The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is NOW OPEN

• Creating your FSA ID 
  • Your FSA ID allows you to access and sign your FAFSA, Entrance Counseling, and MPN electronically.
  • Your parents will need to create one too.

1. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
2. Have a valid Social Security Number (unless you are from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau).
3. Be registered with Selective Service if you are male and 18 to 25 years of age. (state aid only)
4. Have a high school diploma or GED Certificate, or pass an exam approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
5. Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program.
6. Not be in default on any educational loan, or owe a refund or repayment on any educational grant.
7. Demonstrate financial need (except for unsubsidized Stafford Loans).

To maintain your eligible status, you must also:

• Be in good academic standing and maintain a satisfactory level of academic progress toward a degree/certificate.

FAQ's

1. What if I'm not a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen?
   There are still some sources of aid for you. Your country's government, or its embassy in the United States, may have aid for students. You can also look into applying for scholarships.
2. Can I get financial aid for my remedial classes?
   Well, that depends. You can receive financial assistance for remedial coursework if admission to a particular program has been confirmed, and the remedial coursework is necessary to complete the program. You are limited to 24 credit hours of qualified remedial coursework.

However, you cannot receive financial assistance for remedial coursework if your admission into a program is based on the completion of remedial work.

• Gathering the documents you need.
  You will need such items as your Social Security Number, driver's license, income tax returns, bank statements, and investment records.
• Determine whether you will need to submit parent information. 

The 2026-2027 FAFSA is now accepting submissions. Click here to submit a 2026-2027 FAFSA®.

Priority FAFSA Deadline for Financial Aid at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is January 15th.

However, we highly recommend you complete the FAFSA application as soon as possible to ensure our office receives your applicant information.

The FAFSA priority deadline date is when you must have your FAFSA filed to receive priority consideration in the financial aid awarding process by the TAMU-CC.

IMPORTANT:

• FAFSA applications received after the priority deadline will still be reviewed, but some financial aid options may no longer be available. Apply early to maximize your eligibility for funding.

Our financial aid staff is here to help you navigate the FAFSA process. If you need assistance to complete your FAFSA application, please contact us today at 361.825.2338 or FAOWeb@tamucc.edu.

Our financial aid team will also be available in person during FAFSA Workshop events like Island Day, Admitted Student Day, or various workshop events throughout the semester (see latest dates at top of page).

• Less Questions: The FAFSA will only ask 36 questions
• Tax/Income Data: Changes made in 2024-2025, all persons listing tax information on the FAFSA® will be required to use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) to share tax information or confirm non-filing status.
• Student Aid Index (SAI): The FAFSA previously calculated an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). Now the FAFSA will produce the Student Aid Index (SAI). This number, unlike the EFC, can be negative with the minimum SAI being -1500.
• No benefit for having siblings in college: The FAFSA previously divided the EFC proportionally based on the number of the household in college. The elimination of this "sibling discount" will be the biggest change in aid eligibility for some students
• Automatic Pell Grants based on income and household size: Families making less than 175% and single parents making less than 225% of the federal poverty level will see their students receive a maximum Federal Pell Grant award. Minimum Pell Grants will be guaranteed to students from households below 275%, 325%, 350%, or 400% of the poverty level, depending on household structure. 
• Larger Income Protection Allowances: The Income Protection Allowance (IPA) covers a family's basic living expenses and is excluded from SAI formulas. New, larger IPAs lower the amount of student or parent income considered to be available to pay for college. IPAs will increase by 20% for parents, up to about $2400 (35%) for most students, and up to about $6500 (60%) for students who are single parents.

Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to create a FSA account and submit a FAFSA form if your contributor does not have a SSN.

We would be happy to help you and your student navigate their financial aid this academic year, however there have been some changes to the federal regulations regarding confidentiality of Federal Tax Information (FTI), including data such Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or Pell Eligibility. Please see our Access and Use of FTI page to review the policies regarding consent to disclose information protected under these new regulations.

Click here for the Department of Educations guide for parents.