The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has extended the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) priority deadline to Feb. 15 for the 2025-2026 application cycle.
TASFA is for Texas residents who cannot apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who are non-citizens or non-permanent residents of the United States typically qualify as TASFA applicants. However, they should still contact the institution they plan to attend before starting the application process.
The overhaul of the TASFA and FAFSA during the 2024-2025 school year led to a three-month delay in the FAFSA’s release and significant complications. As a result, there was a 40% decrease in the percentage of high school seniors who completed the FAFSA — most of which come from low-income, Black and Latino communities.
It is anticipated that the FAFSA will open Dec. 1 for the 2025-2026 application cycle. The TASFA will align with the FAFSA’s opening. The standard annual deadline is Jan. 15. Future aid cycles will revert to this date; however, it has not been specified when.
According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, “The priority deadline is neither a guarantee to receive funding if a student applies by the applicable date for the academic year nor is it a restriction to those that apply beyond the date. It is meant to encourage students to complete their application promptly to increase the likelihood of receiving state funding.”
To find updates about the TASFA and the FAFSA from UTSA, visit onestop.utsa.edu/financialaid/fafsa-tasfa-changes/.
