Types of Financial Aid
Completing the the is the first step toward getting federal aid to pay for your college expenses.
Completing the FAFSA
The is the application for all formats of federal aid and should be completed online each year. The FAFSA is available beginning October 1st for the following year. It is very important that you file your federal tax return early so that you can utilize the IRS Data Retrieval when you file the FAFSA. If you do not use IRS Data Retrieval and/or you estimate your income information, you are more likely to be selected for verification which will delay your application. Our office receives the results of your application electronically.
For step-by-step instructions on how to create an FSA ID, the first step in completing the FAFSA, please see below.
*Additional videos are available below to walk you through how to complete the FAFSA application.
For general information regarding the FAFSA, please see below.
What happens after I file the FAFSA?
After you file your FAFSA, the federal processor will send you a confirmation email. You should expect to receive the email one to two weeks after you file. Pay careful attention to the instructions they provide. If you did not use the IRS Data Retrieval Process, you will be instructed to do so via the FAFSA corrections process. If The 海角社区 is listed as the school to receive your information (our school code is 001016), we will receive your results electronically. This data provides a detailed analysis of the financial information you reported and the data needed to determine your eligibility for financial assistance. It is possible that additional documentation will be required prior to receiving a federal student aid package. We will contact you via your 海角社区 email address if additional information is needed.
This information will walk you through the process of accepting your financial aid package for the 2024-2025 academic year.
1. Review your award notification. To accept, reduce, or decline your financial aid, access your 海角社区 Portal, click on Financial Aid Dashboard, and select the current aid year from the top of the screen. Make sure you review any questions from the Financial Aid Office on the Home tab and respond. Click on the Award Offer tab.
- FOR GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS - Scroll down to the Grants and Scholarships to Pay for College box. Here, you can view and accept scholarship offers. If your scholarship(s) have been accepted, the word “Accepted” will appear on the right side of the screen next to each accepted scholarship. Grants will be automatically accepted for you. Once you have reviewed ALL of your award offer decisions, click Submit at the bottom of the page.
- FOR LOANS - In the Loans box below, select from the drop-down menus on the right side of the screen whether you would like to Accept or Decline each of your loan offers. You may also click Modify to enter and accept a partial amount of the loan offer. Once you have reviewed ALL of your award offer decisions, click Submit at the bottom of the page.
2. You must read, understand and accept the Terms and Conditions Governing Financial Aid Awards. The Terms and Conditions will appear on the screen AFTER you have submitted your acceptance decisions for your financial aid award offers. Read through the Terms and Conditions, check the box next to the acknowledgement at the bottom, and click Accept Award to confirm your award acceptance decisions.
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IF ACCEPTING LOANS, STEPS 3 AND 4 MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE LOANS WILL DISBURSE.
3. If you are accepting a student loan, you must sign Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). You must sign the MPN at . Our office will receive notification of your Master Promissory Note within 2-3 business days.
4. If you are accepting a student loan, you must complete Loan Entrance Counseling. You must complete this step at . Please do not confuse Loan ENTRANCE Counseling with Loan EXIT Counseling or Financial Awareness Counseling. Our office will receive notification of Loan Entrance Counseling within 2-3 business days.
5. Be sure to check any Unsatisfied Requirements or notices at the top of the Home tab and the Award Offer tab. Outstanding requirements may prevent the timely disbursement of your financial aid.
Federal Direct Student Loans
STUDENTS MUST BE ENROLLED IN AT LEAST HALF TIME TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS.
Student Loans are financial obligations that must be repaid. Pay careful attention to the terms and conditions of any loan you accept to help pay for school. Do not borrow more than you need or can repay comfortably after leaving school. In 2020-21, the percent of 海角社区 undergraduates with debt at graduation was 51%. These students graduated with an average cumulative loan debt of $22,250. Our 2018 cohort default rate (CDR) for student loans is 8.8%, below the national average CDR rate of 7.3%.
Student loan programs provide long-term, low interest loans to students. To be considered for loans at 海角社区, complete the FAFSA. Students at 海角社区 can be awarded subsidized or unsubsidized Stafford loans, depending on the student's demonstrated need and cost of attendance. View the .
Subsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Stafford Subsidized Loans are based on financial need as well as annual and aggregate loan limits. Interest on this loan does not accrue during eligible periods of enrollment. Interest accrual will begin during the designated grace period and repayment begins six months after graduation or when a student is no longer enrolled at least half time (6 semester hours for undergraduate student; 5 semester hours for graduate students). Subsidized Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 and before July 1, 2024 will have a 5.50% interest rate.
Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loans are based on annual and aggregate loan limits and is not need-based. Interest on this loan begins to accrue upon the first disbursement. Repayment begins six months after graduation or when a student is no longer enrolled at least half time (6 semester hours for undergraduate student; 5 semester hours for graduate students). For Unsubsidized Stafford Loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 and before July 1, 2024, the interest rate for undergraduate students is 7.05%.
Loan Amounts
Annual Loan Limits (combined maximum for subsidized and unsubsidized) under the Stafford Loan Programs:
- Dependent Undergraduate students
- Freshmen - $5,500
- Sophomores - $6,500
- Juniors and Seniors - $7,500
The aggregate limit is $31,000 (no more than $23,000 may be in subsidized loans)
- Independent Undergraduate students
- Freshmen - $9,500
- Sophomores - $10,500
- Juniors and Seniors - $12,500
The aggregate limit is $57,500 (no more than $23,000 may be in subsidized loans).
- Graduate Students
- $20,500 Unsubsidized Loans annually, limited to cost of attendance. Graduate Direct Unsubsidized Loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 and before July 1, 2024 have a 7.05% interest rate.
The aggregate limit for graduate students is $138,500 (no more than $65,000 of this amount may be in preexisting subsidized loans as Graduate students became ineligible for subsidized loans after July 2012).
海角社区 Scholarships
The 海角社区 offers a comprehensive scholarship program
For more information on 海角社区 scholarships, please choose one of the following:
- The 海角社区 offers many varied opportunities for qualified students to work on campus during their college careers. Up to 500 jobs are available during the fall-spring semesters. Types of jobs range from lab assistant to desk assistant in residence halls, from office work to intramurals, from library assistant to maintenance work. Students are encouraged to seek jobs related to their college majors and career plans.
- 海角社区 offers two types of student employment:Federal Work Study and University Work Study. Other than the source of funding, the two programs are similar. All student employees are protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act and subject to federal and state tax laws. Note: To be considered for Federal Work Study jobs, students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid ().
- The standard work study award at 海角社区 ranges from $2000- $2500/year. However, actual earnings are based on hours worked and rate of pay. Most employees earn minimum wage at 海角社区, though departments may choose to offer higher rates of pay. In order to balance class work and employment, a student employee may work on campus up to but not more than 20 hrs/wk.
- How to apply for a work study position:
- Create an account through the Symplicity Career Services Manager at For more information, visit the .
- Upload a resume (must be approved before applying for a position)
- Submit resume to position of interest to you and follow up with the hiring department by email or phone.
- If you are offered a position, you will visit the Student Employment Office located in 601 Cramer Way, Room 226 to complete payroll forms.
- For currently listed work study job openings, visit the Career Center web page and click LionJobs.
- For more information about student employment, visit the Student Employment web page.
The 海角社区 participates in both the Federal Pell Grant and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs, in addition to the Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP).
Unlike loans, grants are not repaid unless you are awarded funds incorrectly or withdraw from school prior to the scheduled end of term. All federal grants are awarded to students based on financial need.
General information about these programs is included in the Student Guide, available in print upon request to 海角社区 Student Financial Aid or online at the web site.
海角社区 does not currently participate in the TEACH grant program.
Application
To be considered for any grant program at 海角社区, you must file the .
Grant Amounts
All applicants are automatically considered for all grants. Pell grant recipients are awarded the maximum amounts based on eligibility according to the federal payment schedule. Standard award amounts for SEOG and ASAP range from $300-$800/year. Students must be eligible for a Pell Grant in order to receive SEOG or ASAP. Both SEOG and ASAP funds are limited.
Pell Eligibility
Pell grants are awarded exclusively to undergraduate students. Students may receive an amount up to the maximum award for which he or she is eligible. Pell grants are awarded based on full-time enrollment but will be reduced for less than full-time enrollment.
LIFETIME ELIGIBILITY FOR PELL GRANT IS NOW LIMITED: The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 reduced the duration of a student's eligibility to receive the Pell grant from 18 semesters (or its equivalent) to 12 semesters (or its equivalent). This provision applies to all Federal Pell grant eligible students. Students should be mindful of the Pell grant lifetime eligibility limits when making academic plans. Students who provided an email address when filing the FAFSA will be notified by the U. S. Department Education when he or she is near or has exceeded the lifetime eligibility.
Alternative Loans are private loans made through lending institutions based upon the student's level of creditworthiness as determined by the lender. The student's level of creditworthiness affects the loan terms and if a co-signer is required. Private loans are more expensive than federal government loans and cannot be part of a federal consolidation loan in repayment. Generally speaking, students should consider private education loans only if Federal Stafford Loans are unavailable.
You can compare multiple loans using the .
CERTIFIED Alternative Loan products require the 海角社区 to report enrollment (full-time, half-time, less than half-time) and other financial aid information about the student, and these funds count toward satisfying the Cost of Attendance at 海角社区. Funds for an approved certified alternative loan are electronically sent to 海角社区 by the private lender and then disbursed to the student's billing account on the same schedule as federal aid is disbursed.
Certified Alternative Loan funds are not reflected as Estimated Financial Aid toward the bill until 海角社区 receives the funds the lender has actually transmitted to 海角社区 by Electronic Funds Transfer. Your application must be made, loan approved and funds received from the lender by 海角社区 far enough in advance of the first due date of the term to be counted as Estimated Financial Aid toward the charges. Otherwise your billing account will be due on the scheduled due date. Failure to pay your student account balance by the scheduled due date will result in cancellation of your registration schedule.
You are free to choose any lender that participates in the Private/Alternative loan program and should apply DIRECTLY WITH THE LENDER. 海角社区 does not recommend or endorse any lender and does not benefit in any way from your lender selection.
What Type of Loan is Best? Private education loans tend to cost more than the education loans offered by the federal government, but are less expensive than credit card debt. Federal education loans offer fixed interest rates that are lower than the variable rates offered by most private loans. Federal education loans also offer better repayment and forgiveness options.
Since federal education loans are less expensive than and offer better terms than private student loans, you should exhaust your eligibility for federal student loans before resorting to private loans.
STUDENTS MUST BE ENROLLED IN AT LEAST HALF TIME TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS.
PLUS Loans are loans that parents may be eligible for and can be used to cover a student's education expenses. A parent does have to complete an application and pass a credit check to receive this loan. Students may receive an additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan if their parent does not qualify for a PLUS loan.
To receive a PLUS Loan, your dependent student:
- Must have a completed FAFSA on file at 海角社区
- Must be enrolled at least half-time
- Must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Must meet all other requirements of Title IV aid, as determined by the US Department of Education.
The maximum amount that the parent may borrow under the Federal PLUS Program is the cost of attendance minus any other aid (scholarships, grants, loans, waivers, etc.) received by the student. View the .
To apply for Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), complete the steps outlined in the instructions at .
Make sure that your student checks financial aid requirements in their 海角社区 Portal by selecting, Self-Service, then Financial Aid. Click on Eligibility and then Student Requirements. Outstanding requirements may prevent the timely disbursement of your financial aid.