All professional students are sent financial aid offers letters via email to their official Texas A&M email account. The financial aid offer will include all eligible financial aid awards, as long as funds are available. State aid programs are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and funding is limited.

1. Read the financial aid offer letter carefully before accepting or rejecting individual awards.
2. Review the estimated Cost of Attendance to assist in planning for how much aid you will need.
3. Review Types of Aid and Maintaining Eligibility to understand other factors that may affect your financial aid.
4. To view and process your aid go to howdy.tamu.edu and login using your Texas A&M Net ID. Access the Financial Aid Portal through the Scholarships & Financial Aid channel on the My Finances tab. Select the "Awards" page and click on "Begin Processing" to reduce, accept, or decline each award.

These dates represent the first day disbursements can be made for each semester. Aid is disbursed no sooner than ten days prior to the first day of class each semester, provided you have completed all eligibility requirements. If your aid is not disbursed, please logon to howdy.tamu.edu, click on the My Finances tab and enter the Financial Aid Portal. Check your Status page for any missing requirements.

Reminder: You must be enrolled at least half time to be eligible for the majority of aid programs. Always check your billing statement to see if your financial aid has applied to your student billing account.

A loan is financial assistance that enables students and parents to borrow money from the federal government, state government or private lenders. These loans must be repaid. Each student receiving a Subsidized or Unsubsidized Direct Loan or Perkins Loan for the first time at Texas A&M University must also complete Loan Entrance Counseling.

Master Promissory Note

Borrowers are responsible for signing a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for each loan program. When signed, the MPN is a binding, legal document through which the borrower agrees to repay the loan. The MPN should be read carefully and a copy retained for the borrower’s records. Direct Loan MPNs must be completed online by the borrower on the Federal Student Aid website.

Entrance Counseling

Please visit the Howdy Portal. Then click the My Finances tab and enter the Financial Aid Portal. Select the current academic year. Once you have accepted a Direct Loan there will be a link for Loan Entrance Counseling under the Status page. Follow the instructions to complete Loan Entrance Counseling on the Federal Student Aid website.

Exit Counseling

Upon withdrawing, graduating, dropping below half-time, or simply not returning, you will be sent information regarding Loan Exit Counseling if you have received any of the following:

• Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized or Unsubsidized)
• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans

If you have received the Federal TEACH Grant, you will be sent Exit Counseling information if you withdraw, graduate, or change into an ineligible TEACH Grant major.

Online exit counseling for Federal Loans and the TEACH Grant can be completed on the Federal Student Aid website.

What is the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (ASLA)?

The ASLA was created by the U.S. Department of Education to help federal student and parent loan borrowers understand how loans affect their financial future. 

Who must complete the ASLA?

Starting with the 2021-2022 award year, borrowers of Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS, and Grad PLUS Loans) will be required to submit the ASLA each award year before any new loans may be disbursed. 

What will I gain from the ASLA?

• A review of total federal student loan debt
• An estimate of your monthly repayment amount
• An explanation of student loan limits

After submitting the ASLA, you will be able to:

• Explore repayment plans
• Learn loan terms
• View estimated earnings after graduation based on the College Scorecard

Where do I go to complete the ASLA?

The ASLA is available on the Federal Student Aid website ASLA page.  The ASLA takes about 10 minutes to complete, and you will need your FSA ID to log in and get started.