Financial Aid
College is a significant investment, and the value of a 吃瓜不打烊 education is unmatched. The amount you can spend is influenced by your personal financial situation. At SCF, we’re here to help students and their families who demonstrate financial need or possess academic or special talents. Our goal is to provide opportunities for students to achieve success in higher education through various forms of financial assistance, including grants, scholarships, loans, and part-time employment.
Important Dates for Fall 2024
Date | Description |
---|---|
April 1, 2024 | Registration begins for Fall classes |
Ongoing | Financial Aid determines Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) from Spring/Summer 2024. Changes to a SAP status may impact a student鈥檚 financial aid eligibility for future use. |
August 5, 2024 | Financial Aid bookstore authorization for the full semester begins. |
August 12, 2024 | Classes begin |
August 23, 2024 | Financial Aid bookstore authorizations for the full semester ends. |
September 6, 2024 | Financial Aid refunds will begin to be made available. Please visit the cashiering website for more information concerning refunds. |
Additional Bookstore Dates
Flex Starts | Bookstore Authorization |
---|---|
Flex A | 9/2/2024-9/20/2024 |
Flex B | 9/30/2024-10/11/2024 |
Disbursement of Aid
Students will not receive all of their refund in one disbursement, if either of the following applies:
- One or more of their registered courses have not officially started prior to disbursement of aid.
- Student has a one semester loan. Loans must be disbursed in two payments per Department of Education regulations. The second disbursement will be made after the midpoint of the semester.
Reminder: Students must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) at time of disbursement to remain eligible for Direct Loans.
Where do I Begin?
Applying for Financial Aid
The first decision most of us make in college is about your need for financial aid. To apply for financial aid, we have created a step-by-step checklist to help you through this application process. It is designed to help you proceed through the proper steps.
To apply for federal financial aid, you need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The information you provide determines whether you qualify for federal and state grants and federal loans based on financial need.
You should apply for admission to 吃瓜不打烊, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) to be considered for Financial Aid. To qualify for financial aid, you must be a degree-seeking student. You must submit all academic transcripts from prior schools attended and allow time for evaluation.
We strongly encourage students to file their FAFSA application as early as possible. You will need the College’s Federal school code 001504 in your FAFSA application.
- Create an FSA ID
The FSA ID is your electronic signature for federal student aid and will give you access to your online records with the U.S. Department of Education. Your will be asked to create a username from 6 to 30 characters long. Choose a username that you can remember but make it difficult for others to guess. It can be any combination of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters. You will be asked to create a password. If you are a dependent student, your parents must also apply for an FSA ID. Only the owner of the FSA ID should create and use their account. Never share your FSA ID! You may also request a duplicate FSA ID or change your FSA ID on this website. If you already have a Federal Student Aid PIN, you will be able to enter it and link it to your FSA ID. You can still create an FSA ID if you have forgotten or do not have a PIN.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
This is your application for financial aid at SCF. The school code for 吃瓜不打烊is 001504. Be sure to apply as early as you can for Priority consideration is given to students who apply by May 1st.
- Check your FAFSA
Results After you have submitted your FAFSA the Student Aid Report (SAR) will be available in 35 business days. Be sure to read the COMMENT section carefully. Follow all directions on the SAR to submit corrections or additional information. You will need your FSA ID if you need to make corrections.
- Apply to SCF
You can apply online to 吃瓜不打烊and pay the application fee. After the application is completed you can then submit additional documents that are required: High school transcripts, residency documents, and official transcripts from other colleges.
- Review 吃瓜不打烊Requirements
Your financial need determines your eligibility for financial aid. Students must be degree seeking in A.A., A.S., Bachelor鈥檚 degree or financial aid eligible certificate program. All students must have a high school diploma or GED certificate. Most financial aid programs require at least half-time enrollment (6-8 credits per term). Full time student = 12+ credits per term. Three-quarter time student = 9-11 credits per term. If you attend less than full-time during any term, your Cost of Attendance and financial aid award amounts will be adjusted. This could result in a reduction or removal of loans or other financial aid.
- Check your Financial Aid Status and 吃瓜不打烊student email regularly
Login to your 吃瓜不打烊email to check on the status of your financial aid. It is very important to check your student email for important communications regarding your financial aid. All Official Communications From Scf Financial Aid Are Only Sent To Your Scf Email.
- Apply for funds you do not have to repay
Scholarships Scholarships are provided through the 吃瓜不打烊Foundation, corporations and private donors. They require a completion of an application. Some may require an essay or a letter of recommendation, but do not let that stop you from applying. Grants Grants are awarded by federal, state and institutional sources and do not have to be paid back. Grants are based on financial need and require that you complete a FAFSA. Applications submitted by May 1 are given priority consideration for many types of aid. Student Employment Students that are interested in employment should check at the Career Resource Center to determine job availability college-wide. You must meet and maintain institution requirements. Apply early for limited positions.
- Determine if student loans are necessary
Student loans must be repaid! If you do not need to borrow student loans, do not take on un-necessary debt. If you do need to borrow, only borrow what you need to cover your education. Smart loan choices today = financial freedom tomorrow. Loan awards may be reduced, even after disbursed which can create a debt to 吃瓜不打烊if eligibility requirements are not maintained and/or a student鈥檚 Cost of Attendance is exceeded. If a student has received any financial aid, including but not limited to student loans, they must inform the financial aid office of such aid received as it may impact award eligibility at SCF. Failure to do so may cause an award to be reduced unexpectedly when the over award is identified.
All loans are disbursed in two payments. This is also true if you are only enrolled in Fall or Spring term only. The second installment is delivered at the midpoint of your loan period.
Per Federal regulations, first-time, first-year Stafford borrowers cannot receive disbursements until 30 calendar days after the first day of class in their first term of enrollment. IF you are a first-time Stafford Loan borrower, you must complete Loan Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note.
吃瓜不打烊provides additional resources to help you understand your loans and student journey. This FREE, easy-to-use loan management and planning tool can help you learn how to afford to finish your education. GradReady is a great tool to learn how to balance your school, life, and finances.
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive federal student aid, you must:
- Be a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States.
- Have a valid Social Security Number. (Students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are exempt from this requirement.)
- Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed homeschooling.
- Be enrolled in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or eligible certificate.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Not owe a refund on a federal student grant or be in default on a federal student loan.
- Register (or already be registered) with the Selective Service System, if you are a male and not currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. (Students from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau are exempt from registering; see for more information.)
- Not have a conviction for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, work-study, or loans). If you have such a conviction, you must complete the Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet to determine if you are eligible for aid or partially eligible for aid.
Other conditions affecting eligibility:
- Must demonstrate financial need for certain programs
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
- Federal College Work Study Program
- Once you have a bachelor’s degree or a first professional degree, students no longer qualify for:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Other requirements may apply. Please contact Financial Aid for more information.
Additional Information
- Federal aid is available for up to 30 remedial credits. Once a student attempts 30 remedial credits, federal aid will be awarded for college-level credits only.
- Official transcripts from all prior schools must be received and evaluated by 吃瓜不打烊before you are eligible to receive financial assistance. In order to be degree-seeking at SCF, you must have a high school diploma or GED.
Receiving Funds and Refunds
It is the student鈥檚 responsibility to understand the attendance policies of all courses they are enrolled in. See disbursement dates for each term.
Tuition and Fees
SCF deducts tuition and fees from your financial aid award directly. If your award is less than the cost of tuition and fees, you must pay the difference by the tuition due date. For more information on Tuition, fees and payment options visit the Tuition page.
How Remaining Funds are Applied
Any remaining credit balances after tuition and fees and books are paid, refunds are disbursed to 吃瓜不打烊students according to your refund preference selection. BankMobile and 吃瓜不打烊have partnered together to make this an easy process. For more information see Refunds.
Loan Disbursements
All loans are disbursed in two payments, even if you are enrolled in Fall term or Spring term only. The second installment is delivered at the midpoint of your loan period.
Student Employment Pay
Students working through student employment programs receive checks bi-weekly through their supervisor or directly deposited into their bank accounts. See Student Employment.
Please note: If you are a financial aid recipient and you are thinking about dropping your classes or withdrawing from the College, please consult a FINANCIAL AID COUNSELOR before hand to discuss the status of your financial aid.
吃瓜不打烊students receive a 100 percent refund on all tuition and fees for classes dropped prior to or during the add/drop period for each term. Any refunds will first be credited to any financial assistance received.
SCF’s tuition refund policy is separate from the federal requirement to return unearned aid when a student withdraws. Whether or not the student receives a tuition refund has no bearing on the amount the student may be required to repay under the Return of Title IV Funds requirement.
Financial Aid Policies & Procedures
It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the policies listed below.
To receive funds administered by the Financial Aid Office at the 吃瓜不打烊, Federal Regulations require that students must be making progress toward completion of an eligible degree or certificate program at a reasonable rate.
All three of the following cumulative requirements must be met each term, or the student will not be eligible for financial aid:
- Minimum Cumulative Financial Aid GPA (Financial Aid GPA is a cumulative GPA of all courses on your transcript, including remedial coursework. This is not the same as the academic GPA.)
- Completion Ratio (Pace)
- Maximum Time Frame.
These standards for satisfactory academic progress reflect any student who is receiving financial aid and working toward a degree or certificate. For more information about the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) please visit the 吃瓜不打烊Policies, Procedures and Rules and reference Rule 6HX14.406, Procedure 4.06.01.
This policy applies to any federal aid recipient who withdraws from all courses prior to completing more than聽60% of the enrollment period (fall, spring or summer semester) for which they received federal Title IV funds. The term 鈥淭itle IV funds鈥 refers to the following federal financial aid programs offered at the College:聽 Federal Pell Grants, Federal Direct Stafford Loans – Subsidized and Unsubsidized, Federal PLUS loans and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).
The Return聽of Title IV Funds policy mandates that students who officially or unofficially withdraw from all classes may only keep the financial aid they have 鈥渆arned鈥 up to the time of withdrawal. State and institutional programs require similar treatment. Financial aid funds that were disbursed in excess of the amount 鈥渆arned鈥 must be repaid.
Students who wish to withdraw聽should follow SCF鈥檚 official withdrawal process. Students receiving federal funds may be required to repay aid determined to be 鈥渦nearned.鈥 The earned/unearned calculation is based on the percentage of days the student attended during the term in which they withdrew. The amount of aid the student has earned is determined on a prorated basis. That is, if the student completed 30 percent聽of the term, the student earns 30聽percent聽of the aid received. Once the student has completed 60% of the term, the student is considered to have earned all of their aid.
The difference between the earned federal aid and total aid received equals the amount of 鈥渦nearned鈥 federal funds. Unearned federal funds are subject to repayment. Federal regulations require Title IV aid to be refunded in the following order:
- Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan
- Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan
- Federal PLUS Loan
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant
- Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
If the student does not receive a passing grade at the end of the term, the Return of Title IV (R2T4) Funds calculation will be done after grades are posted for the term and it will be assumed the student unofficially withdrew at the 50 percent聽point of that term. Unless the class participation is available.
Any loans funds the student must return, the student (or their parents for a PLUS Loan) may repay in accordance with the terms of their promissory note(s).聽 For grants, the law requires the student return 50 percent聽of any grant funds they receive. Any amount the student is required to return is a grant overpayment. 吃瓜不打烊will repay any grant overpayment to the applicable federal program on the student鈥檚 behalf and the student will be billed by 吃瓜不打烊for any funds returned on their behalf.
吃瓜不打烊will notify the student when an R2T4 calculation is performed due to either an official or unofficial withdrawal and the student may be billed for any outstanding obligations by the student failing to earn Title IV funds, for which Federal funds were disbursed. Students are not eligible for further aid until all repayments have been made.
Questions regarding聽the process for withdrawing should be addressed to the聽Office of the Registrar.
Questions regarding refunds and/or repayments should聽be addressed to the聽Financial Aid Services聽office.
If聽you stop attending all classes during a semester and do not go through the College’s withdrawal process, you are treated as an “unofficial withdrawal.”聽 If you聽unofficially withdraw, or聽your聽academic transcript reflects unsuccessful completion of all courses,聽吃瓜不打烊will聽calculate your聽aid聽based on a last date of attendance.聽 The last date of attendance is determined聽by documentation of an academic鈥搑elated activity, including notification from the faculty.聽 If there is no last date of attendance recorded, 吃瓜不打烊will recalculate based on 50% of the term.
At the end of each semester, the College聽identifies all students who did not pass at least one class.聽Information from instructors and departments聽will be used to document聽your last date of attendance. Using that information, you will be reviewed under the Return聽of Title IV Funds calculation. This date will also be reported to NSLDS and your enrollment status will be updated.
Financial aid applications selected for “Verification” by the US Department of Education (DOE). Are required is a process to confirm the accuracy of the information supplied by the applicant and/or parent(s) on the Free Application for Federal Student aid (FAFSA). 吃瓜不打烊, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) must also resolve discrepancies on students鈥 financial aid applications.
If your file is selected for the verification process, or if there are discrepancies on your application information, certain information must be proven. This includes household size and number in college, taxable and non-taxable income, asset information, etc. If your FAFSA is selected for verification at any point in the process, you will be required to complete and provide a Verification Worksheet and, at a minimum, your signed federal tax returns (for those required to file) to the Financial Aid Service Office before aid can be processed or disbursed. We will notify you of your outstanding requirements on MySCF.
Follow the instructions on the Verification Worksheet very carefully, as failure to submit all required documents will cause processing delays. Make sure your 吃瓜不打烊student Id number is on all copies of all documents you submit to the Financial Aid Services Office.
If you are a dependent student you will also be required to submit a signed copy of your parent(s) federal tax returns.
If you are an independent student and you are married, you will also be required to submit a copy of your spouses signed federal tax returns if you filed separately.
The Financial Aid Services Office has the right to request additional information in order to complete the verification process. The required verification forms may be downloaded from the Financial Aid Forms section of this Web site and through MySCF. Only submit the verification worksheet if requested.
If your tax information, or information provided on the verification worksheet, differs from the information you provided on your FAFSA application, a correction will be sent to the Central Processor. The Processor will send a corrected SAR to you and corrected information to the College. The correction may result in a change to your award(s). If so, the award(s) will be adjusted accordingly. Stafford Loans cannot be processed, nor can any grant funds be disbursed, until the verification requirements are satisfied and the process is complete.
If the amount or type of aid changes, you will receive a revised notification via MySCF.
Financial aid administrators have, under the law (section 479A of the Higher Education Act), the ability to make adjustments on the basis of adequate documentation, and on a case-by-case basis, to address circumstances not reflected in a student鈥檚 original Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Professional judgment will be exercised upon presentation of proper documentation in the cases listed below, a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be recomputed using the new information. The circumstances in which professional judgment may be used are:
- divorce or separation of student or parent;
- death of parent or student’s spouse;
- permanent disability of a wage earner;
- permanent retirement of a wage earner;
- change in employment status (i.e., new job pays materially less);
- unemployment of a wage earner; or
- permanent loss of untaxed income or benefits
Professional judgment will not be聽exercised for any reason聽other than聽those listed above without the approval of the Director and/or Coordinator of Financial Aid Services.
If you believe you meet one of the circumstances above applies to you,聽and聽you are not already eligible to receive the full Pell Grant award for the aid year in question, please contact the Financial Aid Services Office on the Bradenton or Venice campuses.
There are situations where students and/or parents聽willfully falsify or misrepresent information聽for the purpose聽of obtaining financial aid that聽a student is not eligible for. As administrators of Title IV programs and funds,聽the College聽is obligated to ensure processes are in place to protect against fraud by聽applicants聽or staff.聽 The Financial Aid Services Office is required to have a policy of referral when confronted with actual or suspected cases of fraud and abuse [34 CFR 668.53(a)(5), 668.14(g)].
Policy for Fraud
Individuals聽who willfully submit fraudulent information and/or documentation to obtain financial aid funds will be investigated to the fullest extent possible. All cases of fraud and abuse will be reported to the proper authorities.
Procedures for Fraud
If a financial aid officer suspects or determines intentional misrepresentation of facts, false statements, or alteration of documents which resulted or could result in the awarding or disbursement of funds for which the student is not eligible, the information shall be reported to the Director of Financial Aid Services for further review and possible disciplinary action. If the Director determines or suspects fraud, all information will be forwarded to the Vice President of Educational and Student Services, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Education, and/or the local law enforcement agency. Note: The regulations require only that the College refer the suspected case for investigation, not that we reach a firm conclusion about the propriety of the conduct.
The Financial Aid Services Office must identify and resolve discrepancies in the information received from different sources with respect to a student’s application for Title IV aid. These items include, but are not limited to:
- Student aid applications
- Need analysis documents (e.g., Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) and Student Aid Reports (SARs))
- Federal income tax returns
- Documents and information related to a student’s citizenship
- School credentials (high school diploma)
- Documentation of the student’s Social Security Number (SSN)
- Compliance with the Selective Service registration requirement and other factors related to students’ eligibility for Title IV funds
Some forms of financial aid fraud include,聽but are not limited to, the following:
- Forged signatures on an application, verification documentation or master promissory notes
- Falsified documents聽– including reporting members that are not part of your household
- False statements of income
- False statements of citizenship
- Use of fictitious names, addresses, SSN
- False claims of independent status
Cases of fraud will be reported to the Office of Inspector General:
Inspector General’s Hotline:聽1-800-MIS-USED
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline
Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1510
Florida Dept. of Education
Students unable to resolve a conflict at the campus level may submit their concern to the State of Florida Department of Education.聽
The classes that you are enrolled in as of the census date will determine the amount of grant funding you will receive. If you increase your enrollment level after the census date. your grant will not be increased. If you decrease your enrollment level after the census date, your grant will not be reduced. If you drop all courses, we are required to reduce your federal aid based on the percentage of the semester that you have completed.
Students are not allowed to receive financial assistance for classes which they were reported as a NO SHOW. The student鈥檚 financial assistance will be adjusted based on the enrollment status. This applies to online classes as well as regular in classroom classes.
If you have a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, or work study) you will receive a worksheet in the mail with your SAR (Student Aid Report). You can use the worksheet to determine whether the conviction affects your eligibility for federal student aid
The Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group is where individuals can turn after trying other ways to resolve a federal student aid dispute.
Net Price Calculator
This calculator is intended to provide estimated net price information (defined as estimated cost of attendance – including tuition and required fees, books and supplies, room and board (meals), and other related expenses – minus estimated grant and scholarship aid) to current and prospective students and their families based on what similar students paid in a previous year.