By Andrea Cornett/reporter
Although most students begin college in the fall semester, spring financial aid applications are the most crucial for securing funding.
Applications for Federal Student Financial Aid submitted before Feb. 15 grant students consideration of additional state and federal funds, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Students must apply for financial aid every year. Eligibility for federal and institutional grants will vary according to the student’s and/or parent’s tax return.
“Earlier applications are considered for everything,” said Jolynn Sprole, South Campus financial aid director. “Pell Grants are unlimited. Other grants, both state and institutional are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once these funds are awarded, they are gone.”
Grants are not the only options.
“Scholarship programs and loans are additional resources the student can consider to help with the increasing financial demand of tuition, books and additional educational expenses,” Sprole said. “Most scholarship programs have application deadlines of January to May each year, and special consideration is based on the earlier applicants. Student loans are also available and can be either private or federal.”
Armando Villarreal, South Campus history associate professor, encourages eligible students to borrow as much federal student loan money as they can.
“The federal loans are available at an interest rate of 3-5 percent with deferments up to two to three years,” he said.
Repayment of federal student loans vary depending upon the field of study and employment goals following graduation.
“Securing a teaching job at the state or collegiate level will often grant forgiveness of the remainder of the federal student loan after 120 on-time payments,” he said.
Haley Allen, a SE student, decided to secure private student loans as she attends TCC and the University of Texas at Arlington concurrently.
“My parents made too much money for me to qualify for federal financial aid,” she said. “I had to rely on academic scholarships and private loans.”
Scholarships provide another resource for students on the path of higher education.
Two of the many TCC institutional scholarships available for application are the Women in New Roles and the Jim Worden Scholarship. Both are open to men and women applicants who qualify and meet TCC’s requirements.
For more information and additional scholarship opportunities, stop by the financial aid office on any campus or visit www.tccd.edu/financialaid.
Scholarships and grants are financial funds/rewards that do not require repayment after graduation.
Loans, both private and federal, must be repaid after graduation.
Student loan applicants should carefully review loan documents and if uncertain about repayment conditions, request explanation from the lender.
A financial aid adviser in the financial aid office on each campus can also help students make decisions about student loans.
