The first and most important step is to apply for financial aid. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or TASFA. Make sure that you complete the application before the January 15 priority deadline. The FAFSA provides access to federal and state based programs for all eligible students.

Generally, there are two applications out at any given time. It is important to know which aid year you need to apply for as an academic year begins in the fall and ends in the summer.

Current available applications:

1. 2023-2024 is for Fall 2023/Spring 2024/Summer 2024

If you are a citizen or permanent resident, you should complete the FAFSA.

Continue to Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (School Code: 016666)

If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, but you are a Texas Resident, you should complete the TASFA.

Continue to TASFA

Students that are classified as Texas Residents who cannot apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid are encouraged to complete the TASFA. To use this application, you cannot be under military or Louisiana reciprocity waiver, for example. Other waivers may apply.

If you have not yet been admitted to the university, you should visit ApplyTexas and obtain admission status. Your FAFSA will not match until you are admitted to LSCPA.

After you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), there are additional steps required before financial aid is disbursed to the student. Lamar State College Port Arthur will verify your eligibility for the different financial aid programs. Follow these steps to ensure your file is complete and in line to be processed.

• Check to see whether the FAFSA has been processed through FSA website or by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4FED-AID or 1-800-433-3243.
• Review the output received from the office of Federal Student Aid at the U.S. Department of Education. You’ll get your response within 3 to 5 working days.
• If you find any errors in the information on your FAFSA, make corrections to your FAFSA.
• Review the output received from your FAFSA to see you if you have been selected for a process called verification.
• Review your MyLSCPA account to see if you have been asked by the LSCPA Office of Student Financial Aid to turn in documents.

Admitted and current students can start the scholarship process online.

Get updates on your financial aid status through your LSCPA Email and Self-Service Banner, both accessible at MyLSCPA.

More information about Verification

The Financial Aid Office requires that all transcripts first be turned in to Admission and Records before aid may be awarded. This is to verify high school completion status and to properly assess Satisfactory Academic Progress for new transfer students. Admission and Records may waive the requirement for the purposes of being admitted to the college and registration but this does not waive the requirement for Financial Aid.

There are several important dates for financial aid students to remember. Students are encouraged to file their FAFSA early to allow timely processing.

*Students should complete their FAFSA by January 1.  This is the state priority deadline for identifying eligible students to be given priority in receiving awards through the state financial aid programs.

**Lamar State College is closed during Christmas Holiday Break

The FAFSA and any required documents need to be submitted by April 1^st to allow prompt packaging of the financial aid award.

By submitting all of your documentation by these priority dates you will be packaged for financial aid before the semester starts.