Financial aid and FAFSA guide for DFW students: Don't leave money on the table

Every DFW student — at any school — should be filing FAFSA. Here's the step-by-step.

What is FAFSA?

Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Determines your eligibility for grants, loans, and work-study.
It's FREE to file. Source: studentaid.gov
Even if you think you won't qualify, FILE IT. Many DFW schools require it for ALL financial aid, including merit scholarships.

Key dates:

What you need to file:

Texas-specific aid:

Texas Grant (TEXAS Grant) — need-based, up to $10,000/year at public universities. Source: collegeforalltexans.com
Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) — for community college students. Up to $2,000/year.
Top 10% Scholarship — if you graduated in the top 10% of your high school class in Texas.

Federal aid:

Pell Grant — up to $7,395/year (2025-26). Need-based. Does not need to be repaid. Source: studentaid.gov
Federal Subsidized Loans — interest doesn't accrue while in school.
Federal Work-Study — part-time campus jobs. UTD, UTA, UNT, and community colleges all participate.

DFW-specific tips:

Community college students: file FAFSA even for DCCCD/TCC. TEOG and Pell Grants apply.
UTD has generous institutional aid tied to FAFSA filing.
Many DFW private scholarship applications require FAFSA as proof of financial need.

Common mistakes:

Not filing because "my parents make too much." The income cutoff is higher than you think. File and let the system decide.
Missing the January 15 Texas priority deadline. State aid runs out. Early filers get more.
Using a .com site instead of studentaid.gov. FAFSA is FREE. Never pay to file.

Sources:

File FAFSA. Period. No exceptions.

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