Achieving A College Education Plus

Financial Aid & Scholarship Information

Handouts:

Scholarship Websites

Financial aid is awarded on the basis of demonstrated need or for recognition of special talents and accomplishments, in accordance with Federal, State and donor-prescribed criteria.

Federal Pell Grant (PG)

Maximum award is $4,310 per year for the 2007-2008 Academic year U.S. Department of Education, formula determines your eligibility. Awards are available over nine or 12 months–if taken over nine months there is NO eligibility for the summer session. Student Aid Report (SAR) will be sent to YOU. Errors must be corrected, and may mean a three to four week delay; submit corrections to the Financial Aid office. (Student Owed Repayment) is when you must repay portions of grants you were awarded. See the page on Withdrawal for more information. For detailed information on Pell Grant visit the Department of Education's Web Page at http://www.ed.gov/

Federal Work Study (FWS) Program

Federally funded and permits the college to create a job while you earn credits required for your education. These part-time jobs generally will not exceed twenty (20) hours per week with the rate of pay equal to at least the minimum wage. For detailed information on the Federal Work Study Program visit the Department of Education's Web Page.

Stafford Student Loans

All applicants are required to apply through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Must have calculated financial need to receive subsidized loan. Subsidized loans are those on which the government pays the interest while the student is in school and other periods of authorized deferment. Maximum loan is $3,500 per academic year for students who have not earned at least 30 credits or $4,500 per year for second year students (over 30 credits earned). Independent students may receive an additional $4,000 per academic year in unsubsidized loans. Each borrower must complete Loan Entrance Counseling at the college (this is a Federal requirement). Federal Regulations require 30 day delayed disbursal for first time student loan borrowers unless they have completed 30 days of an eligible program of study at the college as determined by the College Admissions and Records Office. A Student must complete Entrance Loan Counseling before receiving the first disbursement of their first Federal Stafford Loan. This is Federal requirement. Note: If doing the Entrance Interview on the web please print a copy for your records. A student is advised to complete Exit Loan Counseling at the time of graduation or ceasing at least half-time enrollment. (Half-time status is 6 credit hours or less) and prior to receiving a second loan disbursement. Note: If you do the Exit interview on the web please print a copy for your records. For additional information on Stafford Loans visit the Department of Education's Web Page.

Withdrawal of Financial Aid Students

In accordance with Federal regulations (CFR 668.22), a student may be required to repay federal financial aid funds if they completely withdraw or are withdrawn, or fail to earn a passing grade from all classes during a semester. Further information is available at the college Office of Student Financial Aid. This could affect a student's ability to receive Financial Aid in the future at any school.

What Information Is Required to Complete My Financial Aid File?

An acknowledgement report or Student Aid Report (SAR) will be sent directly to you from the Federal Student Aid Processor. The SAR must be reviewed for accuracy. If corrections are necessary or the college is not listed, you will need to follow the instructions on the SAR to correct any information.

Other documents may be required to complete your application. These documents should be submitted to the college Student Financial Aid Office and may include (but not limited to):

• The Student Aid Report (SAR) - all parts. • Verification Form (if selected) • Citizenship verification • Tax forms (make sure your parents have completed tax forms, for students under 24yrs old) • High School Diploma • DD-214 (Military Verification) • Social Security Card • Other income verification As we process your file, we will send you a letter telling you if any documents are still needed. Please submit those documents to our office as soon as possible. After all required forms or documents have been received and analyzed; we will determine your aid eligibility. We will then send you an Award Notification Letter indicating the aid we have awarded you, or a denial letter stating you are not eligible to receive aid. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

NOTE: Student must have parent's tax information for the FAFSA. A student can't fill out a FAFSA with their own tax info until they turn 24.