Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

About Financial Aid at TSU

• Are there other types of aid?
• What is the Priority deadline?
• What if I miss the priority filing date?
• If I am a senior in high school or a transfer student, when should I apply?
• Transfer student requirement?
• How often do I apply?
• What role does my family have in financing my education?
• What determines if I am eligible for aid?
• How will I be selected to receive aid?
• How will I know if I have received aid?
• What are the Types of Financial Aid opportunities?
• Can you tell me about student employment?
• Are scholarships available?
• How will I receive the funds and pay my fees?
• What happens if I receive aid and I later withdraw from school?
• How do I arrange repayment of a loan?
• What will it cost me to attend?
• If I get aid, what must I do to remain eligible?
• What is the satisfactory academic progress policy?
• What kind of changes should I report?
• Where do I go for more information?
• What you do when completing your financial statement?

Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits

The student should contact the Vocational Rehabilitation Office nearest his/her hometown.

Veterans Administration Benefits

Includes aid for veterans and their dependents under the GI Bill. Contact Veterans Services in the TSU Records Office.

Army ROTC Scholarships

Contact the Military Science Department at TSU for more information.

Graduate Assistantships

Students should apply for assistantships by contacting the department chairperson in their graduate field.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available in the Financial Aid Office in January of each year for the following academic year-Fall (August-December) Spring (January-May), and Summer (May-August) semesters. The application should be completed and mailed in the envelope provided.

TSU's Financial Aid Office has a April 1st priority deadline for applying for campus-based funds. This means that information from the application needs to be processed with the results received by the Financial Aid Office from the processor or student by this deadline. Processing time can range from 4-6 weeks or more, depending upon the time submitted to the processor and the need for corrections The priority deadline applies to students entering the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.

If you need financial help, we urge you to immediately complete the forms even though the date has passed. The Pell Grant and PLUS federal programs are not restricted to the April 1st priority deadline.  You may have to pay some or all of your own fees at registration while your financial aid is being processed.

If you are in your senior year of high school, or if you are a transfer student, you are already eligible to apply. You do not have to be accepted at TSU to apply for aid.

Since your financial situation-as well as that of your family may change, you must fill out a new application for each academic year Fall-Spring.

Your family is considered to be your main source of funding for your college education. One goal of the Financial Aid Office is to compare the cost of attending TSU with the financial contributions, if any, that will be made by you and/or your family. This is done by finding the difference between the total cost of attending school and the ability of your family to help with those costs. The basis for determining need is the processed Student Aid Report. Financially-independent applicants file using their own income asset information and that of their spouse, if applicable.

Costs include room and meals, registration fees, books and supplies, personal expenses, and travel. In determining your, your family's, or your spouse's capacity to help, the following are considered:

• Your parents' income and assets, family size, family members attending college, etc. (if you are a dependent student);
• Social Security, Veterans Administration, Vocational Rehabilitation, or other benefits received by you or your parents;
• Your own income and assets and expected savings from summer work;
• Your spouse's income and resources, if you are married;
• Your receipt of non-university scholarships or other resources.

The main factor of eligibility is your financial need. All students, regardless of family income level, are encouraged to apply. By comparing the cost of attending TSU with the ability of you and your parents to finance your education, your need is evaluated. The Student Financial Aid Office then tries to meet that need . The information for making that evaluation comes from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

By properly completing and submitting the appropriate financial aid forms on a timely basis, you will be considered for the Pell Grant and/or state grants.

Other awards will then be made based upon preferences as you listed them on your application. The TSU Financial Aid Office will follow federal guidelines with students having the greatest need being given priority. Preference will also be given for eligible Federal Perkins Student Loan and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant applicants who file their forms by the April 01 date. Federal regulations require that applicants for Federal Financial Aid be citizens or nationals of the United States.

Selection of students also depends upon the guidelines of each individual aid program and the availability of funds. Scholarships are given based on academic ability or performance.

The Federal Pell Grant Program awards grants to eligible undergraduate students as determined by a formula used by the Department of Education. An undergraduate student is defined as one who has not received a bachelor's or first professional degree in any area. Students seeking a second degree are not eligible.  Pell is an entitlement grant, so even if you miss the priority deadline, you will receive the grant if eligible.

The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation awards grants to eligible undergraduate Tennessee residents for a maximum of eight semesters. Funds are limited and must be applied for early.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) Program gives grants to eligible undergraduate students. Awards depend on the availability of funds.  Students must meet the April 01 priority deadline to be considered.

The Federal Perkins Loan Program provides low-interest rate loans to eligible undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduates can borrow up to $3,000 per year and $15,000 cumulative. Graduates can borrow $4,000 per year with a total undergraduate and graduate cumulative of $30,000. The loan repayment will be made according to the provisions outlined in the promissory note the borrower signs at the time of each disbursement. Repayment may be deferred for resuming at least half-time status at an institution of higher education, temporary disability, serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, or serving as a member of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service or Peace Corps (or a comp arable tax exempt organization). Repayment cancellations are available for teaching in the field of special education or in an elementary or secondary school designated by the Secretary of Education for such cancellation, for permanent disability, or for serving in the Armed Forces of the U.S. in areas of hostilities. Other deferments and cancellations may be available. Students must meet the April 1st priority deadline to be considered.

The Williams D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program provides low-interest rate loans, need based and non-need based, directly from the federal government to undergraduate and graduate students and parents.

The Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is for parents of dependent students; student must be enrolled at least half-time. The annual loan limit is the student's defined cost of education minus any financial aid received. The parent obtains an application from local lending institution or the TSU Financial Aid Office. There is no limit on cumulative maximum total.  Applicants must be creditworthy.

The Federal Work-Study Program provides on-campus employment to eligible students who are enrolled at least half-time and who show a need for the earnings. Selections and assignments of employees are based upon federal guidelines and the availability of funds.

The Campus Work Aid Program offers jobs to students who normally do not qualify for the Federal Work-Study Program jobs. Contact the individual campus departments.

Yes, scholarships are available through TSU, its Foundation, and various academic and athletic departments.  Departments should be contacted directly.

All loan, grant, and scholarship payments administered by the University will be made by credit to your account in the Business Office. Student employment paychecks are issued bi-monthly and are made payable to the student.

You must be enrolled in school before you actually receive your financial aid.

Any financial aid award is contingent on the actual receipt of funds appropriated to Tennessee State University by federal and/or state governments.

If you leave school before the end of the semester and you received financial aid, you may discover that you owe a refund or a repayment to the various aid programs which helped you.

If a student receives any financial assistance from any sources, any refund issued will be returned to the source of financial assistance as dictated by policy. The policy on allocation of refunds and repayments on student financial assistance programs is available in the Financial Aid Office.

Upon leaving school, whether by withdrawal or graduation, you must have an exit interview. If you do not make arrangements for your campus accounts, you may be charged a late payment penalty; a hold may be put on your student records; your enrollment may be cancelled; and you may be denied future aid.

The TSU Class Schedule and Undergraduate Catalog provide information on tuition, fees, dorm costs, and other applicable fees charged to students.

• Meet the minimum requirements of the policy governing satisfactory academic standing/progress.
• File properly completed, correct, and up-to-date applications with our office.
• Pay all University accounts when they are due.
• Be a prompt and cooperative student employee.
• Meet individual aid program guidelines.
• Sign a statement verifying that all of the federal funds you received will be used for educational expenses.
• Sign any papers for receipt of aid awards.
• Report any changes to the Financial Aid Office.

Federal regulations state that all students who receive assistance from the Federal Work-Study, Federal Stafford Loan, TSAC Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Pell Grant, Federal PLUS Loan, or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Programs will be required to make measurable academic progress toward a degree. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress will result in the termination of your financial assistance. You may re-establish eligibility for financial assistance when the minimum requirements of the policy are satisfied.

If you fail to meet the standards of the satisfactory academic progress policy, financial assistance will not be available to you until the required number of hours are completed and/or you meet the academic requirements during the semester that you are on academic probation as stated in the above policy, or an appeal is approved. You may make up the hours and/or academic deficiencies by attending summer school and/or the regular semesters at you own expense. After completing the required number of hours, it is your responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office and provide a copy of all grade reports. Eligibility may be continued, upon appeal, for students who, through no fault of their own, were unable to complete a semester under normal circumstances, e.g., accident, unexpected medical problems, or a death in the immediate family (brother, sister, mother, father, spouse, child).

If you have any questions in regard to this policy, you may call or visit the Financial Aid Office.

• Name change
• Change of address (or parent's address)
• Dropping below half-time academic status
• Changes in family financial situation due to death, divorce, marriage, disability, long-term unemployment, or low income
• Withdrawal from school
• Transfer to another school
• Joining the military, Peace Corps, or VISTA

More information on the University is available in the Tennessee State University Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog(s), the Student Handbook, and departmental brochures.

You have the right to seek and receive full information and counsel in regard to any financial aid matter. Remember that the Financial Aid Office looks forward to having you on campus. Feel free to visit or call the office whenever a question or need arises. The phone number is (615) 963-5701.

• Read all instructions carefully.
• Complete all items or put N/A or zero in non-applicable spaces.
• Answer all questions completely and correctly.
• Sign and date your financial statement.
• Mail the properly completed and signed Free Application for Federal Student Aid to the processor.