Grants

Unlike loans, grants are gifts of money which are usually awarded on the basis of a student's financial need. A student's financial aid package may include grant money whenever eligibility and funding levels permit.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is a Federal program of entitlement basic to all other student financial aid.

This grant is awarded only to undergraduate students pursuing their first bachelor's degree. The program is based on a need analysis formula, which considers family income and assets, size of family, number of children attending post secondary schools, and other factors. The formula is applied when application is made with FAFSA and notification amounts are transmitted to our office electronically with the student's FAFSA file. 

Application for the grant is automatic when completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

 

Lifetime Eligibility Notice 

The U.S. Department of Education established new regulations in 2012 which reduce the duration of a student's lifetime eligibility to receive Pell Grant from 18 full-time semesters (or its equivalent) to 12 full-time semesters (or its equivalent). This provision applies to all Federal Pell Grant eligible students effective 2012-13.

 

What does this mean to you? 

An eligible student can receive the Federal Pell Grant until the earliest of a bachelors degree or until the student has received the Federal Pell Grant for an equivalent of 12 full-time semesters. This limitation includes the percentage of Federal Pell Grant the student has received from all post-secondary institutions regardless of when the student began receiving aid. Since receipt of a full Federal Pell Grant annual award is equivalent to 100% (based on two (50%) full-time semesters per award year), 12 full-time semesters equates to 600%.

 

In mid-April, the U.S. Department of Education began sending e-mail messages to all 2012-13 FAFSA applicants who appear to be Pell Grant eligible and are in excess of 450% of their Pell Grant lifetime eligibility. This process will be repeated weekly until July for FAFSA filers and for filers making corrections to their FAFSA information. For additional information please visit the Department of Education webpage for this and more information: HERE

 

Tracking Your Lifetime Eligibility Used on NSLDS 

You can find your Lifetime Eligibility Used for the Federal Pell Grant by going to the web site www.nslds.ed.gov and creating a student account. The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education's (ED's) central database for student aid. NSLDS receives data from schools, guaranty agencies, the Direct Loan program, and other Department of ED programs. NSLDS Student Access provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants so that recipients of Title IV Aid can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is available only to undergraduate students who have remaining unmet need after the Federal Pell Grant has been awarded. Students seeking second bachelor degrees are not eligible for SEOG.

Priority for awarding will be given to students with a family contribution (EFC) of "0," as established by Federal regulations, and who have completed all necessary paperwork by the financial aid deadline of March 15 . Any funds remaining after that date will be awarded to Pell-eligible students with completed files on a "first come, first served" basis.

The maximum and minimum annual FSEOG awards are set each year by the Office of Financial Aid in accordance with Federal regulations.

Tuition Equalization Grant

The Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) is a State of Texas grant program for residents attending a private university in the State of Texas.

The TEG is provided to both undergraduate and masters level students (with some restrictions) and is meant to help offset some of the difference in cost for students attending private universities in Texas.

To be awarded the Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) a student must:

• Meet all requirements to receive Federal aid as described previously;
• Be a legal Texas resident. If a dependent student, parents must be legal Texas residents;
• Be enrolled fulltime in a semester to receive the grant for that semester;
• Not be the recipient of an athletic scholarship, or a Texas Grant;
• Not be a Christian Ministries or Church Music major. (Some exceptions apply for non-ministerial students. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information).
• Income level of the family may not exceed $95,000 per year.
• Undergraduates must be seeking a first bachelor's degree.
• May not be receiving institutional athletic scholarship.

 

As an undergraduate student you must complete 24 hours in a year (Fall, Spring, Summer).

As a graduate student you must complete 18 hours in a year (Fall, Spring, Summer).

Additionally, a student must meet all the Satisfactory Academic Policy guidelines set forth in our "Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy"