Students Urged to Start Early on Financial Aid Planning

Raymund Paredes

"Financial aid helps make college affordable for everyone," said Texas Commissioner of Higher Education Raymund A. Paredes. "No one should hesitate to apply for it."

Commissioner Paredes emphasized that a college education can pay huge dividends for Texas students.

"Over a lifetime, a college graduate earns about $1 million more on average than someone with only a high school diploma," he said.

To help students and their parents find out where and how to apply for this support, financial aid officials are working diligently across the state to provide the needed information - especially during February, which Governor Rick Perry has proclaimed as Financial Aid Awareness Month.

"The majority of our graduates are the first in their family to earn a university degree," said James F. Gaertner, Sam Houston State University president. "About 54 percent receive financial aid.

James F. Gaertner

“We are very supportive of this initiative to increase awareness of financial aid, and will do all we can to help more Texans take advantage of our state's great educational opportunities."

Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA, is a key requirement for receiving financial aid. It's the first step in determining a student's eligibility for financial aid, and should be completed and submitted as early as possible for the best opportunities to get grants, work-study jobs, and loans to pay for college.

"It's now much easier for students from lower-income Texas families to apply for financial aid, too," said Commissioner Paredes. He pointed out that those students from families below certain income levels can complete a shorter version of the FAFSA online. Students begin by entering income data, and if they qualify for the short form, they are presented with fewer requests for additional information.

The FAFSA takes into account a family's financial status to determine its "expected family contribution" to a student's education. In general, students with a low or zero expected family contribution are eligible for more financial aid than other students. The information is then sent to colleges and universities chosen by the student on the FAFSA. The financial aid office at each institution determines the types and amounts of aid it will award to each student.

"Financial aid eases the way for more Texas students go to college, helping the state close the gaps in education," said Commissioner Paredes. "Closing those gaps is vital for the state to maintain and enhance its workforce to attract and retain the businesses and industries that offer the best jobs, leading to higher incomes and a higher quality of life."

Access to the online FAFSA is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Paper copies of the FAFSA are available from high school counselors, college and university financial aid offices, many libraries, and other sources.
Telethons and other events throughout the state in February will help students and their families understand the financial aid process and complete the FAFSA.

Students and their parents can also find out where and how to apply for financial aid by calling the Texas Financial Aid Information Center, accessible through a free telephone call to 1.888.311.8881, or visiting www.collegefortexans.com.

For questions about financial aid in general, or financial aid at Sam Houston State University, contact the SHSU financial aid office at 936.294.1774 or go to that office's Web site at www.shsu.edu/~sfa_www/.

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SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Feb. 10, 2006
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