programs Education

Introduction to the Compendium

Data appearing in this Compendium has been compiled from questionnaires sent earlier during the year to Admission Officers and Financial Aid Officers at the colleges and universities listed. This information may have been superseded by legislation enacted at college, state and national levels after this Compendium was printed. Such legislation could affect both college costs and financial aid.

Further, all students may not be eligible for all the types of financial aid available which are discussed; availability and eligibility are determined by the Financial Aid Officer at a particular institution. Since approximately 90% of all financial aid available to students at the post-secondary level is channeled through the Financial Aid Officer, you, the student, must rely on the Financial Aid Officer's knowledge, specialized training, and expertise in the field of student financial assistance.

Regarding this Compendium, the headings under each college listed are self-explanatory, beginning with Requirements for Admission. This section may include which high school course units are required, which assessment tests are required, and the deadline dates for applying for admission. Remember, these are "deadlines." You should not wait until the last day to apply!

It is fairly standard that a completed application is required for admission. Many institutions, with the exception of those instituting their own Test-Optional policies, will also require test scores, e.g., "College Board-Scholastic Assessment Test" (SAT®) and/or related SAT®: Subject Tests scores. Others will require the ACT Assessment Test Administered by ACT, Inc. Some colleges require a departmental test, e.g., an Art Aptitude Test for the field of Commercial Art. If these tests are required, take them early to ensure your scores reach the college admission officer before the deadline. See College Entrance Test Dates and Fees for information.

The summer after your junior year is an ideal time to take tests and begin the process of applying to various colleges and universities for admission and financial aid.

The next section lists tuition and fees and estimated lump-sum totals of what it will cost you during an academic (9-month) year at the college unless otherwise specified. Amounts listed for "Tuition and Fees" are for two 12-15 hour semester course loads. "On-Campus Budgets" include tuition and fees, room and board for on-campus housing, and estimated costs for books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. "Off-Campus Budgets" include the preceding, except room and board, which is an estimated allowance for such costs as living in off-campus housing or living at home with parents, if indicated.

The third section indicates which financial aid is available to you at each college. Some institution have their own application form for requesting financial aid. This form must be obtained from the Financial Aid Officer at the college you wish to attend. Write to them and request the application for financial aid. Some forms are long and involved. You should allow enough time to gather the information requested on the form, complete the form, and return it well in advance of the deadline date.

In addition to any specific institutional application forms, the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA) is the form most Texas institutions require, and the most important. You must submit your FAFSA to be considered for federal student aid. Apply online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa beginning October 1 of your senior year. After completing and sending in the FAFSA form, you will receive a Student Aid Index (SAI), which the Financial Aid Officer uses to determine your financial need. The SAI will also tell you if you are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. Some institutions may also require a copy of your parents' and your income tax return. Take careful note of what is required and get it in early. Much work is required of the Financial Aid Officer in coordinating and arranging the financing of your college expenses.

To list every financial aid available at each and every college in Texas would require book-size publications. Each institution offers some form of financial aid: scholarships, grants, loans, and part-time work. When you apply for financial assistance at the particular college you seek to attend, you will be sent the application(s) for financial aid mentioned earlier, together with specifics on what aid is available. Most institutions will send correspondence to the student listing names of programs and amounts of monies they have been granted after the file has been reviewed. These "Award Letters" will usually be sent out in late Spring or early Summer.

Should there be anything in the Compendium that is not clear to you, please consult with your counselor for clarification. Do not hesitate to contact us if we may be of assistance.

Student Aid Center
Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation
1250 N.E. Loop 410, Suite 810
San Antonio, Texas 78209-1539
(210) 525-8494

You may be interested to know that within our offices is a collection of available college catalogs from senior colleges in the United States and from junior and senior colleges throughout Texas. We also have an extensive collection of sources of financial aid that lists scholarships, fellowships, and loans available from national, state, and local organizations, as well as a section devoted to a wide range of career opportunities. This vast array of information and more is available to you should you wish to visit our library.

If you want to go to college and are qualified, there is little reason why you cannot. This Compendium of Texas colleges and universities points out the requirements for getting into a particular college, how much it will cost, and how you might pay for it. We hope you will take full advantage of this information.

THIS GENERAL INFORMATION APPLIES TO INCOMING FRESHMAN AT THE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY LEVEL.