Emerald Eagle FAQs

You will be identified through your completed FAFSA application and your UNT admissions’ application; therefore, you must submit your UNT admissions’ file (this includes UNT admissions’ application, SAT/ACT scores, and an unofficial transcript) by March 1, 2010 and a completed FAFSA application by March 31, 2010. Admission into the program is not guaranteed as spaces are limited.

Eligibility

If I am an independent student, am I eligible for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program?

Yes, you are eligible for the program as long as you are considered to be a new entering freshman in the fall immediately following your January-August high school graduation and you meet all other eligibility requirements. (Transfer students are not eligible.)

Is there an age limit for Emerald Eagle Scholars?

No, there isn’t an age limit. You must be a new/first-time freshman in the fall immediately following your January-August high school graduation.

Can I petition for a Dependency Override to be considered for Emerald Eagle Scholars?

Yes, if your dependency statusAn independent student is one who is at least 24 years old during that academic year, is legally married, is a graduate or professional student, has a legal dependent other than a spouse, is a veteran of the US Armed Forces, is currently serving on active duty in the US Armed Forces for purposes other than training, has children, is an orphan, was in foster care, were a dependent or ward of the court, are or were an emancipated minor, are or were in legal guardianship, or have been determined to be homeless. All other students are considered dependent which means parental information must be provided on the FAFSA. If the financial aid administrator believes that a student is not an independent student, they can require them to provide proof of independent status to qualify. Their decision of the student’s status is generally not subject to appeal. A parent refusing to provide support for their child’s education is not sufficient for the child to be declared independent. If you believe you have special circumstances, please contact your financial aid administrator for information about the appeal process. They may be able to do an override of your dependency status on the FAFSA, if warranted by involuntary dissolution of the family or other very unusual situations. Typical dependency override situations include abuse, abandonment and/or neglect in the family structure. The student will need to provide proof of their situation and document by professional references. Students do not qualify for independent status just because their parents have decided to not claim them as an exemption on their tax returns or are refusing to provide support for their college education. changes, you will be considered for the program. You must have met all eligibility requirements including filing your initial FAFSA before the March 31st deadline.

I’m a non-Texas resident who is eligible to pay in-state tuition. Am I eligible for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program?

No. Only Texas residents are eligible for the program at this time. Even if you do not meet an Emerald Eagle Scholars program requirement, you will still be considered for grants, college work studySee Federal Work-Study and loans.

In addition, you can seek assistance from the same support services (the Learning Center, TRIO, Student Money Management Center, etc.) that are available to Emerald Eagle Scholars.

Will I be eligible for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program if I begin my coursework at UNT the summer immediately after my high school graduation?

Yes; however, benefits of the program will not begin until the fall semester/termThe term of a loan is the number of years (or months) during which the loan is to be repaid..

Will I be eligible for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program if I begin my coursework at UNT the spring after my high school graduation?

No. Currently, the program is available to only new/first time freshmen beginning their studies in a fall semester/term. You must be a new/first-time freshman in the fall immediately following your January-August high school graduation.

Even if you do not meet an Emerald Eagle Scholars program requirement, you will still be considered for grants, college work study and loans. In addition, you will be able to seek assistance from the same support services (the Learning Center, TRIO, Student Money Management Center, etc.) that are available to Emerald Eagle Scholars.

Will I be eligible for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program if I graduated from high school prior to spring 2010?

If you graduated from high school prior to spring 2010 (for example: December 2009), you will not be considered for the program. (You must be a new/first-time freshman in the fall immediately following your January-August high school graduation.)

What is the income cutoff for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program?

To be eligible your initial year, you must be a member of a family whose adjusted gross incomeIncome calculated before taxes, deductions, and allowances have been subtracted. does not exceed $40,000. You must also meet all other eligibility requirements to be considered for this program including being eligible for a Federal Pell GrantThe Pell grant is a federal grant that provides funds based on the student's financial need..

If my parents are divorced and one household income is less than $40,000, should I use that parent’s information on my FAFSA to be considered for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program?

The FAFSA states: If your parents are divorced or separated, answer the questions about the parent you lived with more during the past 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, give answers about the parent who provided more financial support during the past 12 months or during the most recent year that you actually received support from a parent. If this parent is remarried as of today, answer the questions about that parent and your step-parent.

How does dual credit affect my eligibility for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program?

If you will be coming to UNT with dual credit, you will be considered for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program as long as you are considered to be a new entering freshman in the fall immediately following your January-August high school graduation and you meet all other eligibility requirements. (Transfer students are not eligible.)

How do College-Level Examination program (CLEP) hours affect my eligibility for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program?

If you have earned CLEP hours, you will be considered for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program as long as you are considered to be a new student in the fall immediately following your January-August high school graduation. (Transfer students are not eligible.)

Deadlines

What if I missed the financial aid and admission deadlines?

If you submitted your admissions file after March 1, 2010 or FAFSA after March 31, 2010, you should not expect to be selected as an Emerald Eagle Scholar. Even if you do not meet an Emerald Eagle Scholars program requirement, you will still be considered for grants, college work study and loans.

In addition, you will be able to seek assistance from the same support services (the Learning Center, TRIO, Student Money Management Center, etc.) that are available to Emerald Eagle Scholars.

If I submitted my FAFSA to the Federal Processor by March 31st but UNT Admissions did not receive my completed admissions file by March 1st, will I still be considered for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program?

If the UNT Admissions office receives your completed admissions file after March 1st, then you should not expect to be selected as an Emerald Eagle Scholar.

A completed admissions file includes a UNT admissions application, unofficial transcript, and SAT/ACT test scores. Even if you do not meet an Emerald Eagle Scholars program requirement, you will still be considered for grants, college work study and loans. In addition, you will be able to seek assistance from the same support services (the Learning Center, TRIO, Student Money Management Center, etc.) that are available to Emerald Eagle Scholars.