Financial Aid FAQs

Q. What is a tax return transcript, and where can I find it?

The tax return transcript shows most line items from your tax return (Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ) as it was originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules. To order a tax transcript, you can go online to www.irs.gov. You may view, print and download your transcript or your transcript will be mailed within 5 to 10 business days. You may also use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing your FAFSA.

Q. What is the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and how does it work?

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool allows applicants who have already filed their federal income tax returns to transfer the answers to some questions on the FAFSA by transferring data from their federal income tax returns. This can save the family time when completing the FAFSA. It may also reduce the likelihood that your FAFSA will be selected for verification.

• While completing an original online FAFSA or updating an existing FAFSA, eligible applicants will be provided with an opportunity to use the IRS data retrieval tool. Applicants may be asked a few screening questions to determine their eligibility to use the tool. Eligible applicants who choose to use the tool will be temporarily transferred to the IRS website where they will be asked a few questions to authenticate themselves. The applicant will then be routed back to the FAFSA website where they will complete the rest of the FAFSA.

Q. Who is eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?

Applicants must have a valid Social Security Number and FSA ID to use the IRS data retrieval tool. The applicant will need to authenticate himself or herself to the IRS in order to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Students and parents must use the tool separately for their respective income tax returns.

• If an independent applicant is married and files separate federal income tax returns or a dependent applicant's parents are married and file separate federal income tax returns, the applicant will not be able to use the IRS data retrieval tool. Applicants who have filed a foreign income tax return instead of or in addition to a US income tax return will be unable to use the IRS data retrieval tool. Taxpayers who file income tax returns using a TAX ID Number (TIN) will not be able to use the tool.

Q. How do I apply for TLU scholarships and grants?

Incoming freshmen and transfer students are automatically awarded any academic TLU scholarships or grants for which they qualify. Both incoming and current students may qualify for performance or participation awards. Click here for more information on TLU scholarships and grants.

Q. Do I need to reapply for financial aid every year?

Yes. In order to receive a financial aid package, students will need to reapply each year by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students may file the FAFSA starting in December for the 2024-2025 award year.

Q. Why should I file the FAFSA as soon as possible?

Some financial aid sources are limited and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted. The earlier you file the FAFSA, the better your chances of being considered for these types of financial aid funds.

Q. I have been selected for verification. What does that mean?

The U.S. Department of Education randomly chooses 30 percent of all FAFSA applications for verification. During the verification process, your school will be comparing information from your application with signed copies of your and/or your parent(s)' current federal tax forms, W-2 forms and/or other financial documents. Federal regulations require that you complete the verification process before you can receive financial aid.

Q. I don't feel it is the school's right to request my U.S. tax forms. What happens if I don't submit them?

Income tax returns are held in the strictest confidence by the Office of Student Financial Services. If you fail to comply with a request for U.S. tax forms, the school will most likely discontinue processing your application for aid.

Q. My financial aid award is not the same as last year. What happened?

Financial aid eligibility is re-evaluated every year. Any changes in income and/or the number of family members in the household reported on the FAFSA will come into consideration when a student is awarded. The availability of funds also varies from year to year. We highly recommend completing your FAFSA as early as possible to help secure your award.

Students with academic awards should also keep in mind that certain GPA criteria must be met in order to renew those awards. If these requirements are not met, student aid may be reduced by the amount of the academic award. Click here to review GPA requirements for TLU Scholarships.

Q. I have two children attending the same college. Am I required to fill out the FAFSA twice?

Yes. While the parent information will be the same, the student information for each applicant will be different. The college must have a complete record for each student.

Q. When will I receive my financial aid funds?

Methods of disbursing financial aid funds vary from campus to campus; however, most financial aid funds are now sent to schools electronically. At TLU, any financial aid, including loans, will be credited to the student's billing statement each semester.

Q. Is there any special consideration if I have brothers and sisters continuing their education beyond high school?

Yes. The expected parental contribution is adjusted for families with more than one dependent child attending post secondary schools.

Q. How do I find out what my family contribution should be?

The financial aid award letter you receive from your college should contain the family's expected contribution. However, if you would like an earlier estimate of this amount, review the Student Aid Report (SAR) available to you after filing the FAFSA. In the upper right-hand corner, the figure below "EFC" is the expected family contribution. This is the figure for the normal nine month academic period.

Q. I was turned down for financial aid last year. Should I reapply?

Yes. The financial circumstances of your family, as well as the cost of attending the institution, may have changed. This is especially true if there will be another dependent child in your family attending college at least half time.

Q. I lost my SAR. How can I get another one?

If you have an FSA ID:

1. Go to: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
2. Select the “Log In” button and enter your account username and password (FSA ID). Only you, the student, should know or use your FSA ID.
3. Select View or Print your Student Aid Report (SAR) from the "My FAFSA" page.

Q. When is a student considered independent for financial aid purposes?

Click here to view the FAFSA questions that determine dependency status.

Q. Do my step-parent's income and assets have to be reported on the FAFSA?

Yes, if the step-parent is currently married to the parent whose information you are reporting on the FAFSA. More information regarding parents and the FAFSA can be found here.

Q. My parents are separated/divorced. Which parent fills out the FAFSA?

The parent you lived with most during the last 12 months. If you didn't live with either parent, or if you lived with each parent an equal number of days, use the parent who provided the most support to you in the most recent calendar year that you were actually supported by a parent.

Q. My cash, savings and checking vary from day to day. What amount should I enter on the FAFSA?

Use the actual balance in your savings and checking accounts on the day you complete the FAFSA.

Q. My parent(s) lost their job and their income will be substantially different from the original amount reported on the FAFSA. What should we do?

Contact the Office of Student Financial Services and ask for a Special Condition Request Form. This form asks you and your family to describe your circumstances and estimate your future income. The financial aid administrator may use professional judgment to determine if you could qualify for additional aid.

Q. If I drop one or more classes, how will my financial aid award be affected?

If you drop before or during the third week of class, a percentage of your financial aid may be returned, potentially causing you to owe money to the school. If you drop after the third week, your financial aid will not be altered provided you successfully complete at least one class during the semester. If you drop below six hours, the grace period on your loans begins. Repayment on Federal Direct loans begins six months (nine months for Perkins loans) after a student drops below half-time status unless that student re-enrolls.

Q. What happens if I withdraw from all classes?

A calculation will be done to determine the portion of your aid that needs to be returned. The date of withdrawal is a consideration in this calculation.

Please be advised that dropping below half-time status and having a portion of your aid returned can result in a balance owed to the school by the student. Students should also be aware that failure to complete 75 percent of the classes they registered for can result in financial aid ineligibility in future semesters. For more information, refer to TLU's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Q. I have not met the GPA requirement to renew my scholarship next semester. What can I do?

For most TLU academic awards, when a student's GPA falls below the requirement, he/she will be granted one probationary semester in order to raise their GPA to the level required for renewal. If this does not happen by the end of the probationary semester, the award will be removed from the student's financial aid package. A student can, however, appeal the decision to remove the award from his/her package. Anyone wishing to appeal an award removal can send a letter to the Director of Financial Aid via the Office of Student Financial Services. Students should draft a letter explaining why they feel their GPA has fallen below the requirement for renewal, and how they feel they could benefit from an extra probationary semester to help raise their GPA to meet the requirement. This letter should be presented to the Office of Student Financial Services in a sealed envelope marked "Financial Aid." The committee will review any requests and notify the students of their decision.

Q. I received a scholarship from an outside entity. How do I report it to TLU?

You should send a copy of the letter or email you received notifying you of your scholarship to the Student Financial Services. Then submit the check once you receive it. Please endorse the back of the check before sending it us. Note: We will show the outside scholarships you report to us before we receive the check on your student billing statement. However, you are still responsible for the balance it covers should we not receive the check.