Consumer Information
Philosophy of Financial Aid
The Financial Aid Office at Angelo State University is available to assist those students who have difficulty meeting the cost of attending the University. Although the primary responsibility for financing an education rests with the student and the student's immediate family, it is recognized that many students will require additional assistance in order to finance their educational goals. Therefore, ASU offers need-based and nonneed-based financial assistance to those students who would otherwise not be able to attend the University.
Statement of Nondiscrimination
Angelo State University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, coeducational institution which does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, disability, national or ethnic origin. Race and gender designations on financial aid applications are used in order to complete required federal and state reports.
General University Information
Students interested in obtaining further information concerning the academic programs, accreditation, and other aspects of Angelo State University may request a University Bulletin from the Office of Admissions by calling (800) 946-8627 or (325) 942-2041, or by writing to ASU Station 11014, San Angelo, TX 76909-1014. The Admissions Office and the Registrar's Office are located in the Dorsey B. Hardeman Building on the ASU campus.
General Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for federal and state student aid, an applicant must:
- be a U. S. citizen or reside in the U.S. for other than a temporary purpose;
- demonstrate a documented need for need-based financial assistance;
- be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory level of academic progress
- be working toward a degree or certificate
- enroll for the course load required by the requested aid program; and
- not be in default on any educational loan, or owe a refund or repayment on any educational grant.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
It is the student's right to: know what financial assistance is available; know the deadlines for submitting applications; know the cost of attending the University; know the elements of determining financial need and how much need has been met; know the University's refund and repayment policy; know the University's satisfactory academic progress policy; know the terms of student loans; and request additional clarification or reconsideration of any aspect of the aid application or package.
It is the student's responsibility to: review all information about the University; complete all required application forms accurately; submit all requested information in a timely manner; read and understand forms which require a signature; know and comply with all deadlines; know and comply with the refund and repayment policy; maintain a satisfactory level of academic progress; and notify lender of any status changes.
Aid to Students With Disabilities
Special aid to students who have certain physical or emotional disabilities is offered through the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). To be eligible for DARS services, the individual must have a physical or mental disability which constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment. In addition, there must be a reasonable expectation that the vocational rehabilitation services will benefit the individual in terms of employment. DARS clients are entitled to vocational counseling and guidance, job development, placement, and follow-up. In cases where economic need can be demonstrated, college students with disabilities may be eligible for compensation of tuition and required fees, books and supplies, physical restoration, and supportive devices. Severely disabled students may also be eligible to receive financial help with room and board costs, mobility assistance, note-takers, tutors, and attendant care. Appointments to see a DARS counselor may be arranged by calling the San Angelo office (325) 657-7420 or toll free 1-800-392-1945.
Further Financial Aid Information
Further information concerning financial aid can be found in "The Guide to Federal Student Aid", a publication of the U. S. Department of Education, or "College for Texans", a publication of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. These publications are available upon request through the Financial Aid Office.
Financial Aid Counseling
The Financial Aid Office offers personal counseling to students and parents concerning aid opportunities, application requirements, program guidelines, and student eligibility. Students and parents may call our office at 800/933-6299 or 325/942-2246 or visit our office 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday for additional assistance. No scheduled appointment is necessary.
The Application Process
Applying for Financial Aid
The application period begins January 1 of each year for the following award year (September 1 through August 31). As soon as possible after January 1, an applicant should obtain an application packet from the Financial Aid Office. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the Renewal FAFSA, should be submitted electronically (www.fafsa.ed.gov). All other required forms should be completed and submitted directly to the ASU Financial Aid Office. For a complete listing of the required forms for the current award year, please refer to the Financial Aid Application Instructions and Requirements 2008-09 available through the ASU Financial Aid Office or online. The application period for institutional and outside agency scholarships will vary depending on the program.
By filing the FAFSA electronically, the software immediately identifies potential errors and allows for on-the-spot corrections. Plus, once transmitted, the information goes right into the U.S. Department of Education's Central Processing System (CPS). The CPS will process the application in one to five days, provided the applicant (and parents, if applicable) have provided electronic signatures (www.pin.ed.gov). The applicant should review Part I of the Student Aid Report (SAR) for any additional steps required by the processor.
Applications for assistance cannot be fully considered until all of the required application forms are received by the Financial Aid Office and the applicant's admission status as a regular degree-seeking student is approved by the Admissions Office or the Graduate Studies Office. Applicants must re-apply for financial aid each year. The application process must be completed by the last class day of the application period to be considered for aid for that period of enrollment. Financial Aid cannot be received for periods of non-enrollment.
Priority Deadlines
In order to receive full consideration for financial assistance and to ensure the determination of eligibility by the beginning of a given application period, an applicant must submit all required application forms to the Financial Aid Office by the priority deadline dates below:
-
- Summer Terms
- March 1
- Fall/Spring Semesters
-
- General Scholarships
- March 1
-
- Grants/Loans/Work-Study
- April 1
-
The Awarding Process
Determining Financial Needs
Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending the University and the resources available to the student to help meet that cost. Thus, financial need is determined to be the:
Cost of Attendance
Minus
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Minus
Other Available Resources
Equals
Financial Need
The EFC is determined by filing the FAFSA and is a combination of the student's contribution and the parents' contribution (for dependent students). All applicants are required to inform the Financial Aid Office of any additional assistance to be received from outside sources during the application period by completing the Disclosure of Additional Resources form.
Awarding Financial Aid
Once documented need is established, a financial aid officer will consider programs for which the applicant is eligible and has expressed an interest. It is impractical for the aid applicant to expect the total calculated need to be met with gift-aid (grants and scholarships). In order to meet as much of the documented need as possible, the applicant must apply for a self-help program (loans or employment).
Every effort will be made to meet the applicant's documented need through a combination of aid programs. The amount awarded will be based on the financial need of the applicant, the limitations imposed by the various financial aid programs, and the availability of funding. The total award may be less than the documented need because of fund limitations, an unusually large student budget, the applicant's aid request limitation, and/or prescribed program allowances.
Aid applications will be electronically processed and awards made as long as funds are available. Once a financial aid package has been awarded, an award notification letter will be sent to the applicant with instructions concerning the on-line review of awards offered.
If, after the aid package has been awarded, it is determined that an additional resource is available to the student to help meet the cost of attendance, the Financial Aid Office will be required to recalculate the applicant's eligibility to include the additional resource. If the additional resource causes an over award situation, the student's aid package will be adjusted to compensate for the over award. Adjustments may include canceling or decreasing previously awarded aid. A revised award notification letter will be sent to the applicant indicating any revisions made to the aid package.
Student Expense Budgets
The cost of attending Angelo State University varies with enrollment status, housing situations, and personal lifestyles. Standard student expense budgets are prepared each year to be used in determining a student's financial need. Budgets are constructed for students living with relatives or living on/off campus. Each standard expense budget includes cost components defined by law for tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, miscellaneous personal expenses, and loan fees. Increases may be allowed for dependent care costs and disability expenses in documented individual student circumstances.
Budgets are constructed to estimate expenses for periods of enrollment for the Fall and Spring semesters as well as the Summer terms. Examples of student expense budgets are as follows:
| Fall/Spring 2007-08 | Summer 2008 | Fall/Spring 2008-09 | Summer 2009 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $4,662 | $2,058 | $5,110 | $2,344 |
| Room & Board | $1,854 | $618 | $1,910 | $636 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,000 | $400 | $1,000 | $400 |
| Transportation | $1,854 | $618 | $1,910 | $636 |
| Miscellaneous | $1,854 | $618 | $1,910 | $636 |
| Average Loan Fees | $156 | $78 | $160 | $74 |
| *Total: | $11,380 | $4,390 | $12,000 | $4,726 |
| Fall/Spring 2007-08 | Summer 2008 | Fall/Spring 2008-09 | Summer 2009 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $4,662 | $2,058 | $5,110 | $2,344 |
| Room & Board | $5,980 | $2,040 | $7,516 | $2,674 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,000 | $400 | $1,000 | $400 |
| Transportation | $1,910 | $618 | $1,910 | $636 |
| Miscellaneous | $1,854 | $618 | $1,910 | $636 |
| Average Loan Fees | $156 | $78 | $160 | $74 |
| *Total: | $15,506 | $5,812 | $17,606 | $6,764 |
(*Estimated student expense budget totals may vary from award year to award year due to possible increases in the individual cost components not available at the time of this publication.)
Disbursing Financial Aid
Financial aid awards will be credited to the student's account. If the amount of financial aid applied creates an over payment residual refunds will be issued by the Student Accounts Office. Refunds are disbursed via the ASU OneCard according to the refund preference selected by the student. Awards are generally disbursed in an amount equal to one-half of the total award each semester. Work-Study earnings will be paid as earned on a monthly basis and student earnings will also be disbursed via the ASU OneCard according to the students selected preference.
Return of Funds Due to Withdrawal
A student who receives financial aid and withdraws from the University may be required to repay all or part of the aid awarded. An application for withdrawal from the University must be initiated in the Registrar's Office by the last day for withdrawals as posted on the University calendar. A student is not officially withdrawn until the withdrawal form has been completed, the approval of each of the appropriate University offices has been received, and the form has been returned for approval to the Registrar's Office.
As part of this withdrawal process, students are required to secure approval from the Financial Aid Office. As required by federal regulations, the Financial Aid Office will determine if the student must repay all or part of the aid awarded. Calculation of repayment is made at the time of withdrawal by determining the amount of aid the student was awarded, the amount of awarded aid the student earned, and ultimately the amount of awarded aid the student did not earn that must be returned to the aid program(s).
The following steps are used to calculate the amount that must be returned to the aid programs(s):
- Determination of the withdrawal date.
- Determination of the amount of aid the student earned. This is done by multiplying the % of the period of enrollment that has been completed (or 100% once the student completes 60% of the enrollment period) x the aid that was disbursed and/or could have been disbursed as of the date of withdrawal.
- Determination of the amount of aid the student did not earn. This is done by subtracting the "earned amount" from the aid disbursed as of the date of withdrawal.
- Determination of the amount of aid the University must return. This is the amount that is equal to the total institutional charges for the payment period x the % of the aid that was unearned.
- Determination of the amount of aid the student must return. This is the amount that is equal to the aid received by the student for non-institutional expenses x the % of the aid that was unearned.
Special rules that apply to the return of the unearned aid include:
- The University must return the amount of unearned aid that is equal to the total institutional charges for the payment period x the % of the aid that was unearned.
- In order to satisfy the amount the University must return to the aid programs, a combination of the following resources may be used - aid not yet disbursed to the student, the student's refund as determined by the official refund schedule as posted in the University Bulletin, and an additional amount to be repaid by the student.
- The student must return the balance of the unearned aid less the amount the University returned.
- The student's share of loans to be returned may be repaid in accordance with the terms of the loan.
- The student's share of the grants to be returned is divided in half.
- Excess funds will be returned in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan Program; Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan Program; Federal Perkins Loan Program; Federal PLUS Program; Federal Pell Grant Program; Federal SEOG Program; Other Title IV Aid; Other State Aid; and Miscellaneous Aid.
The policy to return funds due to withdrawal may be modified at any time without prior notice in order to comply with state and federal guidelines.
Due to federal regulations, institutions are required to complete a refund calculation for financial aid recipients who fail to earn a passing grade in all of their classes for the semester/term. These students are considered by the Federal Government to have “unofficially withdrawn” from the University.
The refund calculation determines how much of the federal financial aid a student received for the semester was actually “earned” and how much must be “repaid” by the student to the appropriate financial aid program. The amount is based on the student's last documented date of attendance.
If a student receives federal financial aid for any given semester/term, and fails to make a passing grade in all classes for the semester/term, this calculation will be performed to determine the amount owed back to the federal program(s).