Financial Aid Policy

The objective of the student financial aid program at Texas Tech University is to provide assistance to students who, without such assistance, would not be able to pursue higher education. Financial assistance at Texas Tech includes loans, scholarships, grants, and employment. Assistance is awarded on the basis of documented financial need to eligible students who are making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. Need is defined as the difference between the anticipated cost of education at Texas Tech and the amount of money reasonably available to the student from all other sources. No student or prospective student shall be excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of any financial aid program at Texas Tech University on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex. Awards from financial aid programs funded by the federal and state government are administered according to the laws and guidelines governing those programs. Priority is given to applicants with the greatest documented financial need who submit their applications by the preferred filing dates.

Mailing Address:
Student Financial Aid
Texas Tech University
Box 45011
Lubbock, Texas 79409-5011

Campus Address:
3rd Floor, West Wing, Room 310
West Hall

Office Hours:
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday
Telephone: (806)742-3681

Entering freshmen and transfer students are encouraged to complete admission requirements and housing arrangements as soon as possible. Applications for admission may be submitted upon completion of the junior year in high school. Housing applications are available after October 1 for the next academic year. Applications may be obtained by writing to:

Registrar's Office
Texas Tech University
Box 45015
Lubbock, Texas 79409-5015

Housing and Dining Services
Texas Tech University
Box 41141
Lubbock, Texas 79409-1141

Application for Financial Aid

All applications must be completed and on file before a student will be considered for financial assistance. Students must reapply every year for financial aid and scholarships. Applicants must maintain satisfactory academic progress and good standing to be eligible for financial aid.

Applicants for academic scholarships must complete the Scholarship Application available upon request from the Office of Student Financial Aid. (See Scholarship Section.)

Applications are also accessible through our Website address: <www.fina.ttu.edu>.

The following information and forms are used as part of the Financial Aid process.

How to Apply for
Financial Aid

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Be sure to list Texas Tech (code # 003644) as one of your school choices and to complete each section of the application with all required signatures. Please recheck that your social security number is correct. Errors will delay processing. The FAFSA office can be reached at (319) 337-5665 concerning any questions or problems with your application.

2. Transfer students must have on file in the Student Financial Aid Office a Financial Aid Transcript from all institutions attended, signed by the aid officers of those institutions. Graduate students must also have financial aid transcripts from all institutions attended (this does include undergraduate work). These forms are required even if aid was not received from those institutions.

3. Texas Tech may require additional documentation to verify the information on the application and a student's dependency status. This may include signed copies of parents', student's, or spouse's tax returns; marriage certificates; or independency statements. The student will be notified of additional information needed by the Financial Aid Office.

A complete financial aid file includes (a) a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, (b) a Financial Aid Transcript (transfer students only), (c) an Institutional Application, (d) if applying for loans you will need a Federal Master Promissory Note or a PLUS Loan Application, (e) any additional forms that the Financial Aid Office may request.

NOTE: Any changes in resources or financial situationloss of income, marriage or divorce, employment, receipt of scholarship, etc.after the application has been submitted should be reported to the Student Financial Aid Office immediately. Federal regulations require that adjustments be made in the student's eligibility to reflect changed financial conditions. Unusual expenses, such as doctor or dental bills not covered by insurance, that exceed standard budget allowances must be substantiated with copies of receipts, bills, and/or canceled checks.

Expected Contributions

Students applying for financial assistance will be expected to make some monetary contribution toward their own educational expenses. The contribution may vary in amount according to the student's resources: summer employment, part-time employment during the academic year, scholarships, social security, and VA benefits, etc.

Parents of dependent students are expected to contribute to the cost of the post-secondary education of their children to the extent of their ability. The amount of the contribution is determined by the family need analysis which takes into consideration family income and size, number in college, assets, extraordinary indebtedness or expenses, etc.

Financial Need

Determination

Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending Texas Tech and all resources available to the student, including parental and student contributions.

The Office of Student Financial Aid will make every effort to meet documented financial need from a variety of sources depending on the program eligibility of the student. It is impractical for the applicant to limit requests to only certain types of aid such as scholarships or grants.

Financial Aid Awards

Once a student's need is determined, an aid package will be awarded that may include grants, scholarships, employment, and loans. The package approach is used to provide each eligible student with aid that will not overload him or her with either loans or work.

General Eligibility

To be eligible for financial assistance, a student must be making satisfactory progress toward a degree, not be in default on any loan, not owe a refund on grants received for attending any institution, and be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.

Recipients of scholarships or state grants must be full-time students in the university (12 hours, undergraduates; 9 hours, graduates). At least one-half time enrollment is required for the federally funded programs. Summer term requirements are 6 hours full-time (12 hours for the entire summer session) for undergraduates and graduates. Students who enroll for summer courses that extend over the entire summer will receive aid the first semester only unless enrolled for additional hours for the second semester. Students enrolled for 6 hours for the entire summer session will be considered as one-half time. Students enrolled for the summer terms only are not eligible for federal financial assistance.

Satisfactory Progress

Federal regulations require that all financial aid recipients are maintaining satisfactory academic progress. According to the standards and practices at Texas Tech University, effective July 1, 1989, the following guidelines will be applied in determining satisfactory progress.

All undergraduate and law student aid recipients must have a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) and for graduate students, a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

If the student's cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 (Graduate3.0), the student will be given one semester probation.

If a student earns a 2.0 GPA (G-3.0) during a semester he or she is on probation but fails to raise the cumulative GPA to a 2.0 (G-3.0) or better, he or she will continue on probation as long as the current GPA of 2.0 (G-3.0) is maintained and until such time as his or her cumulative GPA meets the requirements.

If at the end of any probationary semester the student does not have a 2.0 (G-3.0) current or cumulative GPA, the student will not receive future financial aid until a 2.0 (G-3.0) cumulative GPA has been obtained.

All students enrolling at Texas Tech for the first time (including transfers) will not be denied aid based on their enrollment status. However, all financial aid recipients must meet the requirements for satisfactory progress to continue on aid.

In addition to maintaining the overall GPA, a student must be making reasonable academic progress. Therefore, after completion of 60 hours attempted, a student must have earned at least 75 percent of all hours attempted at Texas Tech to remain on financial aid. Students are expected to complete their program of study within 150 percent of the number of hours required.

A nondegree graduate or undergraduate student is eligible to receive financial aid for only a 12-month period.

Summer school is considered as a semester.

Financial aid recipients or applicants whose aid has been canceled or denied as a result of failure to meet the required standards may be reinstated under the following conditions:

1. A student must regain a 2.0 cumulative GPA (G-3.0),

2. After 60 hours, a student must have completed and earned 75 percent of the hours attempted, and

3. Students wishing to appeal their loss of aid may do so in writing to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. Forms are available in the Financial Aid Office. Appeals may be made under hardship based on (a) the death of a relative of the student, (b) personal injury or illness of the student, or (c) special circumstances as determined by the institution. Documentation is required (ex. death certificates or notice, medical bills, also notes from an instructor or PASS showing effort made to make up work in the course).

Application Deadlines for Financial Aid

Applicants are urged to have a completed Financial Aid application on file before May 15 for the fall and spring semesters in order to be considered for all the programs for which they may be eligible. Need-based financial aid applications completed after June 1 will be processed on availability of funds. Fall applications not completed by August 1 may not be processed until after the 12th class day of the fall semester. Summer financial aid applications are a separate form and they will be processed according to type and availability of funds. Summer applications are available in January and are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Late applicants should be prepared to meet initial expenses (tuition, fees, and books) from their own resources.

Award Letters

Award letters are mailed to eligible students to inform them of the amount, source, and conditions of acceptance of the financial assistance they will receive. The award letter must be signed and returned to the Student Financial Aid Office within 15 days of receipt. Failure to do so may result in all aid being canceled. It is advisable to keep the Student Financial Aid Office informed of address changes. No aid will be disbursed without a signed award letter on file in the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Disbursal of Aid

Students who have returned their signed award letters by July 1 will have their aid applied to their tuition and fees by the payment date. Outside scholarship money must be in our office by July 1 to be applied to fees by the payment date. If your lender for the Stafford Loan participates in Electronic Funds Transfer through Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corp., your loan proceeds will be applied to your tuition and fee account. If your lender does not participate in EFT, your loan checks will be disbursed during the first week of classes by Student Business Services, 163 Drane Hall. If your financial aid pays more than your tuition and fees charge a refund check will be mailed to your local address as it is in the Student Information System.

Repayment

A student who withdraws from the university owes a prorated repayment for financial assistance received for that semester. The amount of the repayment will be contingent on the time of withdrawal and the amount of assistance received. At the time of withdrawal, aid recipient should contact the Student Financial Aid Office.