Every DFW student — at any school — should be filing FAFSA. Here's the step-by-step.
What is FAFSA?
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Determines your eligibility for grants, loans, and work-study.
- It's FREE to file. Source: studentaid.gov
- Even if you think you won't qualify, FILE IT. Many DFW schools require it for ALL financial aid, including merit scholarships.
Key dates:
- FAFSA opens October 1 each year for the following academic year
- Texas priority deadline: January 15 (file before this for best state aid)
- Federal deadline: June 30 (don't wait this long)
What you need to file:
- Social Security Number
- Federal tax returns (yours and parents' if dependent)
- Bank statements
- FSA ID (create at fsaid.ed.gov)
Texas-specific aid:
- Texas Grant (TEXAS Grant) — need-based, up to $10,000/year at public universities. Source: collegeforalltexans.com
- Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) — for community college students. Up to $2,000/year.
- Top 10% Scholarship — if you graduated in the top 10% of your high school class in Texas.
Federal aid:
- Pell Grant — up to $7,395/year (2025-26). Need-based. Does not need to be repaid. Source: studentaid.gov
- Federal Subsidized Loans — interest doesn't accrue while in school.
- Federal Work-Study — part-time campus jobs. UTD, UTA, UNT, and community colleges all participate.
DFW-specific tips:
- Community college students: file FAFSA even for DCCCD/TCC. TEOG and Pell Grants apply.
- UTD has generous institutional aid tied to FAFSA filing.
- Many DFW private scholarship applications require FAFSA as proof of financial need.
Common mistakes:
- Not filing because "my parents make too much." The income cutoff is higher than you think. File and let the system decide.
- Missing the January 15 Texas priority deadline. State aid runs out. Early filers get more.
- Using a .com site instead of studentaid.gov. FAFSA is FREE. Never pay to file.
Sources:
- StudentAid.gov — official FAFSA site
- CollegeForAllTexans.com — Texas state aid programs
- University financial aid offices
File FAFSA. Period. No exceptions.
The January 15 Texas priority deadline is critical. My roommate filed in March and got $0 in TEXAS Grant. I filed in December and got $5,000. Same financial situation.