Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school. Grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable.
Types of Federal Student Aid
Check out this video to learn about federal grants, loans, and work-study jobs and how they can help fund your education.
Grants serve as a type of need-based financial aid that does not require repayment. Eligibility for grants is typically determined based on the information provided in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). They are awarded by both the federal and state governments and by SRSU. A grant is a financial assistance package that does not necessitate repayment, except in specific circumstances such as withdrawing from school and owing a refund or failing to fulfill service obligations for grants like the TEACH Grant.
Several types of federal grants are accessible to eligible students, including:
Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grant: Awarded to undergraduate students with significant financial need. Eligibility and annual amounts are determined by Congress and can change from year to year.
State Grants
TEXAS Grant: Provides financial assistance to undergraduate, in-state students with financial need who are enrolled at Texas colleges or universities. Learn more at: http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/financialaid/tofa2.cfm?ID=458
Texas Public Education Grant: Provides financial assistance to undergraduate, in-state students with financial need who are enrolled at Texas colleges or universities. Learn more at: http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/financialaid/tofa2.cfm?ID=458
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program: Awarded to undergraduate students with the greatest financial need; helps supplement the Federal Pell Grant.
Institutional Grants
Lobo Grant: The Lobo Grant is open to both undergraduate and graduate students who are residents of Texas and are pursuing a degree. To qualify, students must be enrolled at least half-time and demonstrate financial need.
Texas Public Educational Grant (TPEG): The TPEG is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are residents of Texas and are pursuing a degree. Similar to the Lobo Grant, recipients must be enrolled at least half-time and demonstrate financial need.
TPEG Non-Resident Grant: The TPEG Non-Resident Grant is specifically designated for eligible undergraduate and graduate students who are not residents of Texas but are pursuing a degree. To qualify, students must be enrolled at least half-time and demonstrate financial need.
Scholarships are financial awards that do not require repayment and are typically awarded based on either financial need or merit, which may include academic achievement or involvement in extracurricular activities. Sul Ross State University offers a diverse array of scholarships at both the university and college levels. These scholarships are subject to the rules and regulations established by the Board of Regents of the State University System.
To be considered for a scholarship, incoming student applicants must fulfill all requirements for unconditional admission to the University and maintain good academic and disciplinary standing.
Recipients of scholarships are expected to enroll as full-time students, typically defined as carrying 12 semester credit hours for undergraduate students and nine semester credit hours for graduate students, unless stated otherwise.
Scholarship Brochure
Lists all scholarships currently established at the institution.
How do I apply for scholarships?
Click HERE for detailed instructions on how to complete the Sul Ross State University Scholarship application.
Questions?
For help or more information on the application process please call 432-837-8050 or email fa@sulross.edu.
Work-study programs allow students to work on and off campus. Majority of all positions on-campus requires students to demonstrate some need. It is beneficial for the student to submit a financial aid application annually and answer “YES” to the work-study question on the financial aid application in order for the financial aid office to determine which kind of work-study program the student may be eligible for. If work-study eligibility was included in their financial aid award, it is the student’s responsibility to find a job on-campus to benefit from this program – these funds will not be automatically credited to the students account.
All work-study programs at Sul Ross pay the Texas minimum wage and requires students to submit a monthly time-sheet to payroll on the 16th of every month. Paychecks are available on the first of every month, given that the student worked the previous month. Students are not authorized to work more than 20 hours a week.
Federal College Work-Study
The Federal College Work Study program provides part-time, on-campus employment for U.S. Citizens, permanent residents, and certain other non-citizens who are enrolled at least half-time and have a demonstrated financial need. The maximum amount a recipient may earn under this program is determined through the financial aid application.
Texas College Work Study
The Texas College Work Study program provides part-time on-campus employment for Texas residents who are enrolled at least half-time and have a demonstrated financial need. The maximum amount a recipient may earn under this program is determined through the financial aid application.
Institutional Work Study
Institutional student employment provides part-time, on-campus employment for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and certain other non-citizens who are enrolled at least half-time, but does not require demonstration of financial need. Student’s earnings under this program depends on the departmental budget and student’s class schedule.
Where do I apply for a work-study position?
For a list of current work study positions available, please visit the Career Services page by clicking here.
Loans are an option to help cover your education costs and there are several types of loans available. Research your loan options before making a choice of a loan program to pursue. It is important that you exhaust all other options for aid before pursuing loans, especially from private lenders. If you want to ensure full understanding of any loan agreement you are signing, please contact our office for assistance.
Click on the titles below to learn more.
Federal Stafford Loans
When you apply for financial aid, you will automatically be considered for the following loans:
- Federal Direct Subsidized – awarded to eligible degree-seeking undergraduate students on the basis of demonstrated financial need.
- these loans do not accrue interest while student is enrolled at least half-time or while in grace periods.
- Eligibility ranges from $3,500 for freshman, $4,500 for sophomores, and $5,500 for juniors & seniors each academic year until life-time eligibility is met.
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized – awarded to undergraduates and graduate students pursuing a degree
- interest begins to accrue when funds are disbursed.
- repayment off principal and interest may be deferred until the student no longer meets enrollment requirements.
- if undergraduates are not eligible for Federal Direct Subsidized loans, eligibility ranges from $5,500 for freshman, $6,500 for sophomores, and $7,500 for juniors & seniors. Undergraduates who are eligible for Federal Direct Subsidized loans may only receive up to $2,000 each academic year until life-time eligibility is met.
- graduate students are offered a reasonable amount to cover tuition & fees each academic year, but may request a loan increase for additional educational expenses using a change request form as long as they have not reached their life-time eligibility.
Students may visit https://studentaid.gov for more information on repayment, interest rates, life-time eligibility, or other questions.
Direct PLUS Loans
Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required.