Financial Aid Forms:

Financial Aid Information

All students are required to maintain a MyLamarPA E-mail account. All students will be assigned an LSC-PA official E-mail address upon acceptance. Most of official communication from LSC-PA is conducted via E-mail. This includes information such as policy announcements, emergency notices, event notifications, financial aid information, tuition and fees, course availability/cancellation, course syllabi and requirements, and correspondence between faculty and students. LSC-PA recommends that all students check their E-mail at least once daily.

VERY IMPORTANT: You MUST be admitted to the college before you are assigned a MyLamarPA computer account in order to check for or accept your financial aid awards. Click on the "Am I admitted?" button to the right to check your admission status.

Follow these instructions to check your Financial Aid status and/or accept your awards online via MyLamarPA!

Lamar-Port Arthur requires all students applying for grants, loans or college work-study employment to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the LSC-PA Financial Aid Supplement to determine the degree of need. Both applications are available in the Office of Student Financial Aid. Processing requires between four to six weeks, so students planning to meet the April 1 deadline should file their applications by mid-February.

The Student Financial Aid Office considers an applicant’s degree of need before awarding financial aid. Continuing students must meet academic progress criteria according to standards established by federal regulations for continued eligibility. The amount and type of assistance will be determined by the staff of the Student Financial Aid Office. Notification of awards will be mailed during late spring and early summer.

The college will continue to award aid as long as funds are available. However, the most desirable types of aid are normally expended early. Therefore, students should make every effort to meet the April 1 deadline. Students applying for scholarships must complete the Application for Scholarship for Lamar State College-Port Arthur that is available in the Admission Office. Applicants who are high school seniors should meet the April 1 deadline to be given first priority. All other scholarship applicants should meet the June 15 deadline for the following academic year.

Scholarship awards to entering freshmen are determined by the applicant’s high school class rank and/or financial need. Scholarship awards for upperclassmen are determined by their cumulative grade point average at the college level. Scholarship applicants must have at least a 2.5 grade point average to be eligible for a college administered scholarship.

Those applying for need-based grants, loans or work-study employment must have their eligibility established by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Freshmen may be able to obtain required forms from their high school counselors or directly from the Student Financial Aid Office, 1600 Procter Street, Port Arthur. Students currently enrolled at Lamar-Port Arthur may obtain the forms from the Admission Advisors Office in the Student Center. Students must re-apply each year for consideration for continued assistance.

The Federal Pell Grant is the foundation source for all other aid programs. All applicants are required to submit the Student Aid Report for all grants. No other need-based assistance grants, loans, or work-study can be awarded until a student’s eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant is determined.

When a student files a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the government processes the application and sends a Student Aid Report to the student’s address. The student then should submit the Student Aid Report to the Student Financial Aid Office for an estimated grant amount to be determined. The final Pell Grant will be determined at the time of enrollment.

Other available grants are the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) and Leveraging Educational Assistance Program (LEAP). Students with exceptional need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid may be awarded one of these grants.

The TEXAS (Toward Excellence, Access & Success) Grant Program provides grants to help academically-prepared, eligible students attend higher education institutions in Texas.

To compete for a grant, a student must be a Texas resident; a graduate of a public or accredited private high school in Texas since fall 1998; enroll in college and receive his/her TEXAS Grant within 16 months of high school graduation; have completed the recommended or advanced high school curriculum or its equivalent; have financial need; have applied for any available financial aid or assistance; be enrolling in at least 3/4 time in an undergraduate degree or certificate program; and not have been convicted of a felony or a crime involving a controlled substance. Students may apply for the TEXAS Grant Program through the LSC-PA Financial Aid Office. The award amount is based on a minimum of 12 semester hours taken by the student and the type of institution the student attends. In general, it is an amount equal to the student’s tuition and required fees.

Students who continue in college and meet the program’s academic standards can receive awards for up to 150 semester credit hours or for six years, whichever occurs first. In the first year of college, the academic standards are set by the institution. In subsequent years, the requirements are completion of at least 75 percent of the hours taken in the prior semester plus an overall grade point average in college of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

The Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program provides grants to financially needy students enrolled in Texas public two-year colleges. To compete for the grant, a student must be a Texas resident; show financial need; if applying for the first-time award, have a family contribution of no more than $2,000; register for the Selective Service or be exempt from this requirement; be enrolled at least 1/2 time (6 semester credit hours) in an associate degree or certificate program at a two-year college in Texas; have not been granted an associate or a baccalaureate degree; and have not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving a controlled substance.

Students who continue in college and who meet program academic standards can receive awards for up to 75 semester credit hours, for four years, or until they receive an associate degree, whichever comes first. In the first year of college, the academic standards are set by the institution. The academic requirements for continuing in the program are completion of at least 75 percent of the hours taken in the prior academic year, plus and overall college grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. A student does not have to be a recent graduate but must have less than 30 attempted hours.

Scholarships awards cover a portion of a student’s expenses. Scholarships are of two types – those administered solely by the college, including the selection of recipients, and those administered by the college at the request of donors who select the recipients themselves. The college’s scholarship program is financed solely by public donation. Half of the scholarship normally is disbursed for the Fall Semester and the remaining half for the Spring Semester, or unless otherwise stated.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur Scholarships

Lamar State College-Port Arthur awards approximately 300 scholarships every year. Among these are scholarships made available by the following individuals and organizations:

Endowed Scholarships:


• SSGT Lucian Adams Scholarship
• H.S. and Bernice B. Anderson Endowed Scholarship
• Ella Atwell Memorial Scholarship
• G.W. Bailey Scholarship
• Sue Bates Scholarship
• Gail Bienvenu Memorial Scholarship
• Miss Marie Bright Scholarship
• W.A. “Dub” Brown Scholarship
• Dr. Ronald Buchanan Scholarship
• John B. and Estelle M. Caldwell Endowed Scholarship
• Bobby Terrell Cowart Scholarship for Legal Assistants
• Manton L. Dunham & Delwin D. Dunham Memorial Scholarship
• Endowed Nursing Scholarship
• Jane Goins-Flanagan Scholarship
• Sydalise Fredeman Scholarship
• John W. Gates Scholarship
• Betty Guarnere Endowed Scholarship
• Joe and Lloyd Hayes Memorial Scholarship
• Norman Helms Endowed Scholarship
• LCDR. Peter D. Herlin Memorial Scholarship
• Dr. Mark Honea Endowed Scholarship
• Norma Provost Irwin Scholarship Fund
• Joe James Memorial Scholarship
• O’Dell James Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Kiwanis Club of Port Arthur – Leland Lacy Memorial Scholarship
• Kiwanis Club of Port Arthur – Pat Wood Memorial Scholarship
• Dr. Charles Lance Lyday Endowed Scholarship
• Logan Family Memorial Scholarship by John and Shirley Logan Riedmueller
• Herman and Carol Mazur Scholarship Fund
• Dr. Sam Monroe Scholarship Fund
• Dr. Madison Monroe Memorial Scholarship
• Everette Ford Montgomery Memorial Scholarship
• Charles E. Neumann Scholarship
• North Port Arthur Rotary Club Memorial Scholarship
• Parker Family Scholarship Fund
• Pilot Club of Port Arthur
• Mildred and William. J. Pitts Memorial Scholarship
• Mary Kay Place Scholarship
• Mack A. Pond Scholarship by Rotary Club of Port Arthur
• Port Arthur Founder’s Lions Club Thomas S. Balac/James A. DeLee Scholarship
• Port Arthur Improvement Association
• David A. Provost Memorial Scholarship
• Bodie Pryor Scholarship
• Robert Rauschenberg Scholarship Fund
• Retail Merchants Association Scholarship Fund
• Professor W.E. Sampson Scholarship
• Captain Wm. Sanders Chapter of DAR
• Carl and Stella White/DAR Scholarship
• Elsie and William White Memorial Scholarship
• Wommack Family Scholarship

General Scholarships:


• Alumni Association of Lamar State College-Port Arthur
• American Legion Auxiliary #7
• American Legion #33
• Asbestos Workers Local #22 Retirees
• Brookland Ex Students Scholarship Fund
• CavOilCade
• Chevron/Phillips Chemical Company
• City of Port Arthur Scholarship
• City of Port Arthur Housing Authority
• Conn’s Appliance Charitable Foundation
• Diocese of Beaumont
• Eber W. Ephlin Scholarship Fund
• First United Methodist Church, Port Neches
• Fraternal Order of Eagles
• Gabriel Funeral Home
• Juliette “Dodo” George Scholarship/Lamar State College-PA Alumni Association
• Groves Rotary Club
• H.E. Butt Grocery Co.
• Mary Evelyn Dunn Hayes Scholarship
• Effie and Wilton P. Hebert Scholarship
• Norman and Betty Helms Scholarship
• “I Have A Dream” Scholarship Program
• Jefferson County Extension Education Association
• Kountze Business & Professional Women’s Club
• Dennis Lanclos Scholarship Fund
• LASSO
• Leach, Sullivan, Sullivan & Watkins
• LSC-PA Historical Society Scholarship
• Charles Martin Scholarship/Lamar State College-PA Alumni Association
• Corey Marshall Musser Scholarship
• Masonic Order of Eastern Star
• Memorial Hermann Hospitals
• Mexican Heritage Society
• Nucor Bar Mill
• Park Place Medical Center Auxiliary
• Phi Theta Kappa
• Port Arthur Industrial Group
• Port Arthur Respiratory Disease Trust Scholarship
• Port Arthur Teachers Federal Credit Union
• Port Neches Lodge #1163
• Port Neches-Groves High School
• Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
• Ridgewood Christian School
• Ridgewood Christian School
• Rotary Club of Port Arthur
• Sabine Pilot Service Inc.
• Mary Schlesinger Scholarship Fund
• Sertoma Club of Port Arthur
• Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word
• Taste of Gumbo (Port Arthur Rotary)
• O.C. “Mike” Taylor Scholarship/BISD
• Temple Inland Foundation
• Texas Alpha Omicron / Alpha Delta
• Texas Department of Public Safety Officers
• Sam Walton Community Scholarship
• Wesley United Methodist Church

Some scholarships are based on a student’s financial need; others are awarded on the basis of academic excellence. The scholarship application deadline for graduating high school seniors is April 1. For current Lamar-Port Arthur students and other prospective students the deadline is June 15. Students are encouraged to apply before the application deadline. For more information or to apply, contact the Admission Advisors Office in the Student Center.

Lamar-Port Arthur provides short-term loans. Short-term loans are awarded only during registration periods for the exact amount of tuition and fees based on the ability to repay the loan during the semester the loan was issued.  The college does not award the Federal Perkins Loan.

The PLUS loan is for parents who are credit-worthy to help pay the cost of post-secondary education for their children. The loan is between the parent and the lending institution. Eligible parents may borrow amounts not more than the difference between a student’s cost of attendance (COA) and all other financial aid he or she will receive.

The student must meet eligibility requirements. The student must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen; at least a half-time student; enrolled in an approved degree program; making satisfactory academic progress; registered with the selective service or exempt from this requirement; have no unresolved defaults or owed federal monies; not be incarcerated, have no convictions of drug related offenses and no property subject to a lien for debt owed to the U.S. Government.

A parent also must meet the following eligibility requirements. The parent must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen; have no unresolved defaults on federal education loans and no refunds owed on federal education grants; certify his or her intent to use the loan proceeds for the educational purposes of the dependent student; and have no property subject to a judgement lien for a debt owed to the U.S. government. The student is required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). PLUS applications and more detailed information are available from the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Stafford Loans: are student loans that must be repaid and are available to both undergraduate and graduate students. The loan program that Lamar State College has selected is the Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan).

If it is a subsidized Stafford loan (demonstrated need for the loan), you are not responsible for interest while attending at least half-time and the principle is deferred.

If it is an unsubsidized Stafford loan (financial need was not demonstrated) the principle is still deferred but you are responsible for paying interest on the loan.

Federal PLUS Loans: are available to parents of dependent undergraduate students who are enrolled at least half-time. Financial need is not a requirement.

PLUS Loans are unsubsidized: the borrower is responsible for interest that accrues during the life of the loan. Borrowers can request a loan for up to the full cost of attendance minus any other financial aid.

How to Apply for a Stafford Loan

The Direct Loan Program is one of the Federal Student Aid programs offered by the Department of Education.

1. You must apply for a Direct Loan by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), http://www.fafsa.gov


2. All internal documentation must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office. To determine eligibility contact the Financial Aid Office .You must be enrolled at least half-time to participate in the direct loan program.


3. All Direct Loan Borrowers must complete an entrance counseling tutorial online at http://www.studentloans.gov


4. Submit a copy of the entrance counseling certification form to the financial aid advisors.


5. At that time eligibility will be determined. If you are approved your name will be sent to the Department of Education (DOE) and within a week you should be able to go to the Master Promissory Note (MPN) webpage and complete your MPN. The website is http://www.studentloans.gov


6. The types of Direct loans that are available:

   Subsidized Stafford Loans: are for students with financial need as determined by federal regulations. No interest is charged while you are in school at least half-time, during your grace period, and during deferment periods.

   Unsubsidized Stafford Loans: are for students and are not based on financial need. Interest is charged during all periods.

   PLUS Loans: are low-interest loans for parents to help their children who are dependent students meet college costs.

7. The amounts students can borrow each year for subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans depends on their grade level and on whether they are dependent or independent students.
   

   	Dependent Student	Independent Student ¹
   1st-year undergraduate	$3,500 / $2,000 ²	$3,500 / $6,000 ²
   2nd-year undergraduate	$4,500 / $2,000	$4,500 / $6,000

   ¹ This includes dependent students whose parents are unable to borrow a PLUS loan.
   ² The first number is the base amount, which may be any combination of subsidized and unsubsidized loan funds. The second number is the amount of additional unsubsidized loan funds available.

8. You do not have to accept the full amount of your offered loan. You can lower your loan amount at your own choice. You cannot raise your loan amount.

9. If you are first time borrower your funds for the loan will not be disbursed until 30 days after the first day of class.  You may be asked to confirm that you are attending your classes. After two years of getting a Stafford loan your GPA must be a 2.0 to be eligible for further loans.

10. Things you need to know:

    Accrued interest: The interest that is calculated on your principal balance of your student loan
    
    Capitalization: The interest that has been accruing on your loan for a designated period of time (ex. quarterly) will be added to your principal balance and then you will be paying interest upon interest.  For example if you had $50.00 in interest accrued on your loan of $1000.00 then your loan will become $1050.00 and the interest will begin accruing on the new balance.
    
    NSLDS.ED.GOV: is the website that a student can go to look at their loan activity at all schools and time frames.

11. Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans have a 6 – month grace period that starts the day after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. You don’t have to begin making payments until your grace period ends. You will need to do exit counseling at http://www.studentloans.gov.

12. Failure to make a payment on time, you're considered delinquent on your Direct Loan. If you do not make payments for 270 days, you are considered to be in default. Default has severe and long-lasting consequences, including the following:
    

    • The Internal Revenue Service can withhold your federal income tax refund.
    
    
    • Your wages may be garnished. This means they will automatically take it out of your paycheck
    
    
    • The default will be reported to national credit bureaus. Your credit rating will be damaged, which will make it difficult for you to make purchases such as a car or house.
    
    
    • You are ineligible for Title IV student aid.
    
    
    • You are ineligible for deferments.
    
    
    • The Department of Education can immediately demand repayment of the total amount due on the loan.
    
    
    • The Department will attempt  to collect the debt and may charge you for the costs of collecting
    
    
13. If you are having problems with making your payment it is very important that you contact the Direct Loan representative immediately.  They are there to help you find a way to make your payments

Employment opportunities under the Federal College Work-Study Program and other employment programs of the college are available to Lamar-PA students as part of the financial assistance program. (See Financial Aid Office) The college, local businesses and industries provide a number of part-time jobs which allow students to earn part or all of these expenses while attending the college. (See Human Resources)

Valedictorians from accredited Texas high schools are entitled to an exemption from payment of tuition for the two regular semesters immediately following graduation.

Fees are not exempt. During registration, valedictorians should report to the Admissions Office for fee adjustments. The names of valedictorians of all Texas high schools are certified by principals to the Texas Education Agency. The college receives the list for reference.

The Texas Rehabilitation Commission offers help with tuition and non-refundable fees to students who have certain disabling conditions, provided their vocational objectives have been approved by a TRC Counselor. Examples of such conditions are orthopedic deformities, emotional disorders, diabetes, epilepsy, heart conditions, etc. Other services are available to help handicapped students become employable. Application for such service should be made at the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, 5860 Ninth Avenue, Port Arthur, Texas 77642.

Some documents are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visit the PDF instructions page for more information.