The TEG program provides grant aid to financially needy students to enable them to attend private colleges or universities in Texas.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must meet Texas Residency Rules for state financial aid, as determined by the TXCORE form (for US Citizens & Eligible Non-Citizens); OR, both the TXCORE AND Texas Residency Affidavit (for non-immigrant students).
- Demonstrate financial need in the form of an Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid). For the 2020-2021 academic year, EFC must be at or below $22,174.
- Enroll as a degree seeking student with an academic plan that leads to a first associate's, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degree at an eligible Texas institution. However, students enrolled in a Theology degree program leading to a licensure to preach cannot receive TEG.
- Must be enrolled in at least three-quarter time, which is 9 hours for undergraduates and 7 hours for graduates/professional students.
- Must not be receiving athletic scholarships
- Must be registered with the Selective Service, if required.
- First time recipients of TEG must meet SMU’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy in order to receive it the next year. After their first year receiving TEG, students must meet the following academic progress rules as set by the state of Texas:
- Undergraduates – at the end of each year, student must have a 2.5 GPA, a total of 24 credit hours completed, and a 75% completion rate.
- Graduate/Professional students – at the end of each year, student must have a 2.5 GPA, a total of 18 credit hours completed, and a 75% completion rate.
Award Amount
Amount varies each year and is determined by the Texas Legislature. For the 2020-2021 academic year, students with an EFC at or below $22,174 qualify for a TEG award of $3,420. Undergraduate students demonstrating exceptional need (with an EFC less than $1,000) qualify for a TEG award of $5,130.
Please note, SMU’s total TEG allocation varies each year and is determined by the Texas Legislature. Thus, priority is given to needy undergraduate students at the beginning of each year but some funds may become available for graduate/professional students. The Financial Aid office will notify graduate/professional students if/when funds are available.