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Accepted Spring financial aid will be applied to your SHSU account the week of January 5th. Refunds will be sent 3-5 business days after that.
Financial Aid & Scholarships will be closed December 21st through January 1st for Winter Break.
How do I Receive
Special Circumstance?
What's the TASFA?
The Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) is a financial aid application for students who ARE Texas residents, but NOT United States citizens or eligible for Federal Aid. Complete the TASFA each year beginning October 1st.
To fill out the TASFA, you must meet the following three criteria:
- You resided in Texas for 36 consecutive months before earning a high school diploma or GED, and
- Lived part of that time with a parent or legal guardian
- Were not a resident of another state
- Had not been admitted to a college and completed credit prior to 2001
- You hold a Visa* that allows you to live in the United States.
- You or your parent (if you are dependent) must be employed in Texas for at least 12 months before you enroll in college
- You (regardless of INS status) have filed an I-130 or I-140 to petition for permanent residency status
*For more information about visas that permit you to establish a domicile in the United States, please view the table of Immigration Visa Types.
How do I Receive Financial Aid?
- Fill out the TASFA Application
- Parent Tax Return Transcript: Get Transcript (Dependent students only)
- Parent W-2 Forms (Dependent students only)
- Student Tax Return Transcript: Get Transcript
- Student W-2 Forms
- Selective Service Statement (Male students only)
- Income Tax Worksheet
- Income Verification Worksheet
After your application is reviewed, you may be required to provide additional documents. If so, you will be contacted by a financial aid advisor with more details and instructions.
Application Tips
- Double check documents before submitting. We cannot process documents without all required information and signatures.
- Submit documents in person, by postal mail, or fax at 936-294-3668.
- Check your SHSU email and MySam regularly, as this is how we communicate with students.
- Let us know if you have questions. We are here to help over the phone, and in person.
- Submit the application early! Funding is limited, so you could miss out on funds if you wait to submit your application.
Do NOT:
- Leave any questions blank on the TASFA application. ALL questions must have an answer. If you cannot answer a question or submit a document, please check with our office on what to do.
- Email documents. This is not a secure way to send personal information.
- Wait until the priority date to submit the TASFA. We process TASFAs by hand, so please give us enough time to review your application and request any missing documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I a Texas Resident?
Residency is determined by Admissions. For more information on eligibility requirements and the Affidavit of Intent to Become a Permanent Resident, please view the Texas Residency Classification page. If you qualify for Resident status based on the criteria, you are eligible to apply for State aid.
Can I fill out both the TASFA and FAFSA?
No. You are eligible for either the FAFSA, or TASFA. You may only fill out one application.
What if I did not work during the tax year?
If you did not work, you will not need to submit a W-2 or a Tax Return Transcript at this time. However, an advisor may ask you for further documentation to verify your information during processing. Please make sure that you have answered all questions about student earnings on the TASFA.
What if my parent is not authorized to work in the U.S.?
Even if your parent is not authorized to work in the U.S, he or she must file taxes on income earned in the U.S. If your parent earned more than $400 in cash, he or she may be considered an independent contractor and must file taxes. Please see IRS Publication 17 for more details on tax filing rules.