Financial aid is available to students attending a post-secondary educational institution in the United States. This funding is used to assist with educational expenses and can be received in the forms of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study, but first, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) for additional information as you prepare for college. 

The first important step in determining your financial aid is figuring out how much you and your parents can reasonably pay per year toward your college education. This sum is called the Student Aid Index (SAI).

To determine your SAI, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA asks questions regarding topics like how much money your parents earn, how many people live in your home, how much savings your parents have, etc. From this form the government determines a sum that you and your family can realistically contribute to your education both in the form of grants and loans.

We recommend that students and their parents complete the FAFSA application as soon as soon as possible after it opens each year, typically in October, for the upcoming academic year to make sure you are considered for all funds.  The FAFSA application may be accessed at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/FAFSA.  The school code for TAMUK is 003639.

Once your SAI is calculated, the processor will notify TAMUK and the Office of Student Financial Aid will review your SAI to ensure you are packaged the maximum amount of gift aid from federal and state sources.

Your student aid index is subtracted from the cost of attendance, and the result is your demonstrated financial need. The college attempts to meet your full demonstrated need as long as you are making satisfactory academic progress and file the appropriate applications by the established deadlines.

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance is what the college estimates it will cost you to attend TAMUK for one year. Included in the cost of attendance are your direct costs of tuition, fees, room and board (if you live on campus), and indirect cost estimates for books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation. If you live off campus, a standard allowance for room and board is included and is determined by surveying students living off campus to determine the average amount that is spent on living expenses.

The Expected Parent Contribution

The analysis of your parents' income begins with their adjusted gross income (AGI) from their IRS Tax Return to determine the total income to be used in the need analysis calculation.  However, adjustments are made to the AGI, such as disallowing certain losses allowed by the federal income tax system, and adding income not taxed by the federal government. The analysis of your parents' assets includes the amount of any cash, savings, and checking accounts; the equity they have in their home; the equity they have in any investments, real estate, business or farm; and assets held in the name of your siblings, including pre-paid tuition plans. Retirement savings, including IRA accounts and pension plans, are not included as assets in the need analysis formula. As with income, allowances are made to exclude a portion of your parents' assets from the need analysis calculation.

Non-custodial Parent Contribution

If your parents are separated or divorced, only your custodial parent's (and stepparent's, if applicable) financial information should be included on the FAFSA. The contribution from your non-custodial parent will be considered when calculating your demonstrated financial need

Student Contribution

As with parental income, your taxable and non-taxable income is considered in the need analysis formula. Allowances against your total income include federal income tax, state and other taxes, and FICA tax.

Federal Financial Aid

For the 2025-2026 academic year, you will be considered to be an independent student, for the purpose of determining eligibility for Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, Direct Loan, and Federal Work-Study, if you meet one of the following conditions:

• Were you born before Jan. 1, 2002?
• As of today, are you married? (Also answer “Yes” if you are separated but not divorced.)
• At the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, will you be working on a master’s degree or doctorate program (such as a MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, graduate certificate, etc.)?
• Do you have, or will you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you, between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026?
• Do you have dependents, other than your children or spouse, who will receive more than half of their support from you, between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026?
• Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces of purposes other than training?     
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
• At any time since you turned 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
• As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you an emancipated minor?     
• Does someone other than your parent or stepparent have legal guardianship of you, as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?

If you meet one of these conditions, your eligibility for federal financial aid is based on your (and your spouse's, if you are married) income and assets. Your expected contribution from income and assets is dependent upon your age, marital status, and/or the number of your dependents. The Office of Student Financial Aid can tell you about the need analysis formula that would be applicable to your situation.