Apply For Aid

How to Complete Your FAFSA

What You Need to Do

• Submit your FAFSA by your priority date of November 1^st.
• Complete the FAFSA online and include the SHSU’s school code – 003606 and be sure to apply for the correct aid year.
• Look for your Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Department of Education

What We Do

• Starting Mid-November of each year, we begin downloading FAFSA information and review student eligibility for Financial Aid.

What if I don’t qualify for FAFSA?

• If you are FAFSA eligible, check here for additional information.
• If you are an international student, check with The Office of Global Engagement.

What if I am a veteran or have a waiver?

• If you are eligible for veteran tuition assistance or tuition waivers, select the appropriate link for additional information. 

Applying for Scholarships at SHSU

Learn how to apply for institutional scholarships through Scholarships4Kats. Submit your application by the priority deadline of November 1st to maximize your opportunities. Review recommended scholarships, complete any supplemental applications, and stay updated on selections beginning each December.

What You Need to Do

• Scholarships4Kats opens September 1 each year for the following school year, and we prioritize applications received by the submission date of November 1.
• Complete scholarship application at Scholarship4Kats.
• Review your recommended opportunities and complete requested supplemental applications.

What We Do

• All scholarship applications are reviewed.
• Selections begin in December of each year.
• If you are selected for an institutional scholarship, we will notify you of your award through your SHSU email.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for financial aid, you must meet specific eligibility requirements. This includes maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and enrolling in an eligible academic program. Our team will review your SAP status and verify your program eligibility to ensure you meet all federal aid guidelines.

What You Need to Do

• Understand how Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) works.
• Ensure you are in an eligible academic program.

What We Do

• We review your SAP
• We verify you are in an eligible academic program

Check your Status

You may be selected for verification to confirm the accuracy of your FAFSA information. If selected, check your SHSU email and log into your MySam account for instructions, document requests, and status updates. If no additional documentation is required, you can move forward to your financial aid notification. Our team will review any submitted documents and notify you if corrections are needed.

What You Need to Do

• Check your SHSU email account to determine if any additional information has been requested.
• If documentation is requested, log into your MySam account for instructions, to view requested documents, and check the status of your file.
• If no documentation is requested by SHSU, skip to Step 5: Financial Aid Notification.

What We Do

• Review documentation provided to determine if any corrections are required.

Financial Aid Notification

Each year, financial aid notifications begin posting in March. Check your SHSU email or log into MySam to view your aid details. Our office will verify your acceptance to SHSU, confirm your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), calculate your maximum aid eligibility, and send your official Financial Aid Notification.

What You Need to Do

• Check your SHSU email or MySam account to view your Aid Notification

What We Do

• Verify Acceptance to SHSU.
• Verify Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• Calculate your maximum aid eligibility.
• Send your Financial Aid Notification.

Accepting Your Financial Aid

After receiving your aid notification, log in to MySam to review and accept or decline each award. Be sure to understand what you need to pay for your education and consider scheduling a Personal Financial Consultation with Student Money Management for guidance. Once you accept your awards, we’ll begin processing them for disbursement. For accepted loans, information will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education within 2–3 days.

What You Need to Do

• Log in to your MySam account and review your aid notification.
• Know what you need to pay for your education.
• Schedule a Personal Financial Consultation with Student Money Management.
• Accept or Decline each aid offer.

What We Do

• Approximately 2-3 days after you accept your awards, we begin processing your accepted awards for disbursement.
• For accepted loans, we submit information to the US Department of Education.

Completing Loan Requirements

What You Need to Do

• Check your MySam account to see if there are any additional requirements you need to complete.
• Entrance Counseling for first time borrowers.
• Master Promissory Notes.
• Parent Plus Loan, if a dependent student

What We Do

• Confirm completion and update your MySam account.

Disbursement of Funds

Financial aid funds are disbursed once all requirements are met. Log into MySam to check for posted disbursements. Our office will verify your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), confirm enrollment eligibility, and then release your aid. After disbursement, you can proceed to the next step to review any refunds.

What You Need to Do

• Understand the difference between disbursements and refunds.
• Check your MySam account for disbursed funds.
• Once all funds are disbursed, continue to Step 9.

What We Do

• Verify your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status is still in good standing.
• Verify your enrollment meets disbursement requirements for each award.
• Disburse your financial aid.

Got Questions?

For refund-related questions, contact the SHSU Cashier’s Office at 936-294-1083 or email at saservices@shsu.edu.

Special Circumstances & Income Adjustments

The Department of Education determines a student’s aid eligibility each academic year, using the student and parent’s reported income from 2 years prior. However, there are special circumstances we can consider to recalculate student eligibility using income from another tax year. The following circumstances may be considered if they apply to you, your spouse, or one or more of your parents:

• Involuntary unemployment (proof of unemployment is required)
• Income will be significantly lower in the following tax year (involuntary reduction of income)
• Loss of income such as alimony payments, child support, social security benefits, and/or pensions/annuities/worker’s compensation
• Note: Self-employment or business income must be documented; therefore, the request may not be considered until the current year tax return is filed
• Deduction of one-time payment which in included in AGI; funds cannot be used for every day expenses
• Paid unusually high medical/dental expenses (in excess of 10% AGI; must be reported on Schedule A of tax return)

To be considered, you must already have an aid offer for the aid year being reviewed.

If your situation qualifies, make an appointment with the financial aid counselor!

Make an appointment with a financial aid counselor to discuss this special circumstance.

Make an appointment with a financial aid counselor to discuss this special circumstance.

Dependency Override Requests

A Dependency Override may be granted on a case-by-case basis for students estranged from their parents due to extenuating or unusual circumstances (such as abuse, family alcoholism, or drug use). Documentation from an objective third party (e.g., school counselor, coach, teacher, social services, or clergy) is required.

Students are not considered independent simply because their parents:

• Refuse to contribute financially,
• Will not provide FAFSA or verification information,
• Do not claim them on taxes, or
• The student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

If you believe you qualify, schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor to review your situation.