A grant is a form of student aid that typically does not have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw, fail to begin attendance, or adjust enrollment prior to the Pell Grant recalculation date). Grants are need based. Except for the Federal Pell Grant, grants are allocated to colleges in yearly, limited amounts, so a student may show eligibility, but may not receive an award if grant funds have been exhausted. The following grants are offered at Lamar University.
Federal Pell Grant
This grant is awarded to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
Scheduled Award Amount
Disbursement (Payment)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Assists undergraduate students who have the greatest demonstrated financial need, with priority for those who are Pell Grant eligible. Since funds are limited, students who apple early have the greatest opportunity for an award.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
Scheduled Award Amount
Disbursement (Payment)
The TEACH (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) Grant
The TEACH grant aids undergraduate and graduate students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career teaching full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools that serve students from low-income families. If you do not complete your service obligation the grant will be converted into an unsubsidized loan.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
Disbursement Requirements
Academic Achievement Requirements
Award Amount
Disbursement (Payment)
TEACH Grant Exit Counseling
Texas Public Education Grant
This grant aids undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. Students who apply early have the greatest opportunity to receive this grant.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
Award Amount
Disbursement (Payment)
State HB Grant (TUGBUG)
This grant aids undergraduate students with financial need. Students who apply early have the greatest opportunity to receive this grant.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
Award Amount
Disbursement (payment)
Cardinal Success Grant
This grant was establish in the 2020-2021 academic year. It provides assistance to first time in college (FTIC) and transfer students with financial need.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
Continued Eligibility
Award Amount
Disbursement (payment)
Toward EXcellence, Access, and Success Grant Program (Texas Grant)
This grant provides grant assistance to undergraduate students with need.
How to Apply
Basic Eligibility Requirements
Initial Eligibility
Continued Eligibility
Disbursement (payment)
Lamar University Promise
The Lamar University Promise ensures that sufficient grant and/or scholarship assistance will be provided to cover the fill amount of fall and spring in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate Texas residents meeting certain eligibility criteria. **Students enrolled in the Accelerated Online Program are not eligible for participation due to the reduced cost.**
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
Award Amount
Disbursement (payment)
Continued Eligibility
One way you can help pay for your education is through a work-study job. A work-study job allows for part-time student employment on-campus, or off-campus with a pre-approved organization. Work-study is more than an ordinary part-time job: it is a form of study aid, awarded by either state or federal government, as a form of "self-help," so you do not have to pay it back. Through work-study, you gain work experience and professional skills, and network in your field of interest. Best of all, you earn a paycheck, ultimately helping you pay for your education.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
Disbursement (Payment)
Visit our Work Study page for more information.
We assist all students attending Lamar University using education benefits under the Department of Veterans Affairs Educational Assistance Programs and Texas Hazlewood Exemption Act in the pursuit of a Bachelor, Master, or Doctoral Degree. Our goal is to provide the pertinent information required to all our VA students attending Lamar University.
Visit out Veteran Affairs page for more information.
The Lamar University Tuition Assistance Program (LUTAP) is a benefit available to regular, Full-Time LU employees. It provides tuition assistance for the spouse and dependent child of eligible employees enrolled in classes at Lamar University. Get more information about LUTAP.
Employee Education and Training Plan or Faculty/Staff Course Enrollment
The Employee Education and Training Plan ("The Plan") provides employees of Lamar University with assistance in obtaining additional college-level education and training to increase their value to the University. "The Plan" is intended to operate such that payments made under it qualify, in the case of undergraduate classes required in a degree plan, as qualified tuition reduction under Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code; or, for all other courses, as business expenses for courses related to the employee's present position, under Section 162 and thus excluded from taxable income under Section 132(d). As such, "The Plan" represents an internal administrative procedure for the LU components. It is not intended to operate as a fringe benefit plan under Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Exemptions/Waivers
Tuition exemptions are a type of financial assistance that allows for certain Texas residents to attend college or a university in Texas without paying tuition, or in some cases, tuition, and fees. For more information, please contact the student business office at studentbusiness@lamar.edu.
A loan is a legal obligation that you will be responsible for repaying with interest. If you plan to take out a student loan, we encourage your to be a responsible borrower by following these tips:
There are changes in Federal Student Aid for the 2026-2027 academic year, please review these changes to determine if there will be any impact to your financial aid.
The U.S. Department of Education releases official cohort default rates once per year. A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year. The FY 2020 national cohort default rate is 0% Please refer to the chart below for Lamar University's most recent cohort default rates.
Cohort Default Rates
| OPE ID | School | Type | Control | PRGMS | FY2020 | FY 2019 | FY2018 | |
| Default Rate | 0 | 0.5 | 4.3 | |||||
| No. in Default | 0 | 25 | 194 | |||||
| No. in Repay | 4,138 | 4,181 | 44,419 | |||||
| 003581 | Lamar University | Master's Degree or Doctor's Degree | Public | Both (FFEL/FDL) | Enrollment Figures | 21,621 | 19,727 | 19,508 |
| Percentage | 19.14% | 21.19% | 22.65% |
The Department of Education (ED) is your lender for all Federal Direct Student Loans. These are low-interest loans that must be repaid at a future date, usually beginning six months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. For more information regarding repayment, please visit studentaid.gov. ED charges an origination free of the total amount borrowed per loan. This means the money you receive will be less than the amount you borrow. You're responsible for repaying the entire amount you borrowed plus any interest accrued, not just the amount you received. The interest rate varies depending on the loan type and for most federal student loans, the first disbursement date. Current interest rates can be viewed at studentaid.gov. Listed below are the different types of Direct Loans you may receive while attending Lamar University:
These loans may be used for education-related expenses such as tuition, fees, books, living costs, transportation, etc. You must be enrolled at least half-time to receive a disbursement of these funds.
Before borrowing a federal student loan, you must complete entrance counseling to ensure you understand the responsibilities and obligations you are assuming. You must complete this counseling on studentaid.gov. In addition to entrance counseling, you are also required to sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN). This is a legal document in which you promise to replay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the Department of Education. It also explains the terms and condition of your loan(s). You must complete the entrance counseling and sign the MPN before you receive a loan payment.
If you receive a federal student loan, you will be required to complete exit counseling once you graduate or stop attending at least half-time. Exit Counseling provides vital information to prepare you to repay your federal student loan(s).
This loan is available to undergraduate students with financial need. ED pays the interest on this loan while you are enrolled in school at least half-time. Repayment on this loan begins six months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time.
The amount you are awarded will depend on:
Your loan will disburse no earlier than 10 days before your scheduled enrollment begins. Loans are typically disbursed once a semester, however if you are enrolled in an accelerated on-line program or receiving a loan for only one semester, you will receive two disbursements within the semester. The first, no more than 10 days prior to your first class day, and the second half-way through the semester.
Learn more about subsidized loans.
This loan is not based on financial need and may be awarded to both undergraduate and graduate students. Interest will accrue (accumulate) on this loan from the time it is first paid out. You can pay the interest while you are in school, during grace periods and deferment, or while in forbearance periods. You can also allow it to accrue and be capitalized (that is, added to the principal amount of your loan). If you choose not to pay the interest as it accrues, this will increase the total amount you have to repay because you will be charged more interest on a higher principal amount. Repayment on this loan begins six months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment.
Your loan will disburse no earlier than 10 days before your scheduled enrollment begins. Loans are typically disbursed once a semester, however if you are enrolled in an accelerated on-line program or receiving a loan for only one semester, you will receive two disbursements within the semester. The first, no more than 10 days prior to your first class day, and the second half-way through the semester.
Learn more about unsubsidized loans.
Parents of dependent students may apply for a Direct Parent PLUS Loan (application is online at studentaid.gov) to help their pay their child's education expenses as long as certain eligibility requirements are met. Information about repayment can be found on studentaid.gov.
If approved, parents may borrow up to the full yearly Cost of Attendance (as established by the Office of Student Aid) minus all other financial assistance the student receives.
Your loan will disburse no earlier than 10 days before your scheduled enrollment begins. Loans are typically disbursed once a semester, however if you are enrolled in an accelerated on-line program or receiving a loan for only one semester, you will receive two disbursements within the semester. The first, no more than 10 days prior to your first class day, and the second half-way through the semester.
*If your parent is unable to borrow Direct PLUS Loans due to adverse credit or other exceptional circumstances, you may receive additional Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds up to the same amount that is available to independent undergraduate students. The increase loan amounts may not substitute entirely for the amount a parent may borrow under the PLUS program. To request these additional funds, email financialaid@lamar.edu.
Learn more about Parent PLUS Loans.
The Graduate PLUS Loan is available to graduate and professional students to help pay for education expenses up to Cost of Attendance minus all other financial assistance. You do not have to start making payments until six months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. During any period when you are not required to make payments, interest will accrue on your loan. You may choose to pay the accrued interest or allow the interest to be capitalized when you must start making payments. Your loan servicer will notify you when your first payment is due.
You may borrow up to the full yearly Cost of Attendance (as established by the Office of Student Aid) minus all other eligible financial assistance.
Your loan will disburse no earlier than 10 days before your scheduled enrollment begins. Loans are typically disbursed once a semester, however if you are enrolled in an accelerated on-line program or receiving a loan for only one semester, you will receive two disbursements within the semester. The first, no more than 10 days prior to your first class day, and the second half-way through the semester.
Learn more about Graduate PLUS Loans.
Private student loans provided by banks, credit unions, and other lenders can help bridge the gap between the student aid you have already received for college and the total Cost of Attendance. Alternative loans are available through private lenders and require a separate loan application.