Important Links

FAFSA

Texas Grant

Department Work-Study Student Request

Student Work-Study Application

• How do I apply for aid at Lamar University?
• A: All it takes at Lamar University to apply for aid is the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and a University Application for Financial Aid. Certain types of aid, usually loans, do require additional paperwork.



• How do I activate my Lamar University email account?
• A: Please Click Here for detailed information on activating your Lamar University email account.



• My parents did not claim me on their tax returns this year; Can I file my FAFSA as an Independent student?
• A: The department of Education defines an independent student as someone who fits into one or more of six specific categories. Answering "yes" to anyone of the six questions on the FAFSA will result in the student becoming independent. Unfortunately, none of the following individually or in combination with one another will merit a dependency override. Those circumstances are:
  1. Parents refusing to contribute to the student's education
  2. Parents unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification
  3. Parents not claiming the students as a dependent for income tax purposes
  4. Student demonstrating total self-sufficiency.
  
  *Please note that students receiving a dependency over-ride
  at one school is not binding at another institution.*
  
  If any student feels that they have unusual circumstances, they may contact the financial aid office at 409-880-7011.



• How do I accept my awards?
• A:Log into your SIS account HERE , go to Financial Aid, then click the link "Accept Awards"



• What documents am I missing to complete my financial aid?
• A:Log into your SIS account HERE , go to Financial Aid, then click the link "student requirement, required documents"



• What happens if I "reject" my financial aid that was awarded to me?
• A:Call the financial aid office immediately. A delay in contacting the office could result in grant funds not being able to be re-awarded to the student.



• What are your office hours?
• A:Monday Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8-5 and on Tuesday 8-4:30



• Should I send in my tax forms and other paperwork before you ask for it?
• A:You should not submit tax forms and/or other paperwork unless we specifically ask for these documents.



• My SAR indicates that I was selected for "Verification". What does this mean?
• A:This indicates that the Financial Aid Office must verify the information you provided on your FAFSA when you applied for aid. You will need to submit the verification worksheet and signed copies of tax returns to our office.



• Why is it when I try calling your office I can never get through?
• A:During peak times, our phone lines often stay busy, You can send us a fax at (409) 880-8934 , or stop by our office for assistance.



• How long does the awarding process take?
• A:It usually takes 4 -6 weeks from the time your financial aid application is complete to the time the award occurs. If you haven't heard anything from us after that time period, please check with us to make sure we have everything that is needed.



• What records will I need to apply for financial aid?
• A:Useful documents include your tax return from the previous year, as well as your parents' tax return if dependent, or your spouse's return, if applicable. Other records such as W-2 forms, business/farm records, and bank statements are also very useful. Please make sure that the school has received all required documents such as grade or financial aid transcripts if you are a transfer student.



• How can I obtain Texas residency status for tuition purposes?
• A:There are several pieces of information that are reviewed before awarding a previously out-of-state student resident status. If you are an incoming freshman or a returning student and have questions about whether you can be considered for in-state tuition rates, please contact the Admissions Office.



• How many hours do you need to enroll for to receive financial aid?
• A:A minimum of six hours for any Federal or State aid. (Pell Grant is the only Federal Aid that can be awarded for students enrolled for less than three hours - if they qualify)



• If my financial aid is more than the amount that I owe, when will I receive a check for the balance?
• A: If you have a credit balance, refund checks are mailed to Lamar University students.



• Why is my Financial Aid not credited to my account?
• A:There are several things that could cause this to happen. If the Pell Grant was awarded based on full-time status and you are only enrolled for 9 hours, the grant would not pay and a check would not be generated. If you were awarded prior to the end of a long semester or summer term and did not maintain satisfactory academic progress during that semester/term, the grant would not pay since you may no longer be eligible. Any of these items may cause other grants such as the Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) to not pay when the payment cycle is run as well.



• How much money can I expect to receive in grant monies?
• A:financial aid grant money is based on the number of hours a student is enrolled for, the COA, and your EFC.



• How will my Federal Stafford Loan be credited to my bill?
• A:The Master Promissory Note you completed when applying for your loan will allow the loan proceeds to be sent electronically to LU by means of EFT, which stands for Electronic Funds Transfer. Funds received in this manner can be credited to your bill and a balance check generated if there is a credit balance. If your lender does not participate in EFT, a check made payable to you will be sent to the LU Cashiers Office. Students with checks must be endorsed at the LU cashiers office. Funds will be applied to students accounts after endorsement.



• I am an incoming freshman student and the Federal Stafford Loan I was awarded is not showing up on my bill. Why?
• A:As a first time borrower on the Federal Stafford Loan Program, we are required to delay the first disbursement of your loan for 30 days. Since these funds will not be available at the time your bill is due, it will not appear on your bill. If the Federal Stafford Loan is needed to help pay for tuition and fees, you may contact the Cashiers Office about the possibility of obtaining an institution emergency loan.



• Why is the amount I received from my Federal Stafford Loan different than the amount that shows on my bill?
• A:As you are aware, the Federal Stafford Loan is a federal program funded through private lenders around the country. The structure of the program allows these lenders to extract a percentage from the loan for processing and insurance against default. This information as well as the net amount of your loan should be reflected on the disclosure statement you received from your lender. Typically, this fee amounts to 3%. To calculate the net amount, multiply the gross amount of your loan by 3% and then subtract this amount from the gross amount of the loan. This would be the same on all loans made under the Family Federal Education Loan Program -including Federal Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) and Parent Loans.



• My parents applied for a Federal Parent Loan. How will this be applied to my bill?
• A:The Federal Parent Loan (PLUS) works similarly to the Federal Stafford Loan except that it is a loan made to your parent instead of to you. If your parent signed the certification statement on your University Application for Financial Aid (UAPP) allowing the University to credit this money to your bill, it will be credited to your bill. Any balance will be generated in the form of a check made payable to you. If the lender sends a check, it must be endorsed by your parent, returned to Lamar where it will be credited towards your account. Any residual balance will be generated in the form of a check and mailed payable to the student.



• I am eligible for Hazlewood, what do I need to do?
• A:You must be sure that the VA office has qualified first.
  Every year you must verify you are not in default of a student loan and are not Pell eligible.
  The easiest way is to complete a FAFSA every year.



• How do I request a tax transcript?
• A: Please Click Here and review this adobe acrobat document for instructions. (adobe acrobat is available for free at http://www.adobe.com)