Grants
A grant is a form of student aid that typically does not have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw, fail to begin attendance, or adjust enrollment prior to the Pell Grant recalculation date). Grants are need based. Except for the Federal Pell Grant, grants are allocated to colleges in yearly, limited amounts, so a student may show eligibility, but may not receive an award if the grant funds have been exhausted. The following grants are offered at Lamar University.
Federal Pell Grant Program - This grant is awarded to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
Scheduled Award Amount
The amount you receive will depend on:
- Your SAI
- Your enrollment status
- Your plans to attend school for a full academic year
Disbursement (Payment)
- Disbursements occur no earlier than 10 days before the student’s first day of class
- Typically, one disbursement each semester
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant - Assists undergraduate students who have the greatest demonstrated financial need, with priority for those who are Pell Grant eligible. Since funds are limited, students who apply early have the greatest opportunity for an award.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
- Meet the basic eligibility criteria to receive federal aid
- Must not have a bachelors, graduate, or professional degree
- In good standing with Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards for student aid
- Pell Grant eligible (students who are no longer eligible for Pell Grant due to reaching their Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Limit are not eligible)
Scheduled Award Amount
- The maximum scheduled award amount is $4000 per academic year ($2,000/semester)
- Amounts may vary based financial need and enrollment
Disbursement (Payment)
- Disbursements occur no earlier than 10 days before the student’s first day of class
- Typically, one disbursement each semester
- The disbursed amount is prorated based on your enrollment level; amounts may be different based on need.
- Enrolled at least half-time
The TEACH (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) Grant- The TEACH Grant aids undergraduate and graduate students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career teaching full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools that serve students from low-income families. If you do not complete your service obligation the grant will be converted into an unsubsidized loan.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
- Meet the basic eligibility criteria to receive federal student aid
- Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student at a school that participates in the TEACH Grant Program
- In good standing with Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards for student aid
- Enrolled in a program of study designated as TEACH Grant-eligible
*Eligible programs are those that prepare a student to teach in a high-need area in their state of residence. High-need fields are determined by the Department of Education for each state per award year. Department of Education high need field information can be found online at https://studentaid.gov/teach-grant-program. Graduate programs that are eligible must lead to a teaching certification. Texas residents with a major in Modern Language must have a concentration in either Spanish or Spanish Teacher Certification.
Disbursement Requirements
Academic Achievement Requirements
One of the following is required;
- Score above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test (e.g., SAT or ACT)
- Graduate from high school with a cumulative GPA of at least 25 (on a 4.0 scale) to receive the grant as a freshman
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 25 (on a 4.0 scale) on your college coursework to receive a grant for each subsequent term
Award Amount
- 70% reduction from the TEACH Grant statutory maximum award amount of $4,000. This is a dollar reduction of $228, resulting in an adjusted maximum award amount of $3,772
Payment/ Disbursement
- Disbursements occur no earlier than 10 days before the student’s first day of class
- Typically, one disbursement each semester
- Actual disbursed amount will depend on credit hours enrolled
TEACH Grant Exit Counseling
TEACH Grant Exit Counseling explains the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant service obligation, the
circumstances under which a TEACH Grant will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and your
responsibility for repayment if your TEACH Grants are converted to loans. You're required to complete
TEACH Grant Exit Counseling before you stop attending the school where you received your TEACH Grants.
To complete TEACH Grant Exit Counseling visit, https://studentaid.gov.
Texas Public Education Grant - This grant aids undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. Students who apply early have the greatest opportunity to receive this grant.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
- Enrolled as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by completing the FAFSA or TASFA
- Meet the general eligibility requirement to receive federal student aid (This excludes TASFA eligible students)
- Registered or exempt from registration with Selective Service
- In good standing with Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards for financial aid
* Students enrolled in the Accelerated Online Program are not eligible for participation due to the reduced cost of attendance.
Award Amount
- Annual award amounts differ based on financial need and enrollment
Disbursement (Payment)
- Disbursements occur no earlier than 10 days before the student’s first day of class
- Non-Texas resident students must be enrolled full-time to receive a disbursement of these funds effective Fall 2020.
- With the exception of Non-Texas residents, the disbursed amount is prorated based on your enrollment level, amounts may be different based on need.
State HB Grant (TUGBUG) - This grant aids undergraduate students with financial need. Students who apply early have the greatest opportunity to receive this grant.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
- Undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by completing the FAFSA or TASFA
- Meet the general eligibility requirement to receive federal student aid (This excludes TASFA eligible students)
- Registered or exempt from registration with Selective Service
- In good standing with Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards for student aid
- Classified as a Texas Resident by the University
* Students enrolled in the Accelerated Online Program are not eligible for participation due to the reduced cost of attendance.
Award Amount
Annual award amounts differ based on financial need and enrollment
Disbursement (Payment)
- Money is typically disbursed once a semester
- Disbursements occur no earlier than 10 days before the student’s first day of class
- The disbursed amount is prorated based on your enrollment level
Cardinal Success Grant – This grant was established in the 2020-2021 academic year. It provides assistance to first time in college (FTIC) and transfer students with financial need.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
- Undergraduate student enrolled Full-Time as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program
- Meet the general eligibility requirement to receive federal student aid
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by completing the FAFSA
- Meet the basic eligibility requirement to receive federal student aid
- Registered or exempt from registration with Selective Service
- In good standing with Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards for student aid
- Classified as a Freshman - First-Time in College (FTIC) or transfer student
- Classified as a Texas Resident by the University
· Students enrolled in the Accelerated Online Program are not eligible for participation due to the reduced cost of attendance.
Continued Eligibility
- Meet the eligibility requirements listed above
- Eligible students may receive this award for five calendar years, or until degree completion, whichever is first.
Award Amount
Award amounts differ based on need, the student's academic success in high school, other gift aid the student is receiving, and availability of funds.
Disbursement (Payment)
- Money is typically disbursed once a semester
- Disbursements occur no earlier than 10 days before the student’s first day of class
- You must be enrolled Full-Time to receive a disbursement of these funds
Toward EXcellence, Access, and Success Grant Program (Texas Grant)- This grant provides grant assistance to undergraduate students with need.
How to Apply
- Complete a FAFSA or TASFA
- Priority consideration is given to students who complete an application by January 15th. Due to the delayed FAFSA, this date was extended to April 15th for the 2024-2025 aid year.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
- Classification as a Texas Resident by the University
- Be registered for Selective Service or Exempt
- Have financial need
- Be enrolled at least Three Quarter-Time
- Not have earned a baccalaureate degree
- Not have been convicted of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance
Initial Eligibility
To receive an initial award, you must meet certain criteria. For more information, visit http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/financialaid/tofa2.cfm?ID=458.
Continued Eligibility
- At the end of your initial year, you must meet the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
- In subsequent years, you must have an overall college grade point average (GPA) of at least
2.5 on a 4.0 scale and complete at least 24 semester credit hours per year academic year.
- Visit TEXAS Grant (lamar.edu) for information concerning a Texas Grant Hardship Appeal
- A student’s eligibility ends if any of the following maximums have been met or the student earns a baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first:
Disbursement (Payment)
- Money is typically disbursed once a semester
- Disbursements occur no earlier than 10 days before the student’s first day of class
- Enrolled in a minimum of 9 credit hours
- If you are unable to enroll in at least 9 hours (but at least 6) due to being in your last semester, please email our office at financialaid@lamar.edu. The email should state that you are in your last semester and how many hours you are required to complete to fulfil your degree requirements.
Lamar Promise- The Lamar University Promise ensures that sufficient grant and/or scholarship assistance will be provided to cover the full amount of fall and spring in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate Texas residents meeting certain eligibility criteria. Students enrolled in the Accelerated Online Program are not eligible for participation due to the reduced cost.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
- Admission to Lamar University obtained by February 1st for the Summer or Fall semester
- Complete a FAFSA or TASFA (if applicable) and submit all Financial Aid documents by February 1st (Due to the delay of the FAFSA this date was pushed back to June 1st for the 2024-2025 academic year)
- Be a Texas Resident, seeking first undergraduate degree and new first time in college freshman or transfer
- Be a dependent student per Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Dependency Requirements
- Have a Household Adjusted Gross Income (per IRS regulations) of no more than $40,000
- Enroll in a minimum of 12 semester credit hours per semester within their program of study (can cover up to 15 credit hours)
- Be within the program eligibility limit of four academic years (or three years, if a transfer student)
- Be eligible for full federal Pell grant award.
- Be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress
Award Amount
- Annual award amounts differ based on the amount of in-state tuition not already covered by gift aid.
Disbursement (Payment)
- Money is typically disbursed once a semester
- Disbursements occur after the 12th class date
Continued Eligibility
New freshman beginning in either the summer or fall semester are eligible for the Lamar Promise Program
and may continue to have their tuition and fees covered with grant and/or scholarship funds for up to 8
consecutive fall/spring semesters as long as they continue to meet eligibility requirements.
Transfer students beginning in either the summer or fall semester are eligible for up to 6 consecutive
fall/spring semesters of the program eligibility.