Applying for Aid
Click on which describes you:
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Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you are a U.S. Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen.
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Complete the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) if you are a not a U.S. Citizen, but are a Texas Resident.
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in applying for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Be sure you have completed the ApplyTexas admissions application before submitting your FAFSA. A new FAFSA must be completed for each academic year.
Select each tab for instructions and information on completing the FAFSA process.
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- Your FSA ID login information.
- Yours and/or your parent's Social Security Numbers (confirm all student biographical data matches information provided on your ApplyTexas application).
- Yours and/or your parent's federal tax returns and W-2s from two years prior to the academic year you are applying to.
2022-2023: 2020 Tax Information
2023-2024: 2021 Tax Information
⇒ It is recommended to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) option on the FAFSA, which will automatically transfer your federal tax return information to the finances section of the application.
⇒ If you do not have a copy of your tax return or the DRT option is not avialable, you can request a Tax Return Transcript from the IRS website.
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A FSA ID is a username and password that you and your parent must use to log in to various U.S. Department of Education websites.
Your FSA ID allows you to submit, correct, and view records of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This ID cannot be accessed by a Student Financial Aid representative.
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The college school code is what the Department of Education will use to identify to which college(s) to send your FAFSA information to.
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San Antonio College (SAC): 009163
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St. Philip's College (SPC): 003608
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Palo Alto College (PAC): 016615
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Northwest Vista College (NVC): 033723
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Northeast Lakeview College (NLC): 042636
⇒ If you are not sure which college you will be attending yet, you can add the school codes for all colleges you are interested in. Please note however that by adding more than one school code, it could delay processing your financial aid.
⇒ If multiple colleges are selected, your "Home College" will be designated based on where you apply for admissions, financial aid, enroll, and receive aid. If your "Home College" changes, your financial aid package will need to be updated by Student Financial Aid.
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2022-2023
Academic Year Attending: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
Timeframe to Submit FAFSA: October 1, 2021 – June 30, 2023
Tax Year Information Entered on FAFSA: 2020
2023-2024
Academic Year Attending: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
Timeframe to Submit FAFSA: October 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024
Tax Year Information Entered on FAFSA: 2021
TASFA
The Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) is an application for state financial aid for students who are not U.S. Citizens, but who are classified by the Alamo Colleges District as Texas Residents based on residency criteria. A new TASFA must be completed for each academic year.
Select each tab for instructions and information on completing the TASFA process.
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Electronic Application
Contact the Student Financial Aid Office to have an electronic TASFA application added to your ACES student portal for completion once you have been admitted.
- The electronic 2023-2024 TASFA Application will soon be available by late October 2022.
Documents included in your application packet:
- TASFA Application
- Selective Service Statement of Registration Status
- TEOG Grant Statement of Eligibility Form
- Submit Student and/or Parent Tax Return Transcripts or signed Tax Return (only provide if requested by Student Financial Aid via your ACES portal)
Paper Application
The paper TASFA Application can be found at the College For All Texans link and must be submitted to your Student Financial Aid Office.
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- Your ACES login information
- Yours and/or your parent's Social Security Numbers (leave blank if you do not have a SSN)
- Yours and/or your parent's federal tax returns and W-2s from two years prior to the academic year you are applying to.
2022-2023: 2020 Tax Information
2023-2024: 2021 Tax Information
⇒ If you do not have a copy of your tax return, you can request a Tax Return Transcript from the IRS website.
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Non U.S Citizen - Texas residents are eligible for state financial aid and in-state tuition based on the passing of House Bill 1403 (HB1403) and Senate Bill 1528 if they meet the following criteria:
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Must have lived in Texas at least 3 years before receiving their High School (in Texas) diploma or GED
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Must have lived in Texas at least 3 years before enrolling in a public college/university (in Texas)
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Must fill out an affidavit declaring that he/she will apply for residency as soon as able to do so
Students must submit a Core Residency Questionnaire and Affidavit to the Residency office at their "home college" to be classified as a HB-1403 Texas resident at Alamo Colleges District.
Students paying the Texas resident tuition rate due to a waiver or assistantship are not eligible to submit a TASFA.
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2022-2023
Academic Year Attending: August 2022 – May 2023
Timeframe to Submit TAFSA: October 1, 2021 – May 2023
Tax Year Information Entered on TAFSA: 2020
2023-2024
Academic Year Attending: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
Timeframe to Submit FAFSA: October 1, 2022 – May 2024
Tax Year Information Entered on FAFSA: 2021
Next Steps
Continue onto our Next Steps page to learn how to regularly check your FAFSA or TASFA progress on ACES.
Also learn more about what your FAFSA or TASFA helps determine once we have your application.
Summer Aid
Financial Aid is available for the summer terms.
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Students with a 2022-2023 FAFSA on file who meet the eligibility criteria will automatically be awarded any applicable grant aid within a week of registering for summer 2023 courses. Check your ACES account for your awards being posted.
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To be eligible for summer 2023 awards students must:
- Complete a 2022-2023 FAFSA
- Enroll in a summer term
- Half-Time enrollment in 6 hours is required for most awards
- Be in good SAP standing
- There is no summer Financial Aid Appeal for students in suspension
- Complete all requested documents, including verification, if selected
Applicants who do not qualify for any summer awards will need to make payment arrangements for tuition costs, including books, or risk being dropped.
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Expanded Summer Momentum Program
- Visit the Summer Momentum Program website for more information on this last dollar summer scholarship. Last-dollar scholarships will cover any remaining tuition and fees after all other financial aid resources have been awarded for the summer, such as the Pell grant.
Federal Pell Grant
- Visit the Pell Grant website for more information on summer Pell eligibility.
Federal Work Study
- Employment in the work study program is available using Federal Work Study funds in summer. Visit the College Work Study page for more information.
Federal Direct Loans
- Visit the Federal Direct Loan page for more information on requesting a summer direct loan request through your ACES account.
FAFSA FAQs
What if I or my parent(s) did not file taxes?
You will need to indicate on your FAFSA or TASFA 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.
I don't live with my parents and/or they don't support me, why am I considered dependent?
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.
I received a message that my FAFSA was "rejected".
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.
Do I select "never attended college" as my classification if I have taken dual credit courses ?
Yes. Taking or completing dual credit courses while in high school does not change your classification on the FAFSA as a First Time in College student.
FAFSA reported that I have a Bachelor's degree, but I don't.
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.
What if I received notification that my citizenship cannot be verified?
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.
What if I decide not to attend the Alamo Colleges District or am transferring to another institution, do I need to remove the school codes from my FAFSA?
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.
TASFA FAQs
I need help completing the TASFA.
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
Do AlamoPromise students use the same TASFA application?
For all AlamoPromise requirements, please visit this webpage: https://www.alamo.edu/promise/.
When contacting your college’s Student Financial Aid office for a TASFA application, be sure to let us know you are an AlamoPromise student!
- Incoming AlamoPromise (current High School) students may also email promise_finaid@alamo.edu to request the TASFA application be added to their ACES student portal.
- Prior year AlamoPromise students will contact their college's Student Financial Aid office.
What is Adobe Sign?
Adobe Sign is a process that allows students and parents to electronically fill out and sign required financial aid documents via their ACES student portal, and subsequently send them to the correct office for processing.
Summer Aid FAQs
Does my financial aid pay for Maymester classes?
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, 10-week and Maymester/Summer 8-week enrollment will not see their funds credited until after the Spring Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculation has run.
Does my financial aid pay for Summer 1 8-week (S81) classes?
If you enroll in Maymester or Summer 1 8-week (S81) 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 Summer 1 8-week enrollment will not see their funds credited until after the Spring Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculation has run.
I attended a Non-Alamo Colleges institution during the fall and spring semesters and would like to transfer to one of the colleges for summer; can I receive aid?
No, students who attended a Non-Alamo Colleges institution do not qualify for financial aid, including direct loans, at any of the Alamo Colleges.