1.  Complete your application for the MSU Admissions Office at   www.msutexas.edu/admissions/apply
  • You must meet ALL admission requirement before any financial aid (scholarships, grants or loans) can be released to you.

2.  Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at   www.fafsa.ed.gov  if:

  • you are a U.S. citizen or legal resident;

    OR, complete the paper Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) at   http://www.collegeforalltexans.com  if:
  • you are an undocumented student or a student of Deferred Action;
  • AND the paper copy must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

3.  You can transfer student/parent income tax return information  directly onto your   FAFSA  with the   IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)

  • Student AND parent request a PIN at   https://msutexas.edu/finaid/FSA-ID  which is required for filing the FAFSA.
  • The FAFSA is available after October 1 and should be submitted soon thereafter, but no later than mid-November.
  • MSU's Federal School Code is 003592 which is necessary for filing the FAFSA.

4.  Upon receipt of the FAFSA results in the MSU Financial Aid Office,  the student/parent will be notified if additional documentation is needed:

  • if YES, view the requested documentation in the MSU Portal at   https://login.msutexas.edu  and submit the documentation to the MSU Financial Aid Office; verification of your financial aid file will be completed and then queued for the awarding of grants and loans.
  • if NO, the student will be queued for the awarding of grants and loans.

5. Student will be awarded grants and loans;  notification of awards will be sent to the student to review in the MSU Portal at   https://login.msutexas.edu  and student will accept/decline the awards.

  • If the student/parent accepts a loan, the student will be given additional instructions to complete the loan process, including Loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note.

6.  Inquire about Scholarships

7.  Remember MSU's Priority Date is January 15- but maximum consideration of grants and loans will be determined through March 1.

  •  Forms must be completed and returned to the Financial Aid Office before grant and loan eligibility can be determined.

8.  Log into the MSU Portal at   https://login.msutexas.edu

  • Check the status of your financial aid application to see if additional documents are needed.
  • Accept or decline your grants, scholarships or loans.

9.  Don't forget!  You must apply for financial aid each year

  • Applying for financial aid is a yearly process!  You must submit a renewal FAFSA or TASFA as early as October 1 of each year.

10.  If you request the Financial Aid Office to discuss your financial aid status with your parent

  • Please submit the Release of Information form (available at  fao_55.pdf)  and return to the MSU Office of Student Affairs, per instructions on the form.