TASFA

Texas Application for Student Financial Aid

Senate Bill 1528

SB 1528 is the Texas legislation that addresses qualification for in-state tuition rates as well as  State of Texas funded financial aid to students who are ineligible for federally funded financial aid.  Core residency information determines whether or not a student qualifies to pay in-state tuition rates and if a student may qualify for limited financial aid opportunities through the budget of the State of Texas.

Notice: The qualifications for receiving financial aid through the State of Texas budget are stricter than those which determine student qualification for in-state tuition rates. A student who may qualify for in-state tuition rates under SB 1528 might not qualify for financial aid through the State of Texas.

To apply for financial aid through the State of Texas, a student completes a Texas Application for Student Financial Aid (TASFA).  A student should complete a TASFA only if the student is not eligible for federally funded financial aid by completing a FAFSA. In order to be eligible for financial aid through the State of Texas under the coverage of Senate Bill 1528, a student must meet all of the following specific qualifications.  The student must:

• Be of certain nonimmigrant status (must not be an eligible noncitizen for FAFSA)
• Have graduated from a public or private high school in Texas or earned a GED in Texas
• Have resided in Texas for 36 consecutive months (3 consecutive years) leading up to graduation of high school or receipt of a GED
• Have resided in Texas for 12 consecutive months (1 year) prior to the semester of enrollment for which they have applied
• Provided their institutions with a signed and notarized affidavit indicating an intent to apply for permanent residence as soon as able to do so

Submitting a TASFA

The first step is to complete a TASFA for the appropriate school year.

• 2024-25 TASFA in English
• 2024-25 TASFA en Español
• 2023-24 TASFA in English

A student completing a TASFA will be asked to submit the following documentation in addition to the application above:

• High school transcript or copy of GED
• Tax return transcript for prior prior year for both student and parents (if dependent).
• Dependent or Independent student household size and number in college verification worksheets located in the Forms Library
• W2 wage and income statements and/or 1099 tax statements, these may also be requested from the IRS.
• Affidavit of Core Residency Questions
• Indication of intent file for permanent residence *See Below

If a student meets all qualifications to receive financial aid through the State of Texas, the student will have the Senate Bill 1528 indicator placed on their student account.  The student does not have to submit any information or take any action in regard to the Senate Bill 1528 message, as it is simply placed on the account to alert our Enrollment Services and Financial Aid staff that the student is eligible for funding by TASFA for the current aid year.

Affidavit Of Indication To File For Permanent Residence 

Financial aid through the State of Texas (TASFA) is to assist students who meet all prerequisites to be declared a Texas Resident, qualify to pay in-state tuition rates, and who sign a legally binding document stating their intention to apply for U.S. Permanent Residency status (I-485) as soon as they have the opportunity to do so.  Students applying for financial aid through the State of Texas must submit a completed, signed, and notarized affidavit confirming their eligibility for state funded financial aid through SB 1528 and declaring that they either have filed an application for Permanent Residence with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and are in the process of becoming a documented U.S. Permanent Resident or that they will file an application for Permanent Residency status at the earliest opportunity to do so.

If a student has attained documentation as a U.S. Permanent Resident, the student is eligible for federally funded financial aid by completing FAFSA. A student who is eligible for funding through FAFSA is eligible for a much larger budget of financial aid through a wider variety of sources such as:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
• Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Student Loans
• Other State of Texas funded aid programs, as the state budget allows

For more information about applying for Permanent Residence, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.