FAFSA/TAFSA

Which Form to Complete: FAFSA or TASFA

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a federal application which assesses a family's financial situation for the use of providing federal aid. The TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid) is a state application which assess a family's financial situation if a student is ineligible to complete the FAFSA.

Each student must fill out a FAFSA to be considered for Federal, State, and Local grants and scholarships. The FAFSA or TASFA must be filled out each year. The best time to apply is in the fall (one year ahead) before the student comes to attend TAMS (ex. October 2023 to attend fall 2024). The FAFSA will be available as early as October 1st annually (2023 was an exception, 2024-2025 FAFSA form was not available until December 31, 2023).

UNT's Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (SFAS) sends an automated email to any prospective students and families who submit a FAFSA with UNT listed as the destination institution. The information included in the communique is only relevant if the student is admitted to the TAMS program and enrolls in courses. The FAFSA message to students and families does NOT indicate or imply that a student has been admitted to TAMS.

Every student should complete the FAFSA or TASFA depending on citizenship status. The majority of TAMS students will complete the FAFSA. A TAMS student will complete the TASFA instead of the FAFSA ONLY if they are ineligible to complete the FAFSA.
A student is eligible to complete the FAFSA if their citizenship status is one of the following:

• Student is a U.S. Citizen
• Student is a permanent resident with an Alien Registration Card (I-551)
• Student is an eligible non-citizen with an Arrival/Departure Record (I-94) showing one of the following: Refugee, Asylum granted, Parolee (for a minimum of one year), Cuban-Haitian entrant

If a student does not meet one of the statuses above, then the student will need to complete the TASFA. Please refer to TASFA section.

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TAMS Use of FAFSA/TASFA

TAMS does not assess nor receive the information entered on a student's FAFSA or TASFA. TAMS only receives the Student Aid Index (SAI) for each student to determine if they are eligible for the TAMS Mid-Class and TAMS Supplemental scholarships.

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Completing FAFSA

FAFSA Website: https://studentaid.gov/

The FAFSA application can take several months to process, completion of the FAFSA is the first step to understanding your family's financial obligation.

TAMS Specific Information for Completing FAFSA

When completing the FAFSA, there are some questions and responses which many TAMS students are unsure of how to answer. Screen shots of these questions from the FAFSA 24-25 paper form are below with the appropriate answers highlighted or written in. 

Completing FAFSA - Other Information

Important items to pay attention to when completing FAFSA

1. Both student and parent/s will need to create a FSA ID. Students and parents need to keep their FSA ID since it will not change from year to year. 
2. Only one (student or parent/s) should initiate the form and then pass it to the next completer.
3. Both student and parent/s must check the box allowing for the IRS direct data exchange. Failure to do this will result in no SAI value.
4. Review all entered information to make sure it is correct. Don't rush!
5. If you are unsure what a question is asking for, use the information option on the FAFSA (if online) or search for more details. The FAFSA will tell you what is considered an asset, review these items to make sure your data input is accurate.
6. Only student information should be in student section, do not place parent assets or financial related information in student section.

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Completing TASFA (If ineligible to complete FAFSA)

Instructions for TAMS students only:

The TASFA is for Texas residence students ineligible to complete the FAFSA. The TASFA will assess and provide a SAI for scholarship consideration and eligibility similar to the FAFSA but requires different steps for completion. A student must be accepted into the TAMS program and have a UNT sign-in to submit the TASFA.

Steps for TAMS Students Completing the TASFA:

1. Complete the TASFA: Complete the TASFA Here
2. Send an email to tams.hc@unt.edu to notify TAMS you completed the TASFA instead of the FAFSA. Include the date of submission in the notification, the student's full name, and student's ID# the TASFA was submitted for.
3. Check student UNT email. Student should receive an email from UNT Financial Aid approximately 4-6 weeks after submitting the TASFA. The email should provide SAI information or request additional documentation submission. If additional documentation is requested, student needs to submit documents for UNT Financial Aid to complete the assessment.

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After Completion of FAFSA or TASFA

Steps to Determine SAI for TAMS Scholarships (FAFSA)

1. Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at https://studentaid.gov/

2. Once notified FAFSA is processed, review FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) at studentaid.gov

1. Aid mentioned on the FSS is federal aid not TAMS aid
2. Look for SAI (Student Aid Index) amount and write it down

3. Use SAI from FSS to review the Cost Estimates at the tams.unt.edu website

The SAI value provided by the FSS is an initial provision based on information entered into the FAFSA. Additional verification may be requested by FAFSA and differences in verification information can change the SAI value accordingly.

For students completing the TASFA, UNT Financial Aid will send an email once the processing is complete. The email will contain either a request for additional information/documentation or provide the student with the SAI value and any state-aid information. The state-aid information is not related to TAMS. Use the SAI value to review Cost Estimates.

TAMS will automatically assess TAMS Mid-Class and TAMS Supplemental scholarships based on SAI values provided by UNT Financial Aid. The first notification to students occurs in June. Students will be notified of award amount/s or if their SAI value is not received for the student. TAMS will be unable to provide these awards prior to receiving a SAI value for the student. A student may have completed the FAFSA and TAMS may not have the SAI value.

Reasons for No SAI Value

1. Student and parent/s did not complete FAFSA or TASFA
2. Student and parent/s did not check the box on the FAFSA consenting to IRS data exchange
3. UNT was not identified in the College Selection section as a school to send the information to
4. Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is incorrect on FAFSA
5. SSN or ITIN is not on student record with UNT

The student will need to contact UNT Financial Aid to determine the reason UNT cannot link the FAFSA to the student. The student may be able to determine and resolve the issue using the reasons above and not need to contact UNT Financial Aid.

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Special Circumstances

FAFSA and TASFA utilizes income and statuses from the last year of taxes filed before the opening of the FAFSA. If a family has experienced negative financial impacts more recently, they may be eligible to submit a special circumstances form.

A special circumstances form will reevaluate the student's financial situation and may reduce the SAI value. Special circumstance forms are reviewed by UNT Financial Aid. Follow the link below to determine eligibility and access the form.

https://financialaid.unt.edu/special-circumstances.html

If completed, upload the form to UNT Financial Aid with all supporting documentation at the following link: https://financialaid.unt.edu/upload.

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FAFSA Resources

The FAFSA is not a TAMS application. TAMS is not the best resource for FAFSA information. Any TAMS specific information is in the Completing the FAFSA section on our webpage. The below resources can help students and parents with general questions or issues with completing the FAFSA. TAMS is not affiliated with any of the suggested resources below.

The best resource for your FAFSA questions is FAFSA. The search feature at studentaid.gov can provide you with specific information for sections on the FAFSA. The following link will provide contact information for more detailed questions or issues setting up a FSA ID or completing the FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/help-center/contact.

Another good resource is U*aspire. At https://www.uaspire.org/resources/financial-aid-resources families can find help with completing the FAFSA. U*aspire is not directly affiliated with TAMS or FAFSA. They are a non-profit which helps students with the college process.

Students can get more individualized help from www.getfafsahelp.org. The website uses Wyatt, a digital financial advisor to help with your financial questions. Wyatt is not directly affiliated with TAMS or FAFSA.