How to Apply for Financial Aid
Explore the steps to complete your financial aid application — and what to expect after you submit it.
By submitting a financial aid application, you may qualify for a combination of over 10 types of aid. Filling out a FAFSA is the first step to learn your options to pay with grants, loans, institutional scholarships and work-study funds you could be eligible to receive.
Before You Apply for Financial Aid
Before you fill out a financial aid application, make sure you have:
- A high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate
- A valid Social Security number
- Don't have a Social Security number? If you're an undocumented student and don't have a Social Security number, you should complete the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) instead of the federal application (FAFSA).
- Applied for admission
- Your admissions application must specify that you plan to enroll in a program to earn your associate degree, bachelor's degree, or eligible certificate program
We encourage you to submit your FAFSA right after you submit your HCC admissions application. The earlier you submit your FAFSA, the sooner you'll know what financial aid you can use to help pay for school.
Steps to Apply for Financial Aid
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Create Your FSA ID
Your FSA ID is your Federal Student Aid ID. It's used to confirm your identity and it's how you electronically sign your federal student aid documents.
You need to create your FSA ID before you fill out the FAFSA. It can take up to three days after creating your ID to be able to use it, so we recommend doing this step early.
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Gather Your Files and Documents
To make this step easy, we recommend you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to fill in your financial information. This tool automatically adds your tax data from the IRS into your FAFSA (so you don't have to add the data manually). To use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you'll need your FSA ID and your federal income tax return.
If your parents claimed you as a dependent on their taxes last year, you will need some information from your parents (including step-parents):
- Your parents' full legal names
- Their dates of birth
- Their Social Security numbers
- Their email addresses
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Fill Out & Submit Your FAFSA
Once you have your documents and information together, you are ready to fill out the FAFSA.
- If you plan to attend HCC during Spring 2026 and/or Summer 2026, you need to fill out the 2025–26 FAFSA form using 2023 tax info. The 2025-26 FAFSA is open until June 30, 2026. Students are encouraged to apply early to take advantage of more aid.
- If you plan to attend HCC during Fall 2026, Spring 2027 and/or Summer 2027, you need to fill out the 2026–27 FAFSA form using 2024 tax info. The 2026-27 FAFSA is open until June 30, 2027. Students are encouraged to apply early to take advantage of more aid.
Need help with your FAFSA application? Contact Financial Aid for one-on-one assistance!
HCC's School Code: 010422
When you submit your FAFSA, make sure you enter HCC's school code. If you don't enter HCC's school code, then we won't receive your FAFSA and you won't be considered for HCC grants or scholarships.
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Complete To-do Checklist items in MyEagle
Your To-do list will outline all the additional documentation needed to process your FAFSA.
Log into your MyEagle Student Account and choose To-Do List under My Action Items. Your To-Do List shows items that need to be completed for financial aid, admissions, etc. Outstanding items can prohibit you from registering for classes and from qualifying for financial aid awards.
Financial aid uses the following checklist status definitions. Your file will not be complete until all requested documents are in a “Completed” or “Waived” status.
- Initiated - Submit each document listed to complete your student file.
- Received - This document has been received and is in review. This can take up to 14 business days.
- Returned - The document you submitted was not complete. Check your HCC student e-mail account for more information.
- Completed - The document you submitted is complete. Check your HCC student e-mail account for more information.
- Waived - You are no longer required to submit this document.
Required Verification
You may be alerted that you have to complete additional paperwork to verify the information you provided on your FAFSA.
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Review and Accept Your Financial Aid Offer
Once your financial aid application file is complete, you’ll receive a financial aid package that outlines what you qualify for.
To review your offer, log into your MyEagle student account and click on "My Financial Aid." If you need help getting into your MyEagle account, call 713-718-8800.
To accept your financial aid offer:
- Choose the aid year.
- Review your awards carefully and make sure you understand the requirements for accepting and keeping them. Some of the awards are automatically accepted for you.
- Accept, reduce or decline the loans offered to you.
- Complete the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note. You have to complete these two items before your funds will appear in your account.
When Financial Aid Doesn’t Cover All Costs
If you do not have enough financial aid to cover costs of classes, you will have to make payment plan arrangements with the Business Office to pay for the remaining balance.
Additional Information
The system will show that you owe money for classes because your financial aid has not disbursed.
Disbursement means that all eligible financial aid funds will be posted to your account as a payment for classes. Once a disbursement of your financial aid is posted as payment for your classes, any aid leftover will be refunded to you within 48–72 hours (2-3 business days).
Students will begin to receive disbursement and refunds when they attend classes (all classes, including late start) for at least 5 to 6 weeks. Learn more about the refund process.
What is ID.me?
ID.me is a digital identity wallet that makes it easier for people to prove who they are online. They meet federal standards for consumer authentication and are committed to expanding access to verification. With ID.me, people can sign in to multiple organizations using one account.
Why do I need to use ID.me?
Houston City College requires you to verify your identity with ID.me as part of the enrollment process.
What do I need to verify my identity? You’ll need:
- A mobile device with a front-facing camera that can take a selfie
- An internet connection
- A compatible browser, like Chrome or Safari
- A government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, or passport card
How do I start and complete verification?
- To get started, go to your MyEagle and sign in to your account.
- Select Checklists, then select Verify Identification.
- Select the ID.me button, then sign in to your ID.me account (or create one).
- Upload your government-issued photo ID, take a video selfie, and enter your personal information.
- To finish, consent to share your information with Houston City College.
Can I try again if my verification doesn’t work the first time?
Yes. You can try again. If you still have trouble, you may be asked to upload more documents and complete a video call with an ID.me Video Chat Agent.
Why can’t I access my benefits or services after verifying? You may not have completed the last step to consent to share your info.
Go back to the HCC CSQA Student System and sign in to your account. From the menu, select Checklists, then choose Verify Identification. Next, select the ID.me button and sign in to your ID.me account. When prompted, select Allow to continue.
Can I have more than one ID.me account?
No. You can only have one verified ID.me account. It’s tied to you as an individual, like a driver’s license. If you think you might have more than one account, visit What to do if you have multiple ID.me accounts.
How is my data protected?
ID.me meets federal, legal, and regulatory requirements for privacy and security. These protections help keep your info safe from loss, misuse, or unauthorized access. ID.me doesn’t sell, rent, or trade your personal info. Learn more at the ID.me Privacy Center.
Need help verifying with ID.me? Visit the ID.me Help Center for step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting tips
Financial need calculation
- Cost of Attendance - Student Aid Index (SAI)
- Financial Need
Cost of Attendance: Includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation and other personal expenses.
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an eligibility index number that HCC's financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid you would receive if you attended. This number results from the information that you provide on your FAFSA form. This number is not a dollar amount of aid eligibility or what your family is expected to provide. A negative SAI indicates the student has a higher financial need. Learn how the SAI is calculated.
The college or career school will determine your financial need by subtracting your SAI from the cost of attendance.
The FAFSA Simplification Act replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the SAI. Learn more about the changes with the 2024–25 FAFSA form.
Your SAI will be listed on your FAFSA Submission Summary. Before completing the FAFSA form, use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to estimate your SAI.
If you want an estimate of your financial aid award, use the Federal Student Aid Estimator.
Colleges must include all funding resources as part of a student’s financial aid package. Resources include federal and state grants, scholarships, waivers, fellowships, assistantships, AmeriCorps, Federal Work Study, loans, and any other educational benefits available to cover educational expenses.
If it is determined that you do not have financial need, you can still apply for an unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan or scholarships based on merit. In addition, parents can apply for PLUS loans.
The Federal Student Aid website offers an overview of the financial aid process.
Contact Us
Financial Aid Contact Center
We at HCC Financial Aid are here to help you with your questions and concerns. Please visit our Contact Page to view the most current contact methods, hours, and announcements.