Axe ’Em, Jacks!
What is a grant?
In the world of financial aid, grants are one of the best you can receive. That’s because grants are essentially gifts. You receive a set amount of money from the government, a private source or a nonprofit organization to help with your university expenses, and you don’t have to pay it back as long as you follow the grant’s guidelines. However, if you withdraw from school before a semester is complete, you may be required to refund some or all of your grant money.
Grants can only pay for courses that are in a student’s degree program. Therefore, if you decide to take electives or courses that are not geared for your particular degree program, you will need to make arrangements to pay for those courses outside of grants. Learn more about the U.S. Department of Education's Title IV regulation and how it impacts your degree plan on the Plan of Study webpage.
Grant eligibility
Grants are need-based, and eligibility is determined by the FAFSA application. Some grants also require a minimum grade point average (GPA).
How to apply for a grant
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to apply for grant assistance. Learn more about the FAFSA application requirements process and deadlines on the Applying for Aid webpage.
There are three categories of grants that you can automatically apply for when completing the FAFSA.
Federal Pell Grants
This program provides grants for low-income undergraduates and, in some cases, students pursuing a post-baccalaureate teaching certificate. Pell Grant awards are based on your expected family contribution (EFC), the cost of attendance, your enrollment status (part time or full time) and whether you’re attending school for a full academic year.
TEACH Grants
Contact SFA's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to see if your area of study is TEACH-Grant-eligible.
If your area of study is eligible and you’re offered a TEACH Grant, you must sign an agreement to serve or repay and complete the required counseling.
TEXAS grants
To qualify for this undergraduate grant program, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Be a Texas resident
- Be enrolled fulltime*
- Graduate from an accredited Texas high school
- Have not been convicted of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance
- Demonstrate financial need (priority is given to neediest students)
- At the end of your first year, you must be meeting SFA’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy to qualify for renewal. For the following years, you must maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA and earn at least 24 semester credit hours in an academic year to qualify for renewal.
Your eligibility for TEXAS grants ends once you’ve attempted 150 semester credit hours or the equivalent, unless you receive a hardship extension.
*Disbursement can be made at three quarter-time enrollments, but for renewal purposes, full-time enrollment is recommended.
Financial aid for transfer students
If you received a TEXAS (Towards EXcellence, Access and Success) Grant at your previous school, you might be able to renew those awards at SFA. To find out, send an email to finaid@sfasu.edu with your name, ID number, type of award received and the college or university you were attending when you received it.
Texas public educational grants
The Texas Public Educational Grant program is for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. To qualify, you’ll need to be enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester.
Institutional grants from SFA
Lumberjack grants
We set aside funding from tuition and fees to offer students this grant. If you're a Texas resident enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester, you may qualify. This grant has less stringent financial need requirements than some of the other grant programs.
Purple Promise Guarantee program
This program is only available for first-time first-year students. To learn more about the program, visit the Purple Promise webpage.