Types of Aid

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Financial Aid

Types of Financial Aid

Grants

All grants, unless otherwise noted, are awarded based upon the hours of enrollment and will be adjusted accordingly on the census date of each semester.

Veterans Benefit Programs

The Veterans Affairs office at Lamar University is separate from the Financial Aid Office and we encourage students with questions about VA to contact the VA office directly. The Veterans Affairs Office is maintained is Room 101 of the Wimberly Building to aid veterans in obtaining their educational benefits. More information including benefit programs and contact information can be found at http://dept.lamar.edu/records/veterans.htm

Federal Pell Grant Program

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. For many students, Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added.

Pell Grant Eligibility Table:

Full Time – 12 or more hours

¾ Time – 9-11 hours

½ Time – 6-8 hours

Fall	Spring	Summer Eligibility
Full time	Full time	No Eligibility
¾ time	Full time	¼ time eligibility
½ time	Full time	½ time eligibility
¼ time	Full time	¾ time eligibility
Full time	¾ time	¼ time eligibility
Full time	½ time	½ time eligibility
Full time	¼ time	¾ time eligibility
¾ time	¾ time	½ time eligibility
¾ time	½ time	¾ time eligibility
½ time	½ time	Full time eligibility

Similar calculations will be done for all other combinations, so that a student cannot receive greater than one full time-scheduled Pell Grant for the academic year. Pell grant funds can also be allocated to Mini sessions. Winter Mini is attached to Fall semester and Summer Mini is attached to the Spring semester.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

This grant is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need, and gives priority to students who receive Federal Pell Grants. You do not have to repay an FSEOG.

Texas Public Education Grant

The TPEG program provides limited state funds for undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. To qualify, students must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester. Annual award amounts range from $200 to $3000. Funds are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Texas Grant

In order to qualify for the Texas Grant you must:

Be a Texas resident
Complete the Recommended or Distinguished High School Program
Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your financial need
Apply to and be accepted by a non-profit Texas college or university of your choice
Enroll at least three-quarter time in an undergraduate degree or certificate program within 16 months of your high school graduation, and
Have not been convicted of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance.

How can you apply?

You apply for the TEXAS Grant when you complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other documentation required by the Financial Aid Office. Funding is limited, so you need to submit your application as soon as possible after January 1 each year. The Office of Student Financial Aid will determine if TEXAS Grant is part of the aid package that is offered to you.

To find out more about the Texas Grant, you can visit www.CollegeForTexans.com.

Work-Study Program (Federal & State)

The purpose of the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program (formerly called the College Work-Study Program) is to give part-time employment to undergraduate and graduate students who need the income to help meet the costs of postsecondary education.

This need-based program encourages community service work and work related to each student's course of study. The work-study program provides an opportunity for students with financial need to earn money to help pay their educational expenses. Not all students with financial need are guaranteed to receive work-study. Students are generally awarded work-study based on availability of funding and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Eligible students must be enrolled in at least six semester credit hours and demonstrate financial need.

Work-study provides the student an opportunity to "earn as you learn." Individuals on the work-study program are paid on a monthly basis for hours worked. Students can work no more than 19.5 hours per week. Salaries are reviewed on a yearly basis. Employment in Lamar University's work-study program is not a right but a privilege, and as such you are expected to take your work seriously. Students accepting a "work-study" award are not placed into employment but rather are expected to secure a work-study position fitting their skills and schedules. Acceptance of a "work-study Award" does not guarantee a work-study job. To obtain assistance in obtaining a "work-study" job, students are directed to the Lamar University Career and Testing Center for job placement assistance.

Currently available work-study positions can be viewed here.

Direct Stafford Loans

At Lamar University any student who wishes to be reviewed for a Stafford loan must submit a FAFSA application and all other requested paperwork to the Financial Aid office. Direct Stafford Loans (Stafford Loans) are low-interest loans for eligible undergraduate and graduate students to help cover the cost of higher education. Eligible students borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education. All Lamar University Direct loans come in EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer). The time necessary for those loan funds to arrive varies by the time of year they are processed and the manual processes placed on our office.

MAXIMUM ACADEMIC YEAR LOAN AMOUNTS (without PLUS Denial)
	Freshman	Sophomore	Junior, Senior, Post Baccalaureate, Pre-Graduate	Graduate or Higher
Dependent Students	$5,500	$6,500	$7,500
Independent Students	$9,500	$10,500	$12,500	$20,500

Dependent students whose parent receives a Parent Plus Denial may borrow up to the Independent student amount.

Direct Subsidized Loans
	These are for students with financial need. The Office of Student Financial Aid will review the results of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSASM) and determine the amount you can borrow. You are not charged interest while you're in school at least half-time and during grace periods and deferment periods.
Direct Unsubsidized Loans
	You are not required to demonstrate financial need to receive a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Like subsidized loans, the Office of Student Financial Aid will determine the amount you can borrow. Interest accrues (accumulates) on an unsubsidized loan from the time it's first paid out. You can pay the interest while you are in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, or you can allow it to accrue and be capitalized (that is, added to the principal amount of your loan). If you choose not to pay the interest as it accrues, this will increase the total amount you have to repay because you will be charged interest on a higher principal amount.
Direct Parent PLUS Loans
	Parents of dependent students may apply for a Direct Parent PLUS Loan (application is online at www.studentloans.gov) to help pay their child's education expenses as long as certain eligibility requirements are met. Graduate students may apply for PLUS Loans for their own expenses. To be eligible for a Direct Parent PLUS Loan: The parent borrower must be the student's biological or adoptive parent. The student must be a dependent student who is enrolled at least half-time. Generally, a student is considered dependent if he or she is under 24 years of age, has no dependents, and is not married, a veteran, a graduate or professional degree student, or a ward of the court. The parent borrower must not have an adverse credit history (a credit check will be done). If the parent does not pass the credit check, the parent may still receive a loan if someone (such as a relative or friend who is able to pass the credit check) agrees to endorse the loan. The endorser promises to repay the loan if the parent fails to do so. The parent may also still receive a loan if he or she can demonstrate extenuating circumstances. The student and parent must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, must not be in default on any federal education loans or owe an overpayment on a federal education grant, and must meet other general eligibility requirements for the federal student aid programs. View instructions for completing the Parent PLUS Loan here.

Federal Perkins Loan Program (PERK)

A Federal Perkins Loan is a low-interest (5 percent) loan for both undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. Your school is your lender and the loan is made with government funds. You must complete entrance counseling at http://www.mappingyourfuture.org/OSLC/ and sign the Master Promissory Note in the Financial Aid Office. You must repay this loan to your school.

B On Time Loan Program

The Texas Legislature has created the B-On-Time Student Loan Program. You can find information about this loan program at www.hhloans.com.

At this time the B-On-Time Loan Program is a "need" based loan program, providing non-interest bearing loans with a provision for loan forgiveness if the student meets defined criteria. The B-On-Time loan program is designed for students qualifying for the TEXAS Grant when schools do not have enough funds to be able to provide these students a TEXAS Grant. Because of this guideline Lamar University will not award a B-On-Time Loan until ALL Texas Grant funds have been awarded and disbursed for the current academic year.

There are no additional forms to fill out to become eligible for a B-On-Time Student Loan. Each eligible student will be contacted by Lamar University's Office of Student Financial Aid and directed as to what steps need to be taken if they choose to accept a B-On-Time Loan once it has been awarded to them.

As with all grant programs, funds are limited, and as a "need" based program funds are awarded first to students having the greatest need.

Lamar Promise

Lamar University is pleased to announce that beginning in the 2009-2010 academic year, the university will provide grant assistance to cover all fall and spring in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate Texas residents who have a household Adjusted Gross Income level of $25,000 or less, are Pell Grant eligible, are admitted to Lamar University and have completed the financial aid application process (including the submission of all required forms by March 31st).

After March 31st, students who have met the required conditions will awarded grant assistance on a funds-available basis. To cover additional expenses, such as textbooks and room and board, students may be eligible for additional funds through loans and Federal Work Study Program.

To participate in the Lamar Promise Program, the following criteria must be met by the student applicant. The student must:

Complete and submit all Financial Aid application forms to the Financial Aid Office by March 31st.
Be a degree-seeking, in-state, undergraduate student eligible for Texas in-state tuition.
Be a dependent student per Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Dependency Requirements.
Have a Household Adjusted Gross Income (per IRS regulations) of no more than $25,000.
Be a full-time Lamar University student (12 or more semester credit hours).
Be within the program eligibility limit of four academic years (or three years, if a transfer student).

The Lamar University Promise Program will provide grant assistance to students to cover only the cost of tuition and fees to students who meet the above criteria and are working toward a degree. The Lamar University Promise Program is available to all undergraduate Lamar University students who are enrolled in full-time (12 hours or more). Students must meet all requirements set forth by Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements to maintain and continue the Lamar Promise Program. New Freshman are eligible for the Lamar Promise Program for up to four years and new transfer students are eligible for up to three years.

Exemptions/Waivers

For information about tuition exemptions for certain Texas students and waivers of tuition and/or fees for certain students who are not Texas residents, please visit www.collegeforalltexans.com. Unless specifically otherwise stated, students receiving any exemption/waiver must meet all standard requirments for eligibility including Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards and not in student loan Default status. Please email questions about Peace Officer and Firefighters Exemptions to financialaid@lamar.edu.

Exemption for Peace Officers Enrolled in Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice Courses covers tuition and lab fees for eligible courses. Courses not directly related to law enforcement or criminal justice are not eligible for reimbursement though they may be required for degree completion. Proof of employment as a paid police officer must be provided to the Office of Student Financial Aid. Additional information is available at www.collegeforalltexans.com.

Exemption for Firefighters Taking Fire Science Courses covers tuition and lab fees for courses offered as part of a fire science curriculum. Proof of employment as a paid firefighter must be provided to the Office of Student Financial Aid. Eligible programs at Lamar University are:
- BA, Political Science
- BS, Political Science
- BAAS, Political Science
- Master of Public Administration
Additional information is available www.collegeforalltexans.com.

Lamar University