Apply for Admission:
In order to be awarded financial aid, students must be admitted to the University. Complete an application for admission at applytexas.org.
Submit your FAFSA:
All students who wish to be considered for need-based federal aid and institutional grant assistance must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The easiest way to complete the FAFSA is to apply online. Students (and parents of dependent students) will need to obtain a FSA ID in order to sign the FAFSA electronically. Paper copies of the FAFSA are also available online. The FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA should be completed via the web at www.fafsa.gov as soon as possible after January 1 for the upcoming academic year.
Prairie View A&M University’s priority filing date for submitting this form to the federal student aid processing center is January 15. Students who submit FAFSAs by the priority filing date are given first consideration for all scholarship and grant assistance awarded by the university. Prairie View A&M University’s school code for the FAFSA is 003630.
RETAIN a copy of the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA for your file. Also, be sure to retain copies of your/your parents’ tax information. These items may be requested later. (Do not send tax information or other documentation with your FAFSA).
Check your Email:
Within approximately four weeks of completing the FAFSA, you should receive a SAR (Student Aid Report) indicating that your FAFSA has been processed and sent to the institutions you designated. If you provided an email address, you will receive an email notification with instructions for viewing and printing your SAR. If you did not provide a valid email address, a paper SAR will be mailed to you. Check the SAR for accuracy, and make sure that Prairie View A&M University is listed as a recipient of your information. If Prairie View A&M University is listed as a recipient of your data that information should be transmitted electronically to the institution for review.
Submit other requested documentation:
Unsatisfied Requirements
Unsatisfied Requirements are items that need to be satisfied by the student before awarding or disbursing financial aid. Your Panther Tracks, under Financial Aid, will list required items that need to be satisfied. Most Unsatisfied Requirements are forms that can be located on the Financial Aid website under the link Forms and Applications. Other required items may be submitted on the student’s behalf; i.e. Tax Return Transcripts, W2 forms, Copy of Selective Service Registration, etc.
Panther Pass allows you to upload your financial aid documents directly through PV Place.
Submit any other requested documentation right away. You may be requested to submit copies of tax information or other documentation to complete your financial aid application. Respond promptly to these requests to assure timely processing of your application.
Professional Judgment
The basic underlying assumption of student financial aid is that it is primarily the responsibility of the student and their family to pay educational costs. When family resources are insufficient, financial aid may be awarded to supplement the resources of the student’s family to help pay educational expenses. In the event of an extenuating circumstance the Financial Aid Office may choose to exercise professional judgment on a case by case situation making a dependent student independent or adjust the data that determines the expected family contribution.
Dependency Override:
By petitioning for a dependency override, you are asking us to relieve your parents of the responsibility for using their resources to pay part of your college costs. Only very extenuating circumstances will make it reasonable to approve such a petition. The following conditions listed below DO NOT qualify as unusual circumstances meriting a dependency override:
- Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education.
- Parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification.
- Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
- Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.
Unusual circumstances that DO merit a dependency override:
- Abandonment by parents.
- An abusive family environment that threatens the student’s health or safety.
- The death of one parent and student is unable to locate other parent.
The student is encouraged to schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor in the Financial Aid Office. The counselor will determine whether your circumstance will warrant a Dependency Override. At such time, the Petition for Independent Status will be provided along with a detailed explanation of the required documentation needed to process your request. The Financial Aid Office will notify you if additional documentation is required.
Special Circumstance:
If you or your parent’s financial situation has changed since submitting the FAFSA application, or at any time during the academic year, it is best to schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor in the Office of Financial Aid. The counselor will determine whether your circumstances warrant a Special Circumstance appeal. At such time, the Special Circumstance form will be provided along with a detailed explanation of the required documentation needed to process your request. Special Circumstance include, but not limited to: loss and/or reduction of income, disability, separation, divorce or death. Your request will not be considered without the supporting documentation. The Financial Aid Office will notify you if additional documentation is required.
Award notifications:
Beginning the week of April 15, financial aid award packages will be emailed to all students.
AWARD CONDITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Be sure to read the materials accompanying your award letter for conditions attached to your award. You must accept the Terms and Conditions of your award before funds can be disbursed. If awarded federal or university loan assistance, a promissory note must be signed and returned before funds will be disbursed. Click here for detailed Terms & Conditions.
ENTRANCE LOAN COUNSELING: Prior to receiving your first disbursement of Federal Direct Loan funds you will be required to complete an entrance loan counseling session. Direct Loan Entrance counseling is provided via the web at studentloans.gov.
COMPLETE YOUR DIRECT LOAN MPN: If you are awarded a Federal Direct Loan, your eligibility will be certified electronically. You must follow the steps provided via the US Department of Education’s web page at studentloans.gov and complete your master promissory note. The US Department of Education will be in touch with you when the loan has been approved.
Financial Aid Disbursement:
Financial aid is awarded by the Office of Student Financial Aid, but is disbursed by the University Treasury Services Office. Aid awards made for the academic year are usually disbursed in two installments at the beginning of each semester, assuming you are registered for the number of hours on which your financial aid award was based. If your award is made after the semester has begun, university and federal grant funds will be disbursed electronically within 48 to 72 hours. If your award package includes Direct Loan funds, the aid will be disbursed to your student account as soon as we confirm that you have completed both Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and Electronic Multi-year Promissory Note (eMPN). Treasury Services normally sends refunds to students on a weekly basis.
Repayment of Financial Aid due to Withdrawal:
Federal regulations require PVAMU to perform a refund calculation for unearned aid on all students who officially withdraw on or prior to 60% of the payment period (semester/term) and received Federal Title IV funds.
If a student withdraws or cancels enrollment on or before the 60% point of the semester, all or a portion of Title IV funds (Federal PELL Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized, Federal Direct PLUS and Federal Grad PLUS Loans) awarded must be returned according to provisions of the Higher Education Act amendment of 2008. The calculation and return of these funds may result in debt to the university and/or U.S. Department of Education. In addition, any future financial aid will be cancelled.
Federal regulations also require the university perform a refund calculation for unearned aid on all students who unofficially withdraw (cease attendance without school notification). Therefore, a student who does not earn a passing grade in the hours enrolled for in any given semester due to lack of attendance and received Title IV funds will be considered an unofficial withdrawal unless appropriate documentation is provided. These funds must be calculated using the 50% point of the semester unless the student can otherwise provide documentation for an official last date of attendance. With the calculation and return of these funds, as with an official withdrawal, debt and/or cancellation of future aid may result.
Summer School Financial Aid:
After spring grades are posted and satisfactory academic progress is reviewed, summer financial aid is awarded. In order for your award to be made prior to the beginning of the summer term, you must have pre-registered. You must be enrolled for at least 6 hours in summer to receive a Federal Direct Loan.