Steps to Hassle-Free Financial Aid
- Complete the Free Federal Application (FAFSA on the Web) using completed tax returns.
- Complete all sections of the TWU Financial Aid Certification and Information Form.
- Have all required financial aid forms and requested information in to the TWU Financial Aid Office by the deadline.
- Read and respond promptly to any information received from the TWU Financial Aid Office.
- Complete TWU Debt Management/Loan Counseling if you have not already done so at TWU, and if you are applying for a student loan. This can be completed at our Entrance Loan / Debt Management Counseling page.
- Pre-register at your scheduled time or at least 30 days prior to the beginning of each semester for which you have applied for financial aid.
- Enroll in at least six semester hours each semester for which you apply for financial aid.
- Know your satisfactory academic progress requirements.Consult the TWU Financial Aid Office if you are an undergraduate student and plan to drop below 12 semester hours, or if you are a graduate student and plan to drop below 6 semester hours.
- Have a declared major on record in the Registrar's Office if beyond the freshman classification.
- Keep your mailing address, e-mail address and phone number up to date with the Registrar's Office, TWU Portal Account and TWU OneCard.
- Activate your TWU OneCard as soon as you receive it.You cannot receive a financial aid refund without activating your TWU OneCard.
- Accept your Federal Stafford Loan, Parent Loan and/or Graduate PLUS Loan when awarded by going to the TGSLC Loans by Web web site.You may reduce your loan or decline the entire loan amount at this web site.
Graduate Student Financial Aid Tips
- Graduate students must be accepted into the Graduate School and into a graduate degree or certificate program. Students accepted into a non-degree status are not eligible for financial aid with the exception of emergency loan funds for tuition and fees.
- Graduate students may begin the financial aid application process before receiving acceptance into a graduate or certificate program. However, no financial aid can be awarded until students are accepted into a graduate degree or certificate program.
- Students who are admitted to a degree or certificate seeking Post Baccalaureate program may be considered for any remaining undergraduate loan eligibility, for Work Study, for Texas Public Education Grant, and Graduate Board Authorized Tuition Grant.
- After a student has completed a bachelor's degree, she/he is not eligible for Pell Grant, Supplemental Grant, nor most other need-based grants. Eligible graduate students may be awarded the Texas Public Education Grant and the Graduate Board Authorized Tuition Grant; however, funds are very limited from these awards.
- Full time enrollment for graduate students is 9 semester hours. Half time enrollment is 6 semester hours. Students must be enrolled full-time to receive TWU scholarships and must be enrolled half-time for financial aid purposes.
- When a graduate student has completed all her/his course work and only lacks the professional paper, thesis, or dissertation, she/he can be certified as enrolled half-time for financial aid purposes.
- Graduate students are automatically considered as independent students and are not required to report parental information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Post Baccalaureate students are not automatically independent. A Post Baccalaureate student must answer "Yes" to at least one of the dependency questions on the FAFSA to be considered independent.
- Financial aid recipients who are seniors planning to enroll in graduate school may qualify for a GRE Fee Waiver. Contact the TWU Financial Aid Office for an application for the waiver.
page updated 5/14/2008 13:49
