Financial Assistance

Programs to assist students and parents in financing an education at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi are administered by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Students may apply for financial assistance through scholarship, grant, work study, and loan programs.

Eligibility for the majority of financial aid programs is determined through a financial needs analysis. This analysis is made after the student completes and submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Before an undergraduate student can be considered for financial aid, he or she must:

1. be officially admitted to the University;
2. be working toward a degree and classified by the Office of Admissions and Records as degree-seeking;
3. be enrolled at least half-time (6 semester hours during a long semester or 3 hours during each summer term);
4. meet the deadlines set by the Office of Student Financial Assistance;
5. not be in default or owe a refund on any Title IV grant(s) or loan(s);
6. provide proof of eligibility if not a citizen of the United States;
7. provide documents that support information reported on applications for financial aid;
8. meet minimum G.P.A. requirements of a 2.0 and maintain satisfactory academic progress as required for financial aid eligibility to fulfill federal requirements.

Financial aid programs available to undergraduates include Federal Pell Grant, Federal College Work Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Texas Public Educational Grant (resident and non-resident), A&M-Corpus Christi Grant; TEXAS Grant; Federal Perkins Student Loan, several Federal Family Education Loan programs (formerly Guaranteed Student Loan Programs), and various scholarships. Several grants and scholarships are offered through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Federal Family Education Loans are distributed in two disbursements in accordance with Federal regulations. If the student is receiving a loan for one term, the first check will be disbursed at the beginning of the semester and the second after the midpoint of the semester. A loan that covers both fall and spring terms will result in a disbursement at the beginning of each semester. First year, first time borrowers will not receive their first loan disbursement until 30 days into the semester.

Most financial aid programs have a limited amount of funds, which must be granted on a first-completed, first-awarded basis. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to have their financial aid files completed by February 15 for summer, April 1 if applying for assistance for both fall and spring, or November 1 if applying for assistance for spring only.

Application forms and detailed instructions on applying for financial aid are available through the Office of Student Financial Assistance and at the following web address: www.tamucc.edu/~faoweb.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY
The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires that students make satisfactory academic progress in order to receive financial assistance. Satisfactory academic progress is consistently applied to all college course work, regardless of whether or not the student received financial assistance at any particular time.

Three elements are used in determining satisfactory academic progress: grade point average, enrollment requirements, and maximum time frame.

Grade Point Average
The student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0.

Enrollment Status Requirements
Students receiving financial assistance must satisfactorily complete enrollment requirements established for the academic year. At the end of each spring semester, the enrollment status of students will be reviewed. Enrollment requirements for the academic year are listed below:

Undergraduate Students
Full-time: 24 or more credit hrs.
Three-quarter time: 18 to 23 credit hrs.
Half-time: 12 to 17 credit hrs.

Students who do not satisfactorily complete the required number of hours by the end of the spring semester must attend the summer session(s) at A&M-Corpus Christi to complete their required hours. If the student does not make up the credit hour deficiencies, financial assistance will be suspended at the end of the summer sessions.

Grades of “A” through “D,” “CR,” “P,” and “IP” are considered as credit hours earned. Grades of “F,” “I,” “W,” “NP,” and “NC” are not considered as credit hours earned.

Maximum Time Frame
The maximum time frame for financial assistance eligibility is as follows:

*Summer session(s) are not included in the semester limits.

Remedial Coursework
Students may receive financial assistance for remedial coursework if acceptance to a program has been confirmed, and the remedial coursework is necessary to complete the program. Students cannot receive financial assistance for remedial coursework if their acceptance to a program is based on the completion of the remedial work. Remedial coursework is limited to 24 semester hours.

PROBATION/SUSPENSION POLICY
Financial Assistance Probation
Students on scholastic probation will be automatically placed on financial assistance probation.
Students who do not meet the enrollment requirements at the end of the spring will be placed on progress probation for the summer session(s).

Students may receive financial assistance during the probationary period.

Financial Assistance Suspension
Students on scholastic suspension/dismissal will be automatically placed on financial assistance suspension.

Students who fail to meet enrollment requirements at the end of the summer session(s) (probationary period) will be placed on progress suspension.

Suspension will also occur when the maximum time frame is exhausted.
Students on Financial Aid Suspension are not eligible to receive any financial aid.

Solutions/Appeals
Probationary status can be removed by successfully completing the enrollment requirements and maintaining the minimum grade point average. The student should notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance in writing to insure removal of probationary status.

Students who are on suspension can be placed on a probationary status by successfully completing enrollment requirements and maintaining the minimum grade point average.

Students on probation/suspension who have extenuating circumstances beyond their control (serious illness, serious injury, death of an immediate family member, etc.) may appeal their status. A written appeal describing the circumstance and supporting documentation must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance within two weeks of the date of the probation/suspension letter. Students are only allowed two academic progress waivers during their enrollment at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

REFUND AND REPAYMENT POLICIES
Students who register and then withdraw from their classes at the University will have their aid recalculated based on the number of days they attended class. If a student withdraws from all classes prior to the first class day, he or she may be required to repay any and all financial aid received. Students should consult the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy to determine if their withdrawal will affect future aid eligibility.

SCHOLARSHIPS
A list of scholarships available to students can be found in the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The deadline for University Scholarships is February 1.

A non-resident U.S. citizen or international student who is a recipient of a competitive University scholarship may be eligible for the Texas resident tuition rate. The student must have competed with other students, including Texas residents, for the scholarship. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for more information.

EMERGENCY LOANS
Short-term emergency loans are available to students who need assistance in covering tuition and fees and school-related expenses such as books. Detailed information regarding eligibility requirements and the application process can be found in the Business Office.