an undeclared major exceeds 30 credit hours is otherwise eligible for financial aid, they will not be awarded unless they change their major.

Undeclared Non-Degree Seeking Majors

Students who are enrolled as undeclared non-degree seeking majors are not eligible for financial aid, because they are not seeking a certificate or degree.

How do I apply for financial aid at STC?

Visit any of our locations listed on the back of the pamphlet, bring copies of your, and your parents income information. Instructions on Step 3 of the FAFSA will explain whether or not you must include parent information. List STC's school code 031034 on Step 6. You may apply late for financial aid and still receive some type of financial aid, if you qualify. However, you should know that the longer you wait to complete the application process, the less chance you may have to receive some of the aid that otherwise could be available if you applied early. If you apply late, your financial aid may not be available to pay fall, spring or summer registration. Please plan to use your own resources if you are a late applicant. When in doubt, call or visit the financial aid office for assistance.

Can I take the FAFSA to the Financial Aid Office and have it processed there?

Yes!
STC has an EDExpress Lab where you can receive assistance in completing the application and where we can electronically file your application.

Do I have to apply every year?

Yes, a new FAFSA must be submitted every year.

Is the FAFSA the only application I need?

The FAFSA or the Renewal FAFSA are the only forms you need to apply for federal aid at STC.
When do I apply for financial aid?

Apply for financial aid as soon as your tax return is complete. Applying soon after enables you to participate in the first financial aid packaging run. Subsequent packaging runs may have less grant money available.

When you submit a complete FAFSA, STC can determine your eligibility for the following types of aid:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal SEOG Grant
• Federal Work Study
• Texas Grant
• Texas Work Study
• Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG)
• Federal LEAP (SSIG) Grant
• National Hispanic Scholarship
• STC General Scholarship

My SAR is not accurate. Do I need to correct it?

Students who are concerned with only STC receiving corrections can submit the SAR directly to the Financial Aid Office for correcting. Students who want corrections sent to schools besides STC (schools that are listed on the SAR) should process corrections through the Central Processor by mailing back their SAR, or contacting the Department of Education.

Who is eligible for Work Study?

You may be eligible for Work Study if you are eligible for a Pell Grant, and are registered for at least six credit hours each semester of employment. You must also meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

How do I apply for Work Study?

You can pick up a Work Study application at any of the Student Information Centers located at all six campuses. After you fill it out turn it in to any of the three financial aid locations. Please note that you need to apply for Financial Aid in order to be considered eligible for work study.

Can I have two work-study jobs at the same time?

No, at STC you can only have one work study job at a time.

How many hours can I work per week on the work-study program?

Fifteen hours per week is the maximum recommended for academic reasons. Fifteen hours a week will allow you to continuously work while enrolled in school. You are not allowed at any time to earn more than what was awarded to you on your award letter, and it is your responsibility not to exceed that award amount.

Can I change work-study jobs?

Yes. You can at any point in the academic year. It is recommended that you give your employer at least two weeks notice.