Financial Aid

Applying for Financial Aid involves several steps:

1. Fill out the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

2. The College of Coastal Georgia Title IV code is 001558.
3. The Institutional Scholarship Application.
4. Hope programs eligibility requirements

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) regulations require that a student must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program to receive federal financial aid (Grants, Loans, FSEOG, Work Study). Finds will only be disbursed for courses that will fulfill unmet degree requirements, including applicable prerequisite/corequisite courses.

Students enrolling in courses that will not aid in completing their degree may see their financial aid prorated and/or cancelled as required by the Department of Education. Students are required to meet with their academic advisor before they register each semester; students should use that opportunity to ensure all courses aid in degree completion.

What is CPoS?

Course Program of Study (CPoS) is the process that is run to identify which courses will fulfill unmet degree requirements, including applicable prerequisites/corequisite courses. Courses that will not aid in degree completion will be ineligible for federal financial aid.

The CPoS process will run regularly throughout the registration period before and after classes begin, and students will be notified via their student email and messaged within the portal if they are registered for classes that will not count toward their degree.

Key Components to Remember about CPoS

The FAFSA Simplification Act was enacted into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022. The act is an overhaul of the federal student aid processes, formulas and systems that will begin for the 2024-2025 award year. It brings about many changes for students and parents who complete the FAFSA.

Learn More Here

Student Responsibilities

As a financial aid recipient, it is your responsibility to know the following rules and regulations:

• An applicant for financial aid must be enrolled before financial aid awards can be disbursed.
• Students receiving financial aid are required to declare the program of study that they are pursuing.
• For students whose financial aid has been approved, the system allows tuition and fees to be deducted from each semester’s award at registration. Any remaining funds are disbursed after the students’ attendance for at least six credit hours has been verified by the instructor.
• Students receiving financial aid who drop out of school during the semester may owe the college a refund.
• Ordinarily, financial aid is awarded for two semesters of the regular academic year. Students must reapply for financial aid each academic year.
• Students given an award for the full academic year (two semesters) who fail to enroll fall semester will have all aid, with the exception of the Pell Grant, cancelled for the remainder of that year.
• Any student in default on federal or state loans or having an outstanding financial commitment to any federal or state program will not be considered for financial aid at the College of Coastal Georgia.
• Financial aid applications received after May 1 will be considered on a first come, first-served basis providing funds are available.
• All hours attempted for the Semester, including grades of “W,” are counted in the College’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.
• Ability-to-benefit students (those without an accredited high school diploma or GED certificate) applying for federal financial aid must pass a test approved by the Secretary of Education.
• Students cannot be enrolled in and receive federal financial aid from two different institutions at the same time.
• The maximum hours for which a student may receive financial aid is 150% of the number of semester hours required to earn the degree or certificate as stated in the College catalog. For financial aid purposes, students may register for only those courses specified in their selected program of study.
• Students taking Remedial/Learning Support courses, including CPC requirements, will be eligible for assistance up to a total of 30 hours that will not be counted in the 150 percent. Remedial hours in excess of the 30 hours will be counted in the 150 percent timeframe. Furthermore, students may not receive financial aid for remedial hours in excess of the 30 hours.
• Financial Aid will not pay for classes a student audits, CLEPs, or completes by Departmental Exam.
• Financial aid students who previously attended the College of Coastal Georgia may be denied financial aid for failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress based on previously attempted course work, regardless of whether they received financial aid for that enrollment. Academic forgiveness will not affect financial aid eligibility.
• The College of Coastal Georgia complies with all federal legislation and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran.

Attendance Verification

To ensure compliance with state and federal financial aid guidelines, the College of Coastal Georgia verifies attendance of all classes before financial aid is disbursed to a student’s account. If a student is not verified in attendance for a class, that class is dropped and financial aid is disbursed accordingly. If students are enrolled in second session classes, financial aid will not disburse to their accounts until after the class has begun and attendance verified.

A bookstore credit will be available for use in the College’s bookstore if you have pre-registered, have financial aid in excess of the tuition and fees posted to your account, and do not have a previous balance. To receive this credit, you must authorize us to do so in your COAST account by clicking on “financial aid,” then “student authorizations.” Make sure your address and contact information is up to date in COAST. Checks will be mailed to the address on file in Banner. Register for classes and check your financial aid status as well. You can view your authorized financial aid in COAST, under “student records,” then “student account,” and “account detail for term.” Any balance due must be paid in full by the first day of classes each semester.

The credit will be available at least four to five business days before the semester begins, and will expire at the close of business the day after drop/add.

Examples of how this procedure will work:

• Scenario 1:
  Jane Doe is enrolled in 12 credit hours for the summer semester.
  (All classes start on June 3)
  ECON 2106…3 hours
  ENGL 1101…3 hours
  MATH 2112…3 hours
  PSYC 1101…3 hours

In the above scenario, Jane would have her financial aid disbursed for the 12 credit hours after having been verified in attendance.

• Scenario 2:
  John Doe is enrolled in 6 credit hours for the summer semester.
  ENGL 1101…3 hours (class starts June 3)
  HIST 2111…3 hours (class starts July 1)

In this scenario, John would not be able to receive all his financial aid until after the class that begins on July 1 has been verified.

Financial Aid Terms

• Academic Year
  The timeframe during which school is in session; consisting of at least 30 weeks of instructional time. The school year typically runs from the mid-August through the end of May at most colleges and universities. The academic year begins with the fall semester, continues with spring semester, and ends with the summer semester.
• Appeal
  An appeal is a formal request to have a financial aid administrator review the circumstances surrounding an individual not making satisfactory academic progress. The student must provide reason why he/she has not met the minimum academic requirements to receive financial aid and the steps that he/she is taking to obtain the minimum requirements to receive financial aid. Supporting documentation is required.
• Appeal Agreement
  A formal agreement (i.e.; Academic Warning or Academic Plan from the Financial Aid Office) signed by student if their Appeal for financial aid is approved to signify understanding, adherence and compliance of requirements for maintaining conditions of Appeal.
• Award Letter
  An award letter is an official document issued by a school’s financial aid office that lists all of the financial aid awarded to the student. This letter provides details on their analysis of your financial need and the breakdown of your financial aid package according to amount, source and type of aid. The award letter will include the terms and conditions for the financial aid and information about the cost of attendance. You can view your award letter on COAST.
• Bankruptcy
  When a person is declared bankrupt, he is found to be legally insolvent and his property is distributed among his creditors or otherwise administered to satisfy the interests of his creditors. Federal student loans, however, cannot normally be discharged through bankruptcy.
• Campus-based Aid
  Financial aid programs are administered by the university. The federal government provides the university with a fixed annual allocation, which is awarded by the financial aid administrator to deserving students. Such programs include the Perkins Loan, Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant and Federal Work-Study. Note that there is no guarantee that every eligible student will receive financial aid through these programs because the awards are made from a fixed pool of money.
• Cost of Attendance (COA)
  The COA (also known as the cost of education or “budget”) is the total amount it should cost the student to go to school, including tuition and fees, room and board, allowances for books and supplies, transportation, and personal and incidental expenses. Schools may establish different standard budget amounts for students living on-campus and off-campus, married and unmarried students and in-state and out-of-state students.
• Custodial Parent
  If a student’s parents are divorced or separated, the custodial parent is the one with whom the student lived the most with during the past 12 months. The student’s need analysis is based on financial information supplied by the custodial parent.
• Default
  A loan is in default when the borrower fails to pay several regular installments on time (i.e., payments overdue by 180 days) or otherwise fails to meet the terms and conditions of the loan. If you default on a loan, the university, the holder of the loan, the state government and the federal government can take legal action to recover the money, including garnishing your wages and withholding income tax refunds. Defaulting on a government loan will make you ineligible for future federal financial aid, unless a satisfactory repayment schedule is arranged, and can affect your credit rating.
• Deferment
  Deferment occurs when a borrower is allowed to postpone repaying the loan. If you have a subsidized loan, the federal government pays the interest charges during the deferment period. If you have an unsubsidized loan, you are responsible for the interest that accrues during the deferment period. You can still postpone paying the interest charges by capitalizing the interest, which increases the size of the loan. Most federal loan programs allow students to defer their loans while they are in school at least half time. If you don’t qualify for a deferment, you may be able to get forbearance. You can’t get a deferment if your loan is in default.
• Disclosure Statement
  A Disclosure Statement provides the borrower with information about the actual cost of the loan, including the interest rate, origination, insurance, loan fees and any other types of finance charges. Lenders are required to provide the borrower with a disclosure statement before issuing a loan.
• Eligible Non-Citizen
  An “Eligible Non-Citizen” is someone who is not a US citizen but is nevertheless eligible for Federal student aid. Eligible non-citizens include US permanent residents who are holders of valid green cards, US nationals, holders of form I-94 who have been granted refugee or asylum status and certain other non-citizens. Non-citizens who hold a student visa or an exchange visitor visa are not eligible for Federal student aid.
• Emancipated
  Emancipated means to release a child from the control of a parent or guardian. Declaring a child to be legally emancipated is not sufficient to release the parents or legal guardians from being responsible for providing for the child’s education. The criteria for a child to be found independent are much stricter.
• Entrance Counseling
  The goal of entrance counselingis to help you understand what it means to take out a federal student loan.  If you have not previously received a subsidized or unsubsidized loanunder the Direct Loan Program or a subsidized or unsubsidized Stafford Loan under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, you’ll be required to complete entrance counseling.
• Exit Counseling
  Exit Counseling is required when you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment.  Exit counseling provides important information you need to prepare to repay your federal student loan(s).
• Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
  The EFC is the amount of money that the family is expected to be able to contribute to the student’s education, as determined by the Federal Methodology need analysis formula approved by Congress. The EFC includes the parent contribution and the student contribution, and depends on the student’s dependency status, family size, number of family members in school, taxable and nontaxable income and assets. The difference between the COA and the EFC is the student’s financial need, and is used in determining the student’s eligibility for need-based financial aid. If you have unusual financial circumstances (such as high medical expenses, loss of employment or death of a parent) that may affect your ability to pay for your education, tell your financial aid administrator (FAA). He or she can adjust the COA or EFC to compensate. See Professional Judgment.
• Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)
  FFELP includes the Federal Stafford Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized), the Federal Perkins Loan and the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). The funds for these loans are provided by private lenders, such as banks, credit unions and savings & loan associations. These loans are guaranteed against default by the federal government.
• Federal Work-Study (FWS)
  The Federal Work Study Program provides undergraduate and graduate students with part-time employment during the school year. The federal government pays a portion of the student’s salary, making it cheaper for departments and businesses to hire the student. For this reason, work-study students often find it easier to get a part-time job. Eligibility for FWS is based on need. Money earned from a FWS job is not counted as income for the subsequent year’s need analysis process.
• Financial Aid
  Financial Aid is the money provided to the student and the family to help them pay for the student’s education. Major forms of financial aid include gift aid (grants and scholarships) and self-help aid (loans and work).
  • Financial Aid Administrator (FAA) – A college or university employee who is involved in the administration of financial aid. Some schools call FAAs “Financial Aid Advisors” or “Financial Aid Counselors”.
  • Financial Aid Office (FAO) – The college or university office that is responsible for the determination of financial need and the awarding of financial aid.
• Financial Aid Package
  Financial Aid Package refers to the complete collection of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study employment from all sources (federal, state, institutional and private) offered to a student to enable them to attend the college or university. Note that unsubsidized Stafford loans and PLUS loans are not considered part of the financial aid package, since these financing options are available to the family to help them meet the EFC.
• Forbearance
  Forbearance is when the lender allows the borrower to temporarily postpone repaying the principal, but the interest charges continue to accrue, even on subsidized loans. The borrower must continue paying the interest charges during the forbearance period. Forbearances are granted at the lender’s discretion, usually in cases of extreme financial hardship or other unusual circumstances when the borrower does not qualify for a deferment. You can’t receive a forbearance if your loan is in default.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  The FAFSA is the form used to apply for Pell Grants and all other need-based aid. As the name suggests, no fee is charged to file a FAFSA.
• Grace Period
  A short time period after graduation during which the borrower is not required to begin repaying his or her student loans. The grace period may also kick in if the borrower leaves school for a reason other than graduation or drops below half-time enrollment. Depending on the type of loan, you will have a grace period of six months (Stafford Loans) or nine months (Perkins Loans) before you must start making payments on your student loans. The PLUS Loans do not have a grace period.
• Income
  Income is considered as the the amount of money received from employment (salary, wages, tips), profit from financial instruments (interest, dividends, capital gains), or other sources (welfare, disability, child support, Social Security and pensions).
• Independent
  An independent student is at least 24 years old as of January 1 of the academic year, is married, is a graduate or professional student, has a legal dependent other than a spouse, is a veteran of the US Armed Forces, or is an orphan or ward of the court (or was a ward of the court until age 18). A parent refusing to provide support for their child’s education is not sufficient for the child to be declared independent. (See also Dependent.)
• Lender
  A bank, credit union, savings & loan association, or other financial institution that provides funds to the student or parent for an educational loan is referred to as a lender.  Note:  Some schools now participate in the Federal Direct Loan program and no longer use a private lenders since loan funds are provided by the US Government.
• Loan
  A loan is a type of financial aid which must be repaid, with interest. The federal student loan programs (FFELP and FDSLP) are a good method of financing the costs of your college education. These loans are better than most consumer loans because they have lower interest rates and do not require a credit check or collateral. The Stafford Loans and Perkins Loans also provide a variety of deferment options and extended repayment terms.
• Merit-based
  Financial aid that is merit-based depends on your academic, artistic or athletic merit or some other criteria, and does not depend on the existence of financial need. Merit-based awards use your grades, test scores, hobbies and special talents to determine your eligibility for scholarships.
• Need
  The difference between the COA and the EFC is the student’s financial need — the gap between the cost of attending the school and the student’s resources. The financial aid package is based on the amount of financial need. The process of determining a student’s need is known as need analysis.
  
  Cost of Attendance (COA)
  – Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
  —————————————–
  = Financial Need
• Need Analysis
  The process of determining a student’s financial need by analyzing the financial information provided by the student and his or her parents (and spouse, if any) on a financial aid form. The student must submit a need analysis form to apply for need-based aid. Need analysis forms include the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Financial Aid PROFILE.
• Need-Based
  Financial aid that is need-based depends on your financial situation. Most government sources of financial aid are need-based.
• Origination Fee
  An origination fee is a fee fee paid to the bank to compensate them for the cost of administering the loan. The origination fees are charged as the loan is disbursed. A portion of this fee is paid to federal government to offset the administrative costs of the loan.
• Outside Scholarship
  A scholarship that comes from sources other than the school and the federal or state government.
• Packaging
  Packaging refers to the process of assembling a financial aid package.
• Pell Grant
  A federal grant that provides funds based on the student’s financial need.
• Professional Judgement
  For need-based federal aid programs, the financial aid administrator can adjust the EFC, adjust the COA, or change the dependency status (with documentation) when extenuating circumstances exist. For example, if a parent becomes unemployed, disabled or deceased, the FAA can decide to use estimated income information for the award year instead of the actual income figures from the base year. This delegation of authority from the federal government to the financial aid administrator is called Professional Judgment (PJ).
• Promissory Note
  The binding legal document that must be signed by the student borrower before loan funds are disbursed by the lender. The promissory note states the terms and conditions of the loan, including repayment schedule, interest rate, deferment policy and cancellations. The student should keep this document until the loan has been repaid.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  A student must make this in order to continue receiving federal aid. If a student fails to maintain an academic standing consistent with the school’s SAP policy, they are unlikely to meet the school’s graduation requirements and they will lose the ability to receive financial aid.
• Scholarship
  A scholarship is a form of financial aid given to undergraduate students to help pay for their education. Most scholarships are restricted to paying all or part of tuition expenses, though some scholarships also cover room and board. Scholarships are a form of gift aid and do not have to be repaid. Many scholarships are restricted to students in specific courses of study or with academic, athletic or artistic talent.
• Selective Service
  Selective Services refers to registration for the military draft. Male students who are US citizens and have reached the age of 18 and were born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service System to be eligible for federal financial aid. If the student did not register and is past the age of doing so (18-25), and the school determines that the failure to register was knowing and willful, the student is ineligible for all federal student financial aid programs. The school’s decision as to whether the failure to register was willful is not subject to appeal. Students needing help resolving problems concerning their Selective Service registration should call 1-847-688-6888.
• Servicer
  Servicer is the organization that collects payments on a loan and performs other administrative tasks associated with maintaining a loan portfolio. Loan servicers disburse loans funds, monitor loans while the borrowers are in school, collect payments, process deferments and forbearances, respond to borrower inquiries and ensure that the loans are administered in compliance with federal regulations and guarantee agency requirements.
• Stafford Loans
  Federal loans that come in two forms, subsidized and unsubsidized. Subsidized loans are based on need; unsubsidized loans aren’t. The interest on the subsidized Stafford Loan is paid by the federal government while the student is in school and during the 6 month grace period. The Subsidized Stafford Loan was formerly known as the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL). The Unsubsidized Stafford Loan may be used to pay the EFC.
• Student Aid Report (SAR)
  Report that summarizes the information included in the FAFSA and must be provided to your school’s FAO. The SAR will also indicate the amount of Pell Grant eligibility, if any, and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). You should receive a copy of your SAR one to two weeks after you file your FAFSA. Review your SAR and correct any errors on part 2 of the SAR. Keep a photocopy of the SAR for your records. To request a duplicate copy of your SAR, call 1-800-433-3243.
• Student Assistant
  A student assistant is a student who is employed by the College of Coastal Georgia as a part-time worker. This term is sometimes erroneously used to refer to the Federal Work-Study Program.
• Subsidized Loan
  With a subsidized loan, such as the Perkins Loan or the Subsidized Stafford Loan, the government pays the interest on the loan while the student is in school, during the six-month grace period and during any deferment periods. Subsidized loans are awarded based on financial need and may not be used to finance the family contribution. See Stafford Loans for information about subsidized Stafford Loans. See also Unsubsidized Loan.
• Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
  Federal grant program for undergraduate students with exceptional need. SEOG grants are awarded by the school’s financial aid office, and provide up to $4,000 per year. To qualify, a student must also be a recipient of a Pell Grant.
• Undergraduate Student
  A student who is enrolled in a program that leads to a certificate or a bachelor’s degree.
• Unmet Need
  In an ideal world, the FAO would be able to provide each student with the full difference between their ability to pay and the cost of education. Due to budget constraints the FAO may provide the student with less than the student’s need (as determined by the FAO). This gap is known as the unmet need.
• Unsubsidized Loan
  A loan for which the government does not pay the interest. The borrower is responsible for the interest on an unsubsidized loan from the date the loan is disbursed, even while the student is still in school. Students may avoid paying the interest while they are in school by capitalizing the interest, which increases the loan amount. Unsubsidized loans are not based on financial need and may be used to finance the family contribution. See Stafford Loans for information about unsubsidized Stafford Loans. See also Subsidized Loan.
• Verification
  Verification is a review process in which the FAO determines the accuracy of the information provided on the student’s financial aid application. During the verification process the student and parent will be required to submit documentation for the amounts listed (or not listed) on the financial aid application. Such documentation may include signed copies of the most recent Federal and State income tax returns for you, your spouse (if any) and your parents, proof of citizenship, proof of registration with Selective Service, and copies of Social Security benefit statements and W2 and 1099 forms, among other things.
  
  Financial aid applications are randomly selected by the Federal processor for verification, with most schools verifying at least 1/3 of all applications. Students that are selected to be verified will receive notification of what documents need to be submitted to the Financial Aid Office. If any discrepancies are uncovered during verification, the financial aid office may require additional information to clear up the discrepancies. Such discrepancies may cause your final financial aid package to be different from the initial package described on the award letter you received from the school. If you refuse to submit the required documentation, your financial aid package will be cancelled and no aid awarded.
• Veteran
  For Federal financial aid purposes such as determining dependency status, a veteran is a person who (1) engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard) or are a National Guard or Reserve enlistee who was called to active duty for purposes other than training, or were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, and (2) was released under a condition other than dishonorable.
  
  Having a DD-214 does not necessarily mean that you are a veteran for financial aid purposes. As noted above, you must have served on active duty and received an honorable discharge.
• W2 Form
  A W2 form lists an employee’s wages and tax withheld. Employers are required by the IRS to issue a W2 form for each employee before January 31st.
• Ward of the Court
  A ward of the court is someone under the protection of the courts. The ward of the court may have a guardian appointed by the court. The legal guardian is not personally liable for the ward’s expenses and is not liable to third parties for the ward’s debts.
  
  The key issue for financial aid purposes is that when a child becomes a ward of the court, no parent or other person is financially responsible for the child. Legal guardians and foster parents are not financially responsible for a ward of the court. Adoptive parents, on the other hand, are financially responsible for the child.
  
  A student who declares themselves a ward of the court may be asked to provide documentation to certify their status.

More than 85 percent of the students who attend Coastal Georgia receive some type of financial aid. This aid is funded through federal, state, outside scholarships and institutional scholarship funds.

MORE INFORMATION HERE

The Office of Financial Aid requires that all students who would like to receive financial aid for summer semester must submit a separate summer application.

Payment is due the day a student registers for courses if the student does not have enough financial aid to cover the current semester’s balance. If payment is not made at the beginning of the semester, the student’s courses may be dropped for non-payment and a late payment fee will be charged if courses are reinstated.

If a student has Veterans Benefits, they may be required to make payment at the time they have registered depending on the type of benefits they have and at what percentage those benefits are covered.

All payments are made to the Bursar’s Office located on the first floor of the Andrews Center.

Student Loan Payments to Restart After Dec. 31, 2022

The College of Coastal Georgia is committed to keeping you updated with changes to the student loan program.

The Department of Education recently announced a new one-time student loan cancellation based on income, as well as extending the payment and interest pause on federal student loans.

The Aug. 24 announcement included the following steps to help borrowers transition back to regular payments as pandemic-related support expires:

1. Extension of the payment pause. No payments are due and no interest will be charged through Dec. 31, 2022.
2. Targeted debt relief to low-and-middle-income families.

Visit the one-time student loan debt relief page for more information.

Take These Steps Now

You may be wondering what you have to do to claim this relief. Here’s how to make sure you’re getting the latest information and updates as details are announced.

1. Update your contact information in your profile on both your loan servicer’s website and on StudentAid.gov.
2. Sign up to be notified when the process has officially opened at the Department of Education subscription page.
3. Make sure you know what you owe. Review your financial aid history and loan details on StudentAid.gov.
4. Watch out for increased scam attempts to take advantage of borrowers. Remember that you never have to pay to apply for or receive relief efforts from Federal Student Aid.

Additional Help with Student Loan Repayment

The College of Coastal Georgia has partnered with Student Connections to make sure every borrower who is eligible for loan forgiveness receives it, and help any borrower with a remaining balance to navigate and prepare for payments to resume January 2023. This service is completely free to you.

Student Connections Borrower Advocate can help answer any questions you have and determine what steps you need to take.

While you are in student loan repayment, Student Connections may contact you through emails, text messages and phone calls to:

• Help you understand your loan obligations and responsibilities
• Discuss available options for an affordable payment plan
• Ensure you are aware of repayment options during financial hardships
• Promote your long-term repayment success

These advocates are available to answer any questions about your outstanding loans and, when appropriate, work with you and your loan servicer. Visit www.repaymyloans.org or talk to a borrower advocate for free at (866)-311-9450.

Who is Student Connections?

Student Connections is passionate about helping students. They partner with schools to provide support for borrowers throughout the student loan repayment process. With more than 60 years of experience in counseling student loan borrowers, their primary goal is to help establish the best repayment plan for you.

1. How can I determine if I am eligible for the Pell Grant?
   You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine if you are eligible for the Pell Grant.
2. Can I receive the Pell Grant in the summer?
   It may be possible for you to receive Pell Grant during the summer semester, provided you still have eligibility. Each student’s situation is different, and it is important that you speak with your financial aid counselor to discuss your potential eligibility.
3. What is Verification?
   Verification is a process by which your school requests certain documents to compare the information from your FAFSA application with the information provided on the documents.
4. Who determines students that are selected for verification?
   The Department of Education or your school may select you for verification.
5. Do I have to be full-time to receive the Pell Grant?
   Although you don’t have to be full-time to receive the Pell Grant, you will be awarded based on the number of hours that you enroll.
6. Am I required to complete the FAFSA in order to apply for a loan?
   Yes, you must first complete the FAFSA before you can apply for a student loan.
7. Do I need to be admitted before I can apply for financial aid?
   No, you do not have to be admitted before you apply for financial aid. It is recommended that you apply for financial aid as soon as possible, as the process can be rather lengthy. Please note that you will not have access to “Official” financial aid forms or be rewarded until you are admitted.
8. Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year?
   Yes, you need to apply for financial aid every academic school year.
9. I sent in my FAFSA over four weeks ago but haven’t heard anything. What should I do?
   It is best to contact your financial aid counselor to discuss your specific situation. You may also contact Federal Student Aid at 1-800-433-3243.
10. Why do I need a PIN number?
    A PIN number is needed to access your federal financial aid information on the Internet. You can use your PIN (and your parent’s PIN, if applicable) to electronically sign your FAFSA, make corrections to your FAFSA, view your student aid report (SAR), request a duplicate SAR, and check your current loan balance. Students and parents can apply online here.
11. When is the deadline to apply for Federal financial aid?
    Your application must be submitted in time for it to be processed before your fees are due.
12. How do I apply for scholarships?
    Complete the College of Coastal Georgia Foundation Scholarship Application here.
13. Do I have to reapply for scholarships every year?
    Yes, you need to apply for scholarships every academic school year.
14. If I don’t live with my parents, can I “file” my FAFSA as an “independent” student?
    Your dependency status with respect to financial aid is determined by the following questions:
    • Are you at least 24 years old?
    • During the school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program?
    • As of today, are you married?
    • Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
    • Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you during the current school year?
    • Are you an orphan, or are you or were you (until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court?
    • Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
    • If you Answer “NO” to all of the above questions, you are a Dependent student.
    • If you Answer “YES” to any of the above questions, you are an Independent student.