Applying for Aid
Click on which describes you:
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Complete a FAFSA*
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Complete a TASFA*
*NOTE:
- To be eligible for financial aid, all students must be “Admitted” to attend Alamo Colleges via the ApplyTexas application. Recent high school graduates, even if enrolled in dual credit courses while in high school, must complete an ApplyTexas to apply as a First Time in College student. High school students taking dual credit courses do not qualify for financial aid.
- Students who have earned a bachelor's degree, including foreign degrees, do not qualify for aid at any of the Alamo Colleges, including Direct Loans, unless approved through the Financial Aid Appeal Process. Students in this category are considered to be on financial aid suspension for having attempted over 99 hours of college coursework.
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in applying for federal, state, and institutional financial aid.
The online FAFSA can be found at fafsa.gov.
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Eligibility
Review the eligibility requirements for the FAFSA.
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FSA ID
An FSA ID is a username and password that you must use to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites. Your FSA ID identifies you as someone who has the right to access your own personal information on ED websites such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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Application
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College School Codes
The college school code is what the Department of Education will use to identify to which college(s) to forward your FAFSA information.
SAC
009163SPC
003608PAC
016615NLC
042636NVC
033723 -
When to Apply:
Academic Year Attending: July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020
Timeframe to Submit FAFSA: October 1, 2018 – June 30, 2020
Income and Tax Information Year: 2017
Academic Year Attending: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021
Timeframe to Submit FAFSA: October 1, 2019 – June 30, 2021
Income and Tax Information Year: 2018
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Click for Priority Dates and Deadlines
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- Be sure you have completed the ApplyTexas Application and provided a social security number on your application.
- Gather all biographical data (name, social security number, date of birth) and make sure all data matches information provided on your ApplyTexas Application.
- The Alamo Colleges District recommends uploading income tax information using the IRS Data Retrieval (DRT) tool when filling out the FAFSA.
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- Please allow 2-3 weeks for the Alamo Colleges District to receive your FAFSA. After we do, you should log in to ACES and check for any additional requirements including verification.
- If selected for verification, please visit the Verification webpage.
- Be sure to review your SAR (Student Aid Report) to make sure all information is correct and address any notes that might be attached identifying "issues". All issues on your SAR must be corrected before the college can download your application.
Please have your FSA ID created and handy. You will also need tax information from 2 years prior to the academic year for which you are applying.
No, your FSA ID cannot be accessed by a Student Financial Aid representative.
You can request a tax return transcript from the IRS website.
You will need to indicate on your FAFSA that you and/or your parents did not file.
You may be asked to provide a verification of non-filing form for you and/or your parents.
Although you may not be financially dependent on your parents or living in the same household, if you do not meet FAFSA's criteria to be considered independent you will be considered a dependent student.
Visit the Federal Student Aid official FAFSA Dependency page for more information.
Please add school codes for all colleges you are interested in attending. However, please note that by adding more than one school code, it could delay processing your financial aid.
Also, if you change your Primary Institution (Home School), your financial aid package will need to be updated and processing time could take at least a week after the change has been made.
The college where you apply for admission, enroll, and receive financial aid will be considered your primary institution (home school).
No, but you will need to add the other institution's school code in order for your FAFSA information to be forwarded. Once the institution receives your FAFSA information, eligibility will be determined. Your financial aid at the Alamo Colleges District will not transfer.
No, as long as you include the correct school code your information will be electronically sent to the college.
Once the college receives your FAFSA, please check your ACES MyPage to determine if additional documents are requested.
Yes, the FAFSA must be renewed each academic year.
Did you:
- Include the correct school code,
- Review your SAR (Student Aid Report) to identify issues that need to be corrected,
- Remember to sign your FAFSA application,
- Complete the ApplyTexas application for admissions
If you've received a message that your FAFSA is rejected, this means your application was rejected by the federal processor. Please check your SAR to identify any issues there might be with your application or follow up with a FAFSA representative.
This probably means you mistakenly reported on your FAFSA that you are a graduate student or already have a B.A. degree. Please go back to your FAFSA make the necessary correction.
Review the attached Citizenship Clarification Form for a list of acceptable documentation to submit to the Office of Student Financial Aid in order substantiate your citizenship. The process may take up to 4-6 weeks. Updates will be provided in your ACES portal.
Please read the information from the Dept. of Education (click HERE) and refer to the announcements on www.fafsa.ed.gov.
TASFA
The Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) is a financial aid application for students who are not U.S. Citizens, but who are Texas Residents.
To use this application, you cannot be paying the Texas resident tuition rate due to a wavier or assistantship.
Application |
Required DocumentsTASFA Application (see Left) Parent Tax Return Transcript (Dependent Students Only) Parent W-2 Forms (Dependent Students Only) Student Tax Return Transcript Student W-2 Forms Selective Service Registration Acknowledgement Card (male students only) |
You can request a tax return transcript from the IRS website.
Although you may not be financially dependent on your parents or living in the same household, if you do not meet TASFA's criteria to be considered independent you will be considered a dependent student.
Visit your college financial aid office, or
Call the Community Education & Training Centers to schedule an appointment:
Brackenridge (Eastside) Center – 532 N. Center, San Antonio, TX 78202, (210)485-0280
Harlandale (Southside) Center – 901 March Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78214 (210)989-5999
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is a measure of your family’s financial strength and is calculated according to a formula established by law. Taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits are all considered in the formula. Family size and number of family members who attend college are all considered.
For more information, click HERE.
Cost of Attendance (COA)
The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of average costs a student will incur during the academic year. Included in the COA are tuition and fee costs, a room and board allowance, books and supplies, transportation, and personal/miscellaneous expenses. The actual cost will vary depending on whether a student chooses to live at home with their parents, or independently. Transportation costs will also vary depending on proximity to the campus and mode of transportation.
View the Alamo Colleges District COA.
Summer Aid
Financial Aid is available for the summer terms. In order to be eligible, you must:
- Have a current year FAFSA on file
- Have completed verification, if selected
- Be enrolled for a summer term
- Have submitted a summer application request online from their ACES account
The Summer 2019 Financial Aid Application is available beginning April 4, 2019.
The process begins with the student clicking on the summer application link from their ACES portal. Applications are processed in date order within 6 weeks from submission. Students are required to cover registration expenses, including books, until eligibility is determined.
*Please note, you must be enrolled for financial aid to be awarded for the summer.
No, if you enroll in Maymester courses, you must pay all tuition and fee charges by the payment deadline to avoid being dropped for non-payment.
Students awarded financial aid funds for a combination of Summer 1, 2, and Maymester enrollment will not see their funds credited until after the Spring Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculation has run.
All students can submit an application. All applications will be reviewed by a financial aid representative and eligibility determined. Enrollment is required to determine eligibility for Summer Federal Pell Grant and Summer Momentum Plan Scholarship.
Students who are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant will have an award posted to their ACES financial aid account. Applicants who do not qualify for a Federal Pell Grant must pay all tuition costs, including books, or risk being dropped.
*Please note, you must be enrolled for financial aid to be awarded for the summer.
Certain state grant funds such as TEXAS Grant and TEOG are not available for the summer term. However, any TPEG funds that remain unused from the school year will be awarded on a first come, first served basis (if available) for summer.
Visit the Federal Direct Loan page for more information.
No, students who attended a Non-Alamo Colleges institution do not qualify for financial aid, including direct loans, at any of the Alamo Colleges.
No, the Alamo Colleges do not have a summer appeal process. For more information go to Financial Aid Appeals.
For details on the Summer Momentum Plan, please click HERE.
Please note, if you want to receive financial aid IN ADDITION to this initiative, you will need to complete the summer financial aid application found online in your ACES account.