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PAYING FOR COLLEGE

Types of Aid

Galveston College offers many financial aid options to help you pay for college costs.

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Name

Meghann Nash Degges

 

Title Director of Financial Aid
Room M-170
Program Area Financial Aid
Phone 409-944-1235
Financial Aid  Email [email protected]

 

FAFSA Simplification Act  

In 2020, an important law called the FAFSA Simplification Act was passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. This law will make some big changes to the way you apply for college financial aid for the 2024-2025 school year. Here's what you should know:

  • The new FAFSA for the 2024-2025 is NOW OPEN!
  • The 2024-2025 FAFSA determines your financial aid eligibility for the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 terms.
  • Applying for financial aid will be easier and more straightforward.
  • There will be some new words and terms in the FAFSA.
  • More students might qualify for federal financial aid

We will  keep updating this page with more information as we get it. If you want to learn more about the specific changes, when everything is happening, and how to get ready, keeping reading below.

2024-2025 FAFSA FAQ

The 24-25 FAFSA won't open in October as it usually does. Instead, it will be available starting in December 2023. Please note that this change is only temporary for the 2024-2025 financial aid year. After that, you can expect the FAFSA to return to its usual October availability.

The FAFSA will feature fewer questions, fewer requirements, and retrieve tax information using a direct data exchange from the IRS instead of the previous IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

Contributor- Anyone who is asked to provide information on the FAFSA.

Consent- Each contributor must provide their consent to include their Federal Tax Information (FTI) on the FAFSA, even if they did not file a US tax return.

DDX - Direct Data Exchange (DDX) will replace the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT).

FTI- Federal Tax Information transferred directly from the IRS.

SAI-  Student Aid Index (SAI) replaces the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

A contributor is anyone who is asked to provide information on the applicants' FAFSA including:

  • The student
  • The student's spouse (if applicable)
  • A biological or adoptive parent; or
    The spouse of a remarried parent who is on the FAFSA (a stepparent)

All contributors are required to have an FSA ID and to provide consent to have their Federal Tax Information (FTI) transferred from the IRS, have their tax data used to determine a student's eligibility for federal student aid and allow the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to share their tax information with institutions and state higher education agencies for the administration of federal student aid. Students, parents or spouses should request their FSA ID before starting the FAFSA on studentaid.gov.

 

They have to give the following:

  • Name
  • Birthdate
  • Social Security number
  • Email address
  • Financial Information

DEADLINES FOR 2023-2024 FAFSA & STATE AID
The 2023-2024 FAFSA will open on October 1, 2022

• The 2023-2024 Galveston College priority deadline for the FAFSA is June 9, 2023, for fall 2023, November 8, 2023, for spring 2024, and March 30, 2024, for summer 2024.
• The Texas state financial aid priority deadline is January 15, 2023, for all state programs for the 2023-2024 award year. It is recommended that applicants complete and submit the FAFSA application and any other required documentation to the financial aid office on or before January 15, 2023.


DEADLINES FOR 2024-2025 FAFSA & STATE AID
The 2024-2025 FAFSA will be available December 2023

• The 2024-2025 Galveston College priority deadline for the FAFSA is June 9, 2024, for fall 2024, November 8, 2024, for spring 2025, and March 30, 2025, for summer 2025.
• The last day to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA is June 30, 2025 
• The Texas state financial aid priority deadline is March 15, 2024, for all state programs for the 2024-2025 award year. It is recommended that applicants complete and submit the FAFSA application and any other required documentation to the financial aid office on or before March 15, 2024. 

 

Financial aid is money that helps you pay for college. Financial aid can be a combination of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study.

Grants (free money)
  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
  • Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG)
  • Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG)
Loans (borrowed money that you pay back)
  • Federal Direct Loan
  • Direct PLUS Loans
  • Private Loans
Work-Study (part-time work)
  • Students with work-study position will work part-time on or off- campus while enrolled.
  • Students will be allowed to work 10-19.5 hours per week.
  • View available positions
Scholarships (free money)
  • Universal Access Scholarship
  • Galveston College Scholarships
  • Outside Scholarships
  • Galveston College Emergency Scholarship

Gather the documents below:
  • Social Security number
  • Alien registration number
  • Federal tax information or tax returns
  • Records of untaxed income
  • Cash, savings, and checking account balances
  • Investments other than the home in which you live
Create an FSA ID at: StudentAid.gov

An FSA ID is a username and password that gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature. Only create an FSA ID using your personal information and for your exclusive use. You are not authorized to create an FSA ID on behalf of someone else, including a family member.

  • How to create an FSA ID video

  • What to do if I forgot my FSA ID/ Password:
    • If you have an FSA ID but do not remember your username, select Forgot Username
    • Note: If you verified your email address or mobile phone number during account creation, you can enter your email address or mobile phone number instead of your username.
    • If you have an FSA ID but do not remember your password, select Forgot Password.
      • Your password must be between 8 and 30 characters in length, and it must contain at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, and one number. Special characters are not required, but the following characters may be included as part of your password:
      • ! # $ % & ( ) * + – . : ; < = > ? @ [ ] ^ _ { } ~
      • Remember, your password is case-sensitive.

    • Retrieve  Your Username

Go to: StudentAid.gov and log in using your FSA ID.

Click on Access the FAFSA® form
If you are a new student, click Start Here. If you have completed a FAFSA® before, click on Log In.

Access the FAFSA form Login Graphic

To start the application click on "I am a student..."

Only students may use their FSA ID to log in. Parents and others can start a FAFSA® for a student by entering the student’s identifiers. Parents and others can also work on a FAFSA® form or correction the student started using the Save Key that the student made.

fafsa years

The 2023-2024 is for the following semester: Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024

  • Have your and/or your spouse’s/ parent(s) income available for 2021

Galveston College’s Federal School Code: 004972

Now you are ready to submit a FAFSA®! Need assistance? You may call 1-800-433-3243. CLICK TO CALL

Other steps to take to get Financial Aid
  • All new and returning students must have a current admissions application on file with the Admissions Office. New students must have their final official high school transcript, GED® certificate, homeschooling record or, ATB Alternative on file. Transfer students must have ALL FINAL OFFICIAL transcripts from any and all institutions of higher education on file with the Admissions Office.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form applies to a single academic year. That means you need to submit a FAFSA® each year—and make sure you meet the FAFSA® deadlines for state and college aid to maximize the aid you could receive.

When you log in to renew your FAFSA® form, it’s prefilled with certain information from the prior academic year. You’ll need to provide new income and tax information and update any information that may have changed.

Follow These Instructions to Renew Your FAFSA® Form

  • Log in with your FSA ID username and password at StudentAid.gov. Learn what to do if you forgot your FSA ID username or password.
  • Note: If you log in as a student on the myStudentAid mobile app and are eligible for a FAFSA® renewal, the renewal form automatically displays.
  • Update any prefilled information that has changed, and provide the requested financial information.
  • Sign and submit the FAFSA® renewal.

fafsa year button

The 2023-2024 is for the following semester: Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024

  • Have your and/or your spouse’s/ parent(s) income available for 2021

Galveston College’s Federal School Code: 004972

Now you are ready to submit a FAFSA®! Need assistance? You may call 1-800-433-3243. CLICK TO CALL

Other steps to take to get Financial Aid
  • All new and returning students must have a current admissions application on file with the Admissions Office. New students must have their final official high school transcript, GED® certificate, homeschooling record or, ATB Alternative on file. Transfer students must have ALL FINAL OFFICIAL transcripts from any and all institutions of higher education on file with the Admissions Office.

It is the student’s responsibility to make sure their files are completed by the priority dates of:

  • June 9, 2023 for the Fall 2023 semester
  • November 8, 2023 for the Spring 2024 semester
  • March 29, 2024 for the Summer 2024 semesters

Students whose files are completed after the priority date should be prepared to pay out of pocket or set up a payment plan with the Business Office.

 

 

  • Grant consent for your Federal Tax Information (FTI) to be brought into the FAFSA® through the DDX.
  • Provide consistent information.
  • Read all instructions.
  • Use your legal name — not nicknames — and your correct social security number.
  • If your parents are divorced, you must use the information for the parent you lived with most in the last 12 months. If that parent is remarried, you must also include the stepparent’s income. Be sure to provide the information requested about your parents.
  • Make sure you include 004972 on your list of school codes.
  • If you complete the FAFSA® electronically, don’t forget to sign using your FSA ID (a username and password). You (the student) will need an FSA ID as well as your parent(s). These are two separate FSA IDs.
  • Make a copy of your completed FAFSA® and all documents submitted to the Financial Aid Office for your records.
  • Check your Whitecaps email frequently and respond to all requests from the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible.

For questions regarding any of the above steps:

Contact Financial Aid Office at:

Phone: 409-944-1235

Email: [email protected]