Applying for Aid

 

FAFSA

You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you are a U.S. Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen.

The FAFSA is the first step in applying for not only federal aid, but also 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.

  •  

    Start Your FAFSA

    1. Your FSA ID login information.
    2. Yours and/or your parent's Social Security Numbers (confirm all student biographical data matches information provided on your ApplyTexas application).
    3. Yours and/or your parent's federal tax returns and W-2s from two years prior to the academic year you are applying to. 

    2025-2026: 2023 Tax Information 

    2024-2025: 2022 Tax Information 

  • An FSA ID is a username and password that you and all FAFSA contributors must use to log in to Studentaid.gov. Creating an account allows you to submit, correct, and view records of the FAFSA. This ID cannot be accessed by a Student Financial Aid representative.

  • The college school code is what the Department of Education will use to identify to which college(s) to send your FAFSA information to.

    Campus FAFSA School Codes

    San Antonio College

    009163

    St. Philip's College

    003608

    Palo Alto College

    016615

    Northwest Vista College

    033723

    Northeast Lakeview College

    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. 

  •  

    2025-2026

    Academic Year Attending: Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Summer 2026

    Timeframe to Submit FAFSA: November 21, 2024 – June 30, 2026

    Tax Year Information Entered on FAFSA: 2023

    2024-2025

    Academic Year Attending: Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025

    Timeframe to Submit FAFSA: December 31, 2023 – June 30, 2025

    Tax Year Information Entered on FAFSA: 2022

 

TASFA

The Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) is an application for state financial aid that you will complete if you are not a U.S. Citizen, but are classified as a Texas Resident based on residency criteria. Be sure you have completed the ApplyTexas admissions application before submitting your TASFA. A new TASFA must be completed for each academic year. 

Select each tab for instructions and information on completing the TASFA process.

  • 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. 

    Documents included in your TASFA application packet:

    1. TASFA Application 
    2. Verification Worksheet (includes submission of Student and/or Parent Tax Return Transcripts or signed Tax Return)
    3. State Financial Aid Eligibility Form

    Contact Us

    Paper Application

    The paper TASFA Application can be found now at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) link and must be submitted to your Student Financial Aid Office.

    THECB Website

    1. Your ACES login information
    2. Yours and/or your parent's Social Security Numbers (leave blank if you do not have a SSN)
    3. Yours and/or your parent's federal tax returns and W-2s from two years prior to the academic year you are applying to. 

    2025-2026: 2023 Tax Information

    2024-2025: 2022 Tax Information

    ⇒ If you do not have a copy of your tax return, you can request a Tax Return Transcript from the IRS website.

  • 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:

    • Must have lived in Texas at least 3 years before receiving their High School (in Texas) diploma or GED

    • Must have lived in Texas at least 3 years before enrolling in a public college/university (in Texas)

    • 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. 

  •  

    2025-2026

    Academic Year Attending: August 2025 – May 2026

    Timeframe to Submit TAFSA: December 2024 – May 2026 

    Tax Year Information Entered on TAFSA: 2023

     

     

    2024-2025

    Academic Year Attending: August 2024 - May 2025

    Timeframe to Submit TAFSA: January 2024 – May 2025

    Tax Year Information Entered on FAFSA: 2022

     

 

Determining Which Application To Complete

If you are unsure which financial aid application you are eligible to complete, fill out this TASFA-FAFSA Decision Survey tool for immediate help with a determination.

TASFA-FAFSA Decision Survey 

 

Summer Aid

Financial Aid is available for the summer terms.

  • Students who submit a 2024-2025 FAFSA and register for summer 2025 courses will automatically be offered any eligible grant aid.

    Check your ACES account for summer awards being posted starting in March 2025.

  • To be eligible for summer 2025 awards students must:

    • Complete a 2024-2025 FAFSA
    • Enroll in a summer term
      • Half-Time enrollment in 6 hours is required for many 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.

  • 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.
  • Summer financial aid disbursement dates can be found at the Payment Calendar page linked below.

    Summer Disbursement Dates

    Note: Maymester and Summer I-8 week tuition and fees must be paid out-of-pocket by the payment due date to avoid being dropped. Maymester and Summer I-8 week are only eligible for financial aid if you are also enrolled in any of the other available Summer terms.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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. 

Do AlamoPromise students use the same TASFA application?

For all AlamoPromise requirements, please visit this webpage: http://v51.poscoop.com/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@poscoop.com 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 Dynamic Forms?

Dynamic Forms is a form submission platform that allows students and parents to electronically fill out and sign required financial aid documents through their ACES student portal.

View your online Student Financial Aid form drafts, submissions, and history on the Dynamic Forms home page