Financial Aid, Scholarships Grants, and Awards

Texas A&M University offers a variety of need- and merit- based funding to support your educational journey.

Financial aid is money that helps you pay for college, and can be allocated by the university, government, or private institutions. The type and amount of financial aid offered is based on the data provided on your financial aid application.

Types of Aid

Financial aid for graduate and professional students can be a combination of scholarships, grants, and loans. Financial aid is either need-based or non-need based.

• Scholarships are lump sum payments that do not need to be repaid.
• Texas A&M offers several need-based grants to help supplement costs of education.
• Loans need to be paid back when you enroll less than half-time or you graduate.
• Emergency aid is available to students experiencing unexpected financial hardship.

Once you submit your application, you are automatically reviewed for all the types of financial aid that you are eligible for.

Eligibility for AID

Eligibility for various forms of aid is first determined by your residency status, then based on financial need and/or your academic performance. Need-based aid eligibility is determined by subtracting the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Cost of Attendance (COA). Students are not allowed to receive aid that exceeds their COA.

Cost of Attendance (COA) - Expected Family Contribution (EFC) =  Financial Need

Maintaining Eligibility

In order to maintain your eligibility to receive financial aid, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a degree-seeking student.
• You must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• You must be enrolled at least half-time.

Scholarships & Financial Aid monitors your SAP at the end of every semester for graduate students, while professional students’ SAPs are reviewed annually at the end of the Spring semester.

Applying for Financial Aid

You will need to fill out the right application in order to be considered for financial aid. There are three different financial aid applications depending on your citizenship and residency.

Which Application Should I Choose?

There are three different financial aid applications depending on your citizenship and residency: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA), and International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA). Based on your citizenship and residency, you will complete one of the 3 applications below.

Scholarships are a great way to help pay for college and are one of many ways that you can fund your education. Scholarships are lump sum awards and are provided based on financial need or on your performance on a scholarship application. Texas A&M as well as external organizations offer various types of scholarships.

Non-Resident Tuition Waiver Based on Competitive Scholarship

The Competitive Scholarship waiver, authorized under Texas Education Code 54.213a, is an optional waiver that institutions can implement. A non-resident graduate and professional student with eligible competitive scholarship awards of at least $1,000 per academic year qualify for a Non-Resident Tuition Waiver. Students may receive this waiver at the discretion of the University and in compliance with the limit on the number of waivers allowed by the State of Texas. Non-resident distance education students who reside outside the state of Texas pay a teaching fee in lieu of tuition, and are not eligible for this or other non-resident tuition waivers.

University ScholarsHip Opportunities

Texas A&M University awards scholarships on the basis of academic merit, leadership and participation in university or community organizations, and financial need, or any combination thereof. Scholarships are available to currently enrolled international students and currently enrolled students with disabilities through the University Scholarship Application.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Texas A&M students may also be eligible for scholarships funded by entities outside of Texas A&M.

Federal, state and institutional grants are available to help cover the cost of obtaining a higher education. These grants are awarded on the basis of financial need, so not all students will qualify. If you are awarded a grant, it is considered a gift, and you do not need to repay it.

THE FEDERAL T.E.A.C.H. GRANT

The Federal TEACH Grant (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) Program helps students who plan to teach in high-need fields at the secondary or elementary level.

TEXAS AGGIE GRADUATE GRANT

The Texas Aggie Graduate Grant (TAGG) is a need-based award (need is determined by Scholarships & Financial Aid) for Texas residents attending the College Station campus.

TEXAS PUBLIC EDUATION GRANT

The Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) is administered by the State of Texas to aid students with financial need who are seeking a first bachelor's degree, graduate degree or professional degree. It is awarded based on the FAFSA/TASFA applications received. Funding is limited, so not all students who are eligible receive TPEG.

International Texas Public Education Grant

The International Texas Public Education Grant (ITPEG) is a program administered by the State of Texas to aid students with financial need who are non-U.S. citizens and seeking a first bachelor's degree, graduate degree or professional degree. ITPEG is available to international students only. Funding is limited, so not all students who are eligible receive ITPEG.

The association of former students distinguished graduate student award

Each year, the Association of Former Students at Texas A&M University chooses up to 15 graduate students to receive Distinguished Graduate Student Awards in one of three categories: Excellence in Research-Doctoral, Excellence in Research-Master’s, and Excellence in Teaching. Student nominations arrive from faculty advisors or departments, and nomination represents a true honor and accomplishment, due to strenuous eligibility requirements. A panel of reviewers including faculty and administrators chooses award recipients.  

• Nomination process (students cannot submit their own nominations) 

texas A&M distinguished dissertation award and george w. kunze endowed graduate student award

montgomery award

US Senator phil Gramm Doctoral Fellowship Award

A student loan is a type of financial aid to help you fund your education that must be repaid when you graduate or enroll less than half-time.

FEDERAL DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN

The U.S. Department of Education offers low-interest loans to eligible students to help cover the cost of graduate education. The Unsubsidized Direct Loan is not awarded on the basis of financial need.

FEDERAL DIRECT GRADUATE PLUS LOAN

The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan is an affordable, low interest loan for graduate and professional students. You can borrow up to the total cost of attendance (minus any other financial aid awarded).

ALTERNATIVE LOANS

Alternative (private) loans are administered and processed by private lending institutions to be used for educational costs after exhausting potentially more favorable federal and state financial aid options first.

SHORT-TERM LOANS

The Short-term Loan Program is funded by the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students, the Texas A&M University Class of 1926, University departments, as well as colleges and friends of Texas A&M University. Short-term loan funds were established to provide assistance to students who experience temporary financial difficulty in connection with educational or educationally related expenses other than tuition and required fees.

EMERGENCY TUITION AND FEES LOAN

The Emergency Tuition and Fees Loan (ETFL) is available to help you pay your Texas A&M University tuition and required fees.

Emergency Aid

Texas A&M is committed to your success, including helping you overcome unexpected financial hardships. If you have encountered an emergency situation that presents you with an unusual expense, you may qualify for a one-time funding package. To access the emergency aid application, you must first consult with a Financial Aid Advisor.