Awarding Process

The Department of Education has announced an implementation for the removal of the Drug Conviction Eligibility Criteria and Selective Service eligibility for FAFSA files as of June 17, 2021. 

Students must meet the following minimum requirements for a majority of the financial aid programs: demonstrate financial need (except for certain loans); have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) certificate, complete a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as such under state law, or have completed an Ability to Benefit exam prior to July 1, 2012; be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident; have a valid Social Security number; be unconditionally admitted to The Texas A&M University-Victoria; be degree seeking; making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certification; not be defaulted on any educational loan or owe a refund on a federal or state grant; be enrolled at least half-time (except TEACH and Pell Grants ); certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes; and not be convicted of possessing and/or selling illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while receiving federal student aid. Transient and visiting students who are non-degree seeking at A&M-Victoria are not eligible for financial aid.

The priority deadlines are as follows:

The most common type of financial aid is a “package” which is offered in the following order: grants, scholarships, employment, and/or loans. Prior to offering federal, state, and institutional financial aid, a student’s eligibility is reviewed. Financial Aid offered prior to the student enrolling for the term may be based on full-time enrollment and aid offered after the student enrolls will be based on the student’s current enrollment status. Financial aid will not be offered until all requested documents have been received and reviewed. Students who have incomplete files should be prepared to pay for their tuition, fees, books and supplies, and other educational expenses by the payment deadline or set up a payment plan with Student Billing.

An Offer Notice email will be sent to the student’s university e-mail address informing them that they need to review their financial aid offered on the student self-service portal and then accept, modify or decline the offers. All students accepting a Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loan will need to complete the Direct Loan Master Promissory Note at studentaid.gov so the loan can be originated. Future loans accepted by students will be originated using the promissory note on file with the Department of Education.

Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling for undergraduates and graduates is required for all first-time Federal Direct loan borrowers attending A&M-Victoria. Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling is required of Federal Direct Grad PLUS borrowers if the student has not previously received a Direct Loan. Federal Direct Loan Exit Counseling is required for all undergraduate and graduate loan recipients each time they complete a degree, drop below half-time, leave A&M-Victoria, or withdraw from the semester. The web site available for loan counseling is studentaid.gov. If loan borrowers need to defer payments or request a forbearance on his or her Federal loan(s) while in repayment, forms are available at www.trelliscompany.org or his/her loan servicer.

If students are planning to receive financial aid at A&M-Victoria as co-enrolled students, they must complete a Consortium Agreement form each semester they co-enroll. In addition, a copy of the student’s class schedule and paid fee receipt is required as proof of enrollment. The Consortium Agreement form can be located at https://www.tamuv.edu/financial-aid/forms/. A&M-Victoria currently has consortium agreements with Austin Community College, Blinn College, Lone Star College System, Coastal Bend College, Houston Community College, Victoria College and Wharton County Junior College. Consortium agreement forms are also available for students co-enrolling with UH, UH-Downtown and UH-Clear Lake. Federal regulations may not allow students to receive financial aid from two institutions simultaneously or for classes that will not transfer to the student’s A&M-Victoria degree plan.

Due to the wide range of financial aid available, the specific processes for applying, and the constant change in available funding, students are encouraged to contact A&M-Victoria financial aid personnel early in the process and to keep the staff informed of any changes that may occur which would affect his/her ability to pay for educational expenses.