Grants

For additional information and resources visit Federal Student Aidwebsite.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is funded by the Federal government. Pell Grants are usually awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. The Pell Grant does not need to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund).

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Must be in good academic standing
• Must be enrolled in an undergraduate course of study

 

Pell grant amounts are determined based on the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) and may change yearly. The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2018-2019 award year (July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019) is $6095. The amount awarded will depend on:

• Financial need
• Cost of attendance
• Enrollment status (full time, half-time, etc.)

 

Students may only receive Federal Pell Grant funds from one school at a time during an academic period.

Federal law limits the amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a grant program administered directly by the financial aid office of participating schools. Students who will receive Federal Pell Grants and have the most financial need will receive FSEOG first. Like the Pell Grant, FSEOG does not need to be repaid.

FSEOG awards are made on a first come, first served basis to those who qualify based on fund availability.

Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG)

The Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) is a grant provided to students with financial need and is administered directly by the financial aid office of participating schools. TPEG awards are made on a first come, first served basis to those who qualify based on fund availability.

Eligibility Requirements for TPEG:

• Must be a Texas resident, non-resident or foreign student
• Must demonstrate financial need as determined by the Department of Education
• Must register for Selective Service, unless exempt

 

Towards Excellence, Access and Success (TEXAS) Grant

The Texas Grant, administered by the state of Texas, is a need-based grant provided to students who have completed either a Recommended or Distinguished Achievement high school program at an accredited Texas High School.

The state priority deadline for applying for the Texas Grant is March 15 of each year. Funding is limited and the program is subject to change by the Texas Legislature.

Eligibility Requirements for Texas Grant (Renewal Awards only):

• Must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.50
• Complete at least 24 semester credit hours per academic year
• Be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours per semester of award and has not yet been granted a baccalaureate degree
• Have not been convicted of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance
• Have a calculated financial need

 

Eligibility ends when one of the following has been met:

• 150 credit hours (90 credit hours if initially awarded based on an associate’s degree) have been paid for by the grant
• 5 years or 10 semesters (3 years or 6 semesters if initially awarded based on an associate’s degree) have passed since the initial award
• A baccalaureate degree has been granted

 

All students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) in order to receive an award. Students must self-identify by sending an email to Financial Aid at elp.financialaid@ttuhsc.edu . In the subject line of the email, please type Texas Grant. The email should include the following information:

• Student’s name
• Name of the institution where the student received the most recent Texas Grant award
• Term (Fall/Spring) in which the student received the award, or
• The month and date that an associate’s degree was earned (IY only)

 

Once the email is received, please allow at least 30 days for review of eligibility.

Awards

Target award amounts for Texas Grants:

• Award Per Academic Year: $5,000
• Award Per Semester: $2,500

 

Disbursements

Texas Grant disbursements are scheduled for Fall and Spring semesters only. The earliest that a disbursement may be requested by the University on behalf of the student for a Texas Grant award is September 1^st of each year. After the request has been submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, it may take approximately 3-4 weeks for the funds to arrive.

Hardship Provision

A student who is ineligible for a TEXAS Grant award based on the general requirements may be deemed eligible under a TEXAS Grant Hardship Provision. There are restrictions on which eligibility requirements can be granted a hardship as funding is limited.

Hardship Conditions

Such hardship conditions may include, but are not limited to:

• A severe illness or other debilitating condition that may affect the student’s performance;
• An indication that the student is responsible for the care of the sick, injured or needy person and the provision of care is affecting the student’s performance;
• Enrolling below ¾ time to complete the student’s degree plan;
• Illness or death of family member

 

Students enrolled less than 6 Semester Credit Hours (SCH) cannot be considered for a hardship and are not eligible for a TEXAS Grant award.

Please visit the College for All Texans website for more information and a complete list of requirements.

Designated Tuition Aid

Senate Bill 1304, passed by the 81^st Texas Legislature, directs institutions of higher education to provide notices to students (Texas Education Code § 56.014, Notice to Students Regarding Tuition Set Aside for Financial Assistance) who pay designated tuition of the amount of the tuition that is set aside for financial assistance. Therefore, TUHSC EL Paso is required by law (Texas Education Code, §§56.011, 56.012, and 56.465) to set aside a percentage of a student’s tuition for financial assistance programs.

• Notifications are sent as part of the student ebills. Additionally notice information is available on the ebill welcome page and the Student Business Services website
• The set aside does not affect your financial aid awards nor does it guarantee that you will personally receive financial assistance. Financial assistance eligibility is determined by the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

 

Examples of the Financial Assistance programs funded from tuition set asides are:

• Need Based Grants
• Need Based Scholarships

 

Frequently Asked Questions