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Source: https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/financial-aid/apply-for-aid/fafsa Parent: https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/undergraduate-scholarships/continuing-student-scholarships

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)

If you need financial assistance, complete your FAFSA® and make sure to list Texas A&M University's federal school code, 003632.

In order to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must submit a FAFSA® each year. It is available on or after October 1 of the year prior to enrollment. To ensure your file is ready for awarding, we recommend that you submit your FAFSA®  by the recommended submission date as listed below.

The 2025-2026 FAFSA® is currently open to all students.\ The 2026-2027 FAFSA® is currently open to all students .\ \

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FAFSA® Application Process

• FAFSA® will open on or after October 1 the year prior to enrollment.
• If you are starting in fall 2026, we recommend you submit your FAFSA® by January 15, 2026.
• The state priority deadline to submit your FAFSA® is January 15, 2026, for fall 2026 enrollment.
• A FAFSA® is required to be considered for federal and state financial aid and most institutional financial aid.
• A FAFSA® may be completed online at studentaid.gov

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FSA ID

The FSA ID (a username and password) is used to log into U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents. If you do not already have an FSA ID, you can create one when creating an account with studentaid.gov.\ \ The security of your FSA ID is important. Your FSA ID can be used to:

• Electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents,
• Access your personal records
• Finalize binding legal obligations

\ Note: Every parent and contributor, even those who do not have a Social Security Number, will need to create an FSA ID.\ \

If you are a parent contributor and have additional questions about creating your FSA account or completing the FAFSA®, please visit FSA’s Contributor Information page.

FAFSA® Submission Summary (FSS)

A FSS is a transcript of the information provided on the FAFSA®. The FSS is available to be received by paper mail or email. If you would like to receive it by email, it will be sent to the email address provided on the FAFSA®. The email address provided is shared with each of the schools listed on the FAFSA® for correspondence purposes. Texas A&M officially communicates with students through their assigned Texas A&M Gmail account. For more information about your Texas A&M Gmail account, please log in to google.tamu.edu. You may sign up for a Texas A&M Gmail account once you have been admitted to TAMU.\ \

How do I apply?

The online FAFSA ® can be found on the Federal Student Aid website. This is the best way to make sure your FAFSA® gets submitted quickly and securely. You will need to log in with your FSA ID (or create a new ID if this is your first time). This can be used to log into many different Department of Education sites, so make sure to remember this ID and password.\ \ If you cannot complete the FAFSA® online, you can fill out the paper version. While the online FAFSA® is typically received by Texas A&M within one week, the paper version may take up to 3-5 weeks to be received and processed, so we recommend submitting online when possible.

When should I submit the FAFSA®?

Financial aid funds are limited, so the earlier you can submit your FAFSA®, the better. Remember, the FAFSA® must be completed each year in order for you to receive financial aid.\ \ The FAFSA® is available each year starting on October 1.

Dependency Status

All applicants for federal student aid are considered either “independent” or “dependent.” Dependent students are required to include information about their parents on the FAFSA®. By answering a few questions, you can get a good idea of which category you fit into.\

• Will you be 24 or older by Dec. 31 of the school year for which you are applying for financial aid?
• Will you be working toward a master’s or doctorate degree (such as M.A., M.B.A., M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.)?
• Are you married or separated but not divorced?
• Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
• Do you have dependents (other than children or a spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you?
• At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a ward or dependent of the court?
• Are you an emancipated minor or are you in a legal guardianship as determined by a court?
• Are you an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
• Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?\ \

If none of the criteria listed above apply to you, you are considered a dependent student and are required to provide your parents’ financial information when completing the FAFSA®.  If you are unable to provide parent information, please contact our office. If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are an independent student. You are not required to provide parental information on your FAFSA®. Beginning with the 2024 - 2025 FAFSA®, independent students will not be given the option to provide parent information.\ \ If you have questions about your dependency status or need more information, please visit StudentAid.gov/dependency.\ \ Occasionally, unusual circumstances may exist that warrant a review of a student's dependency status. Please contact us by telephone at 979.847.1787 for more information.\ \ Per Federal regulations, Scholarships & Financial Aid cannot consider the following conditions as an unusual circumstance for a dependency status change:

• Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education;
• Parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA® or for verification;
• Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes;
• Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

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Who is my contributor when I fill out my FAFSA®?

Contributor refers to anyone who is required to provide information, consent and approval, and a signature on the FAFSA® form. \ \ Contributors may include: \

• Student
• Student’s Spouse
• Biological or adoptive parent
• Stepparent

\ For reporting purposes, “parent contributor” means your legal (biological or adoptive) parent or stepparent, or a person that the state has determined to be your legal parent. \ \ Use this guide to figure out which parent’s information to include (depending on your family's situation).\ \

Question 1: Are your parents married to each other?

If yes, then report information for both parents on the FAFSA®.\ \ If no, then answer question 2.\ \

Question 2: Do your parents live together?

If yes, then report information for both parents on the FAFSA®, even if they were never married, are divorced, or are separated.\ \ If no, then answer question 3.\ \

Question 3: Did you live with one parent more than the other over the past 12 months?

If yes, then report information on the FAFSA® for the parent you lived with more. Also, if this parent remarried, you will need to report information for your stepparent on the FAFSA®.\  \ If no, then report information on the FAFSA® for the parent who provided more financial support over the past 12 months or in the last year you received support. Also, if this parent remarried, you will need to report information for your stepparent on the FAFSA®. \ \ The following people are not your parents unless they have legally adopted you:

• Widowed Stepparent
• Grandparents
• Foster Parents
• Legal Guardians
• Older Brothers or Sisters
• Aunts or Uncles\ \

If you’re not sure whom to report as a parent, you can visit the Student Aid website or call 800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243).

What is an SAI?

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an evaluation of your family’s ability to contribute to college expenses. The SAI is calculated using a formula established by law. All the information you provide on the FAFSA® is considered in the formula, including your family size. Schools use the SAI to determine your federal student aid eligibility and financial aid offer.\ \ Note: Your SAI is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college, nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. It is a number used by the school to calculate the amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive.

Where can I find my SAI?

If you have completed your FAFSA®, your SAI will be on your FAFSA® Submission Summary under Eligibility Overview.

When ​will I be offered aid?

IMPORTANT INFORMATION and Timeline for 2026-2027 financial offer letters\  \ Below are the anticipated timelines for offering financial aid -for the 2026-2027 academic year. Please check the Status page of your Financial Aid Portal for the 2026-2027 academic year to make sure there are no incomplete requirements that will delay offering of financial aid and/or disbursement of your financial aid. \  \ Undergraduate Students\

• New Freshman (College Station/McAllen): Anticipating aid offers beginning in mid-February
• New Freshman (Galveston): Anticipating aid offers beginning in mid-February
• New Transfer students: Anticipating aid offers beginning in mid-March
• Continuing Undergraduate students: Aid offers begin mid-June

\ Graduate Students\

• New Graduate students: Anticipating aid offers beginning mid-April
• Continuing Graduate students: Aid offers begin mid-June

\ Professional Students\

• 1st year JD students: Anticipating aid offers beginning early April
• 2nd and 3rd year JD students: Aid offers begin mid-June

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• Pharmacy students: Aid offers begin late May

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• DDS students: Aid offers begin mid to late April

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• 4th Year MD students: Aid offers begin late May
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year MD students: Aid offers begin early June

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• 4th year DVM students: Anticipating Aid offers beginning late April
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year DVM students: Aid offers begin mid-June

How do I determine if I am eligible for the Federal Pell Grant?

Your FAFSA® Submission Summary will indicate estimated Pell Grant eligibility.

Does Texas A&M have a tuition promise program?

Yes, if your total family income is $60,000 or less, we will ensure your tuition and required fees are covered with grants or scholarships, to include any outside scholarships you may bring with you to Texas A&M.

If I have filed my FAFSA®, is there anything else I need to do right now?

\ Next, Texas A&M University will receive FAFSA® files from the Department of Education. If your FAFSA® was received, it will be reflected in the Financial Aid Portal under the corresponding academic year on the Status page. To access the Financial Aid Portal:\

• Log in to Howdy
• Search for "Financial Aid Portal" and follow the link to the portal

We work with the Department of Education to identify and resolve processing issues. If we need anything from you, we will notify you on the Status page of the Financial Aid Portal and send you a request by mail and email. We encourage you to submit any documents we have requested as soon as possible so that we can complete your financial aid file and send you a financial aid offer letter.

What if my financial situation has changed since the tax year requested on the FAFSA®?

The FAFSA® asks for income information from two years ago, but we understand that a lot can change in two years. If you experienced a change in your financial situation, we may be able to review your application to take this into account. Please see the information regarding special circumstances on our Apply for Aid page for more details.

Changes to Terminology

Terminology updates that all students and parents should be familiar with:

• Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be Student Aid Index (SAI)

• Student Aid Report (SAR) will be FAFSA ® Submission Summary (FSS)

• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) will be IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX)

FAFSA®

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