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Tuition Grant Program (TGP) Helpful Tips

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Application Process Tips

Study Abroad Program Tips

  • Programs abroad differ from school to school and are usually administered through your child's current school.
  • If the program abroad is not administered through your child's current school or if they use a separate entity for invoicing, then a second TGP application may be required.
    • We also may need written approval from the primary school that they will accept the classes taken abroad.
  • Applications for abroad programs should be submitted as soon as possible as these may take longer to process.
  • Programs abroad usually request tuition payment sooner than schools in the US.
  • Programs abroad are usually on a semester schedule instead of a quarter schedule. This poses some problems if your child’s home institution is on the quarter schedule:
    • If TGP pays based on the quarter schedule, the dollar amount payable is less.
    • If TGP pays based on the semester schedule, you use more points and could end up with less available at the end of four years.
    • Example: 1.5 pts. instead of 1.0 pts.
    • Discuss with the TGP to see which works best for your situation.

Other Important Application Tips

  • Incomplete applications will be returned. This can delay receipt of your authorization letter which may delay payment of tuition.
  • Include the required dependent documentation, such as birth or marriage certificates or tax returns when you submit your application.
  • It is important to include your child’s student ID number on the application or provide it as soon as possible so it is listed on their TGP authorization letter.
  • If your child wants to attend a foreign institution, be sure to check with the TGP to confirm that the schools you are considering are eligible foreign institutions.

Points Tips

Attendance Tips

Students who are claimed as dependents may have breaks in attendance without repercussions.

Payments & Taxability Tips

TGP Invoicing & Due Date Tips

  • Although you might receive an invoice with a payment due date, most schools invoice Stanford after their add/ drop period has completed.
  • As long as the school has your child’s authorization letter on file, any due date quoted to you does not apply to the portion Stanford TGP will pay.
  • Deduct Stanford’s portion of the invoice (tuition and mandatory fees) and pay the remaining balance only. Stanford will pay its portion timely.
  • All invoices are processed in the order they are received, and schools will work with Stanford on any billing issues that may arise. Please allow up to four weeks for Stanford payment processing to complete.

Reimbursements Due to Tuition Overpayment

  • Overpayment of tuition can occur if:
    • You pay an entire invoice that includes TGP’s portion, because you were not eligible for TGP at the start of the school term, or
    • You pay an entire invoice that includes TGP’s portion because of the school’s invoice due date that really only applied to your portion.
    • Please note that Stanford will assist you in correcting this situation.
  • If you claim your child as your dependent for tax purposes, TGP will always reimburse you via payment through the child’s school, so that you maintain the non-taxable status of the payment.
  • Your child’s school accounting policies will dictate how they refund you from this credit.

Refund Process Tips

  • If a refund is requested due to your child dropping out of school or leaving for medical reasons, TGP will defer to your child’s school’s refund policy.
  • When we receive the refund from their school:
    • If we receive less than 50%, then the term is considered used.
    • If it's 50% or more of the TGP payment, then your child will be credited half a TGP point back to their balance.
    • If we receive 100% of the TGP payment, your child will be credited a full point back to their balance.

Schools That Do Not Invoice Third Parties

  • Not all schools will agree to invoice Stanford’s TGP directly. In that case, it is your responsibility to send us the invoice for each term so we can pay the tuition directly to the school.
  • When you receive the school's invoice, simply email it to: tuitiongrant@stanford.edu
  • A short list of colleges that commonly do not invoice TGP directly include: Santa Clara University, University of San Diego, Carnegie Mellon University, Scripps College, Harvey Mudd College and Ohio State University.

Financial Aid Tips

  • It is important to inform the school that you have TGP as a benefit.
  • TGP will only deduct financial aid that can only be used towards tuition costs.
  • Loans must be repaid so they are not considered financial aid by TGP and will not be deducted from the benefit.

Other Important Taxability Tips

  • TGP coverage does not end when your child turns 26, although the benefit may be taxable if he/she is no longer your dependent.
  • If you find out you weren’t able to claim your child on your tax returns for the academic year and non-taxable tuition payments have been made by TGP, contact the TGP right away. The Stanford Payroll Department may need to make adjustments to your taxable wages.