Help & FAQs

The Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) is the standardized application for Federal Student Aid and it is FREE to complete. Students (and parents – if you are classified as a dependent student) submit this application annually online. It can be found at FAFSA.gov. This is the U.S. Department of Education's official website for completion of the FAFSA and all services provided through the site are free. *Make sure you are completing the correct FAFSA year.

Note: In order for Columbus State Community College to be able to review your results from the Department of Education upon processing of your FAFSA, you must have already applied for admission to our college. Visit Admissions at Columbus State.

Federal student aid programs are based on the concept that it is primarily your and your family's responsibility to pay for your education to the full extent possible. Because a dependent student is assumed to have the support of parents, the parents' information must be assessed along with the student's, in order to get a full picture of the family's financial status. If you are a dependent student, it does not mean that your parents are required to pay anything toward your education, including their information is simply the method the Department of Education uses to evaluate everyone in a consistent manner.

Determining a student's dependency status is important in determining a student's eligibility for federal aid programs. Your answers to questions on the FAFSA determine whether you are considered a dependent or independent student. An applicant is considered to be a dependent student unless he or she can answer "Yes" to one of the questions in Section 3 of the FAFSA. If the student applicant answers "No" to all of the dependency status questions then he or she is considered to be a dependent student for federal student aid purposes and must provide parental information.

Please be aware that not living with your parents or not being claimed by them on tax forms does not make you an independent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid. Occasionally, unusual circumstances may exist that warrant a review of a student's dependency status. If you feel that you have a special circumstance that prevents you from including your parent's information on your application, contact the student financial aid office for more information. Special Circumstances Appeal

We always award students with their maximum eligibility in federal aid based on availability of funding. However, because of federal loan limits, students may not have enough federal funds to cover all of their educational costs. If you are in need of additional funding beyond the federal aid you were awarded, you could consider a Parent PLUS Loan or a private student loan. Only the parents of dependent students may apply for a PLUS Loan to offset costs.

Financial Aid students who completely withdraw (or are reported as not attending by instructors) from ALL classes during a given term may be subject to repayment of federal funds to the U.S. Department of Education. This requirement is called the “Return of Unearned Title IV Funds Policy". The return of these funds may create a balance owed to the college.

The policy states that a student must attend through the 60% point of the term in order to earn their federal financial aid. Students are issued financial aid at the beginning of the semester in “good faith,” meaning that the student will follow through by attending and completing the classes that were paid through financial aid.

The U. S. Department of Education requires that unearned Title IV calculations be based on the number of calendar days the student actually attended the course divided by the total number of calendar days in the semester.

If you drop your level of enrollment after the financial aid has been disbursed you may be placed on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) suspension. When a student receives federal assistance to attend college, he or she is expected to complete at least two-thirds of the credit hours of the classes which were paid for using federal funds. See Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

After you apply for federal aid you may be offered either a subsidized or unsubsidized loan, or a combination of both. The primary difference between the two is when the interest begins to accrue.

• Subsidized Loans are awarded on the basis of financial need. Interest does not accrue on subsidized loans while the student is enrolled for at least 6 credit hours.
• Unsubsidized Loans are awarded regardless of financial need. Interest begins accruing on Unsubsidized Loans at the time the loan is disbursed to the college. Students receive a quarterly interest statement from the loan's servicing agency that allows the student to pay the interest accumulated during that period. Payment of the interest at that time is not required, however, 30 days after the date of the statement the interest is added to the balance of the loan and also begins accruing interest. Students can realize significant long term savings by paying the quarterly interest charges.

The student financial aid office uses federal regulations to determine the amounts each student may borrow by considering the cost of attendance and other financial aid.

To learn more about the differences between Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, visit the Department of Education's Direct Loan website.

Students receiving Federal Student Aid (Grants, Loans, Federal Work Study) are required to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards mandated by the Department of Education.

The full policy can be found at: “Satisfactory Academic Progress."

Financial aid funds, regardless of source, will be applied to tuition and fee charges no sooner than 10 days prior to the first day of the semester upon determination of eligibility for the funds. You are responsible for making sure any remaining balance is paid in full by the fee payment deadline published each semester. In the event your fees are not paid in full by the published deadline, you will be withdrawn from classes at no charge to you.

Your financial aid monies will first be applied to your tuition and fees. If you have additional money available you may use up to $1000 of that funding to purchase textbooks, course materials, and supplies in the Columbus State Bookstore. To determine if you have funds available for purchasing books and supplies log in to selfservice.cscc.edu, choose 'Student Finance.' On the right side of the screen, click on 'Bookstore Funds Available.' You will be notified by an e-mail sent to your CSCC student e-mail account when these funds become available to you.

Verification is a process mandated by the US Department of Education to confirm the accuracy of the information provided on the FAFSA via submission of specific documentation and forms by the selected student and/or parent. All requested documentation must be provided before a student's financial aid eligibility can be determined.

If you are selected for verification a request for specific documentation will be sent via email to your CSCC student email account. You will be instructed to log in to selfservice.cscc.edu to view the specific documents required. Submit only the requested information. It is important that you submit the requested information as soon as possible. Your application for financial aid will not be completed until information has been submitted and reviewed by the College.

You should complete and submit your FAFSA application as soon as possible. You can file the FAFSA after October 1 each year. We encourage all students to apply as soon as possible as some resources are limited and may run out. For students applying early, notifications of awards will be typically available in January or February. The Federal Deadline to file the FAFSA application requires submission prior to June 30th of the following year. *Make sure you are completing the correct FAFSA year.

To see your current student account activity, including a detailed summary of your charges for tuition and fees, log in to selfservice.cscc.edu and choose 'Student Finance.' Select the correct semester and your account information, including any outstanding balance if you have one, will be presented. You can also see your account activity for past terms. If there is an outstanding balance on your student account that must be paid after the financial aid funds have been applied, you can also make a payment on this link.

In order for the U.S. Department of Education federal processor to release the FAFSA information to Columbus State Community College you must enter our Federal School Code (006867). This will give them permission to release your FAFSA results to our office.

Financial aid is financial assistance from all sources that can be used to help pay for your educational expenses. The Financial Aid Office is responsible for administering federal aid such as grants (need-based aid that doesn't have to be paid back), work-study (a part-time job), and federal direct student loans (money you borrow and must pay back with interest when you leave school).

Columbus State charges a per credit hour rate each semester. Once you have registered for your classes each semester the amount of total tuition and fees due can be found at selfservice.cscc.edu, under 'Student Finance.' To assist students in estimating the costs associated with attendance at Columbus State we encourage you to review the Net Price Calculator.

Please see the ‘Tuition and Fees’ page for specific information.

To see your current student account activity, including a detailed summary of your charges for tuition and fees, log in to selfservice.cscc.edu and choose 'Student Finance.' Select the correct semester and your account information, including any outstanding balance if you have one, will be presented. You can also see your account activity for past terms. If there is an outstanding balance on your student account that must be paid after the financial aid funds have been applied, you can also make a payment on this link.

Financial aid funds, regardless of source, will be applied to tuition and fees no sooner than 10 days prior to the first day of the semester upon determination of eligibility for the funds. You are responsible for making sure any remaining balance is paid in full by the fee payment deadline published each semester. In the event your fees are not paid in full by the published deadline, you will be dropped from your classes at no charge to you.

Yes. Payment plans are offered through Columbus State Community College, click on Tuition Payment Options for more information.

The Cashiers Office administers billing and can address any concerns you may have regarding your student account. You can find contact information here.

We always award students with their maximum eligibility in federal aid based on availability of funding. However, because of federal loan limits, students may not have enough federal funds to cover all of their educational costs. If you are in need of additional funding beyond the federal aid you were awarded, you could consider a Parent PLUS Loan or a private student loan. Only the parents of dependent students may apply for a PLUS loan to offset costs.

The Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) is the standardized application for Federal Student Aid and it is FREE to complete. Students (and parents – if you are classified as a dependent student) submit this application annually online. It can be found at FAFSA.gov. This is the U.S. Department of Education's official website for completion of the FAFSA and all services provided through the site are free. *Make sure you are completing the correct FAFSA year - see here for a list of current application information.

Note: In order for Columbus State Community College to be able to review your results from the Department of Education upon processing of your FAFSA, you must have already applied for admission to our college. Visit Admissions at Columbus State

The FAFSA asks for information about you (your name, date of birth, address, etc.) and about your financial situation. Depending on your circumstances (for instance, when you filed taxes or what tax form you used), you might need the following information or documents as you fill out the FAFSA:

• Your Social Security number (it’s important that you enter it correctly on the FAFSA!)
• Your parents’ Social Security numbers if you are a dependent student
• Your driver’s license number if you have one
• Your Alien Registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen
• Federal tax information or tax returns (or Tax Return Transcripts) including IRS W-2 (or Wage and Income Transcripts) information, for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents if you are a dependent student:
  • IRS 1040, (or Tax Return Transcripts)
  • Foreign tax return and/or
  • Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federal States of Micronesia, or Palau
• Records of your untaxed income, such as child support received, interest income, and veterans non-education benefits, for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student
• Information on cash; savings and checking account balances; investments, including stocks and bonds and real estate but not including the home in which you live; and business and farm assets for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student

For detailed information see 'Filling Out the FAFSA.'

In order for the U.S. Department of Education federal processor to release the FAFSA information to Columbus State Community College you must enter our Federal School Code (006867). This will give them permission to release your FAFSA results to our office.

Yes. The application is free, and some sources of aid (Federal Unsubsidized Loans and Parent PLUS Loans) are available regardless of need. In the event you are offered student loans and you are not interested in receiving them you may decline them with no penalties.

If you need to make a correction to your financial aid application before you receive your offer notification, you may do so on the FAFSA website. If you have already received your offer notification or if your application has already been verified, contact Student Central to determine if the correction is appropriate.

To continue being evaluated for Federal Student Aid you must complete a new or renewal FAFSA each year. The application becomes available on October 1st of each year for the following financial aid year (Autumn, Spring and Summer semesters).

If you have applied for financial aid in the past year, you may be able to fill out a renewal FAFSA, rather than a new FAFSA. The renewal FAFSA will include some of last year's information. You can access the renewal FAFSA online at FAFSA.gov.

The Federal Deadline to complete the FAFSA each year is June 30th of the following year.

Federal student aid programs are based on the concept that it is primarily your and your family's responsibility to pay for your education to the full extent possible. Because a dependent student is assumed to have the support of parents, the parents' information must be assessed along with the student's, in order to get a full picture of the family's financial status. If you are a dependent student, it does not mean that your parents are required to pay anything toward your education, including their information is simply the method the Department of Education uses to evaluate everyone in a consistent manner.

Determining a student's dependency status is important in determining a student's eligibility for federal aid programs. Your answers to questions on the FAFSA determine whether you are considered a dependent or independent student. An applicant is considered to be a dependent student unless he or she can answer "Yes" to one of the questions in Section 3 of the FAFSA. If the student applicant answers "No" to all of the dependency status questions then he or she is considered to be a dependent student for federal student aid purposes and must provide parental information.

Please be aware that not living with your parents or not being claimed by them on tax forms does not make you an independent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid. Occasionally, unusual circumstances may exist that warrant a review of a student's dependency status. If you feel that you have a special circumstance that prevents you from including your parent's information on your application, contact the student financial aid office for more information. Special Circumstances Appeal

Verification is a process mandated by the US Department of Education to confirm the accuracy of the information provided on the FAFSA via submission of specific documentation and forms by the selected student and/or parent. All requested documentation must be provided before a student's financial aid eligibility can be determined.

If you are selected for verification a request for specific documentation will be sent via email to your CSCC student email account. You will be instructed to log in to selfservice.cscc.edu to view the specific documents required. Submit only the requested information. It is important that you submit the requested information as soon as possible. Your application for financial aid will not be completed until information has been submitted and reviewed by the College.

The FAFSA is a "snap shot" of your status on the day you submit it. Therefore, you should report your marital status as of the day you submit the FAFSA. If you marry after filing the FAFSA you will have the opportunity to update your marital status later. However, you will not be able to make this change by submitting a correction online to FAFSA. If your marital status needs to be updated after filing the FAFSA contact Student Central for further guidance.

Yes. You are considered an independent if your unborn child will be born during the academic year and your household will provide more than half of the child's support from the projected date of birth through the end of the academic year. If you are expecting a child when you fill out your FAFSA you should answer yes to the applicable dependency status question and include the unborn child in your household size. If you have already filed a FAFSA and did not include an unborn child on your application, you should contact the Student Financial Aid Office for further guidance on how to process an update to your FAFSA. In either situation you will most likely be required to provide documentation from a physician regarding the expected child to our office.

After receiving your completed application, the FAFSA processor will analyze your information and calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The results of your application will be sent Columbus State Community College and to you in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR) by mail or email (if you provided an email address) within 3-5 business days. This report details the information that you provided and informs you of any corrections that are needed to complete the application. Carefully review the SAR to make sure that all the information is accurate, as Columbus State will receive the same information.

NOTE: In order for Columbus State Community College to be able to view the results of your FAFSA, you must have completed an application for admission to our college. Please see Admissions.

The Department of Education uses the financial and household information you supplied on the FAFSA to determine the amount of monies your household can provide toward your educational costs on a per academic year basis. This information is calculated using a formula established by law. The information is used to create your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is a number used in determining your eligibility for Federal Student Aid.

The EFC will appear on your Student Aid Report (SAR) you receive from the Department of Education after you file your FAFSA. The SAR summarizes all the information you provided on your FAFSA. It’s important to review this information carefully. In the event you see an error, you may be able to make the corrections online with your PIN. For questions on how to make corrections, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

This information is also released to the schools listed on the FAFSA. ** Once the school receives this information, they can begin the process of determining which federal student aid programs you are eligible to receive.

The basic calculation for determining your financial need is as follows:

Cost of Attendance (COA) – Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need

The EFC calculated will NOT change based on the cost of the school you are planning on attending. The part of the above formula which will change is the Cost of Attendance.

**In order for Columbus State Community College to be able to view the results of your FAFSA, you must have completed an application for admission to our college. Please see Admissions.

Once your FAFSA is received it will be processed to create your financial aid offer or we may request additional information/documentation. It is important to check selfservice.cscc.edu - Financial Aid - and your CSCC student email for updates. Once your financial aid file is complete, you will receive notification that your offers are available.

Your EFC is an index number the College uses to determine how much financial aid you will receive.The information you report on your FAFSA form is used to calculate your EFC.

The EFC is calculated according to a formula established by law. Your family's taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) all could be considered in the formula. Also considered are your family size and the number of family members who will attend college or career school during the year.

Your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college, nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. It is a number used by your school to calculate how much financial aid you are eligible to receive. Rather the EFC is a tool, which, when subtracted from the Cost of Attendance, determines a student's need and therefore the type of aid for which a student is eligible.

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is a student's estimated budget, including direct and indirect costs. The COA includes tuition and fees; room and board; allowances for books and supplies; transportation; loan fees; and miscellaneous/personal expenses. Aid cannot be awarded above a student's cost of attendance, but if you have an unusual expense that might affect your COA you may contact Student Central to determine if an increase to your budget is appropriate.

The COA is based on a set of figures determined each year by the institution. The figures included in the calculation of the COA include tuition and fees; on-campus room and board (or a housing and food allowance for off-campus students); and an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees and if applicable, dependent care. It may also include miscellaneous and personal expenses, including an allowance for the rental or purchase of a personal computer. Costs related to a disability also are covered.

Financial need is the difference between your cost of attendance (COA), as determined by the College, and your expected family contribution (EFC). Many federal student aid programs require applicants to demonstrate a financial need to be considered eligible for that program. The amount of your financial aid offer will be affected by whether you are a full time or part time student and whether you attend school for a full academic year or less.

If you believe that you have unusual circumstances that should be taken into account in determining your financial need, contact Student Central. Unusual circumstances might include extremely high medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance or a significant change in income from one year to the next.

Once Columbus State receives the results of the FAFSA, which includes your EFC, the College will determine if they have all your necessary paperwork on file before creating your financial aid offer. If all required documents have been received and reviewed and your file is complete, then you will be offered the types of financial aid you are eligible to receive. The amount of financial aid you receive will depend on the following:

• Your financial need
• Your cost of attendance (COA)
• Your enrollment status (full-time, half time, etc.).

If it is determined you are eligible for federal student aid, the school will post your Offer notification on selfservice.cscc.edu under 'Financial Aid.' This offer notification will list the types and amounts of financial aid you are eligible to receive from federal, state and institutional resources for the academic year. It’s important to read the letter carefully. If you want to accept and/or reduce the Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized student loans you can at the time you review the information. You do not need to accept all the aid or borrow the full amount of any loans listed on the offer notification.

Generally, scholarships, or any other types of funding applied to your student account to pay for tuition or fees are considered to be additional resources. Any additional resource that is available to you is taken into consideration when calculating your aid eligibility. If you should receive an additional resource after you have been awarded you should report it to the College immediately. According to federal regulations the College is required to adjust your award if changes in your eligibility occur due receipt of an additional resource.

The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a binding legal document that you must sign when you get a federal student loan. The MPN can be used to make one or more loans for one or more academic year (up to 10 years). Since it lists the terms and conditions under which you agree to repay the loan and explains your rights and responsibilities as a borrower, it is important to read it carefully before signing and to save a copy for your records.

Yes. If you have applied for aid through FAFSA then you may receive a loan offer. However, you are not required to accept the full amount of the offer. You can borrow less than what is offered or you can decline the full offer. You should only borrow what you need, therefore if you accept a loan but determine that you do not need the full amount log into selfservice.cscc.edu and see Financial Aid to make an adjustment or to cancel your loan. If your loan has already disbursed to your student account the College can process any requested adjustment only within 30 days, beyond that timeframe the funds would need to be returned directly to the Department of Education.

Once your offer is available on Financial Aid in selfservice.cscc.edu, you must first decide if you want to accept all of the loan monies you have been offered. Remember these monies are a loan that will need to be repaid in the future. Only take out the amount that you will need to cover your expenses.

In the event you wish to make adjustments to your loan amounts you may complete the request online.

To activate your Direct Loans – subsidized and unsubsidized, follow the instructions on your Checklist in Financial Aid under selfservice.cscc.edu. If you are a first-time loan borrower you will need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and also complete Loan Entrance Counseling. (Any student who has never borrowed a Federal Direct Loan is considered a first- time borrower.) You may complete both of these at: www.studentloans.gov.

If you transfer from CSCC to another institution within an academic year, you must check with your new school's financial aid office about how you will receive your aid. Due to availability and other factors such as cost, you may not be able to receive the same amounts and types of aid. However, you may not have to complete a new FAFSA again, but you would have to send your FAFSA results to your other school by adding their school code to your application.

Please see "Transferring Financial Aid" for details.

Your financial aid offer may include funds from any of the following major Federal Student Aid programs:

• Federal Pell Grants – are available to undergraduate students only. Grants do not have to be repaid. Pell Grant awards are based on the federally calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
• Federal Direct Loans – are student loans that must be repaid. A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. If you're eligible for a subsidized loan, the government will pay (subsidize) the interest on your loan while you're in school, for the first six months after you leave school, and during any periods when your payments are deferred (postponed). For an unsubsidized loan, you are responsible for the interest from the time the unsubsidized loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. Annual maximum loan amounts increase for subsequent years of study.
• Direct PLUS loans - are loans made to parents of dependent undergraduate students. All students must complete a FAFSA to determine their Direct Loan eligibility before a PLUS loan can be processed. The amount of the PLUS offer is the difference in the Cost of Attendance and any other financial aid. Eligibility for the PLUS Loan is based on credit worthiness, however, dependent undergraduate students whose parent is unable to obtain a PLUS loan may borrow additional unsubsidized loans at the higher loan limits otherwise available only to independent undergraduates.

Other aid programs that are awarded based on need and availability:

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants – are grants available for undergraduates only. The school receives an set amount from the Department of Education and once the funds are exhausted then no additional students can be awarded.
• Federal Work Study – provides jobs to students allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses.

To learn more about the types of federal finacial aid, visit "Types of Financial Aid."

After you apply for federal aid you may be offered either a subsidized or unsubsidized loan, or a combination of both. The primary difference between the two is when the interest begins to accrue.

• Subsidized Loans are awarded on the basis of financial need. Interest does not accrue on subsidized loans while the student is enrolled for at least 6 credit hours.
• Unsubsidized Loans are awarded regardless of financial need. Interest begins accruing on Unsubsidized Loans at the time the loan is disbursed to the college. Students receive a quarterly interest statement from the loan's servicing agency that allows the student to pay the interest accumulated during that period. Payment of the interest at that time is not required, however, 30 days after the date of the statement the interest is added to the balance of the loan and also begins accruing interest. Students can realize significant long term savings by paying the quarterly interest charges.

The College bases your awards on federal regulations to determine the amounts each student may borrow by considering the cost of attendance and other financial aid.

To learn more about the differences between Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, visit "Loans."

Yes. Federal student loans have origination fees that are deducted proportionately from each loan disbursement. This means the money you receive will be less than the amount you actually borrow. Check on the current loan fees for federal student loans here.

In certain situations you can have your federal student loan forgiven, canceled or discharged. To find out if you qualify due to your job, disability, or other circumstances you must contact your loan servicer. You can learn how to manage your loans here.

A student must complete exit counseling when they exit the college, drop to less than half time enrollment status or graduate. The purpose of the Exit Counseling is to explain all options you have concerning the repayment of your student loan(s). You may complete the Exit Counseling requirement online here. You will need your Department of Education FSA Id to access your exit counseling information.

For information on any federal student financial aid programs, you may call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at: 1.800-4FED-AID or 1-800-433-3243. You may also find general information about federal student aid by visiting studentaid.gov.

On the home page, studentaid.gov go to the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page. This page lists all of the available options for getting additional assistance.

In order for the U.S. Department of Education federal processor to release the FAFSA information to Columbus State Community College you must enter our Federal School Code (006867). This will give them permission to release your FAFSA results to the College..

The law requires that the financial information from the prior-prior tax year be provided on the FAFSA. This tax year information is called the base year. The base year information is considered the most accurate source of information for projecting on a reasonable basis the family's financial strength for the upcoming academic year.

If your family has unusual circumstances (such as a loss of employment, loss of benefits, death or divorce), complete the FAFSA to the extent that you can and submit it for processing as instructed. Once the FAFSA has been submitted you may contact Student Central to set up an appointment with an advisor to discuss your situation.

In the event your family's financial circumstances have changed significantly from the prior-prior tax year used to complete the FAFSA, the College may be able to adjust data elements on the FAFSA that were used to calculate the EFC. This adjustment occurs on a case-by-case basis. A representative from Student Central can assist with this as well. Special Circumstances Appeal

Students, and parents - if necessary - are required to report income information from two years prior to current year. See here for information on which year's income information should be used for the FAFSA you are completing.

The parental information completed on the FAFSA should reflect whom the student has lived with the most during the past 12 months preceding the date the FAFSA is completed. It does not matter which parent claims the student as a dependent for tax purposes. If the student did not live with either parent or lived equally with each parent, then the parental information for whom the student received the most financial support from during the preceding 12 months or the parent from whom the student received the most support the last time support was given should be used to complete the application.

If you are the parent that is required to report financial information on the FAFSA and you are remarried, then the stepparent's information must be included on the application or that student will not be considered for Federal Student Aid. If you believe that your situation is unique or unusual other than the stepparent's simple refusal to provide the requested information, you should contact Student Central to discuss the matter.

Individuals in the immediate family who receives more than 50% support from a dependent student's parents or an independent student and spouse may be counted in the household size. For example, a sibling who is over 24 but still receives the majority of his/her support from the parents can be included. Siblings who are dependent (as defined by FAFSA) as of the date the application is completed are also included, regardless of whether they receive more than 50% of their support from the parents. Any other person who resides in the household and receives more than 50% support from the parents may also be counted, as long as they will continue to reside within the parent's household and the support is expected to continue through the academic year. An unborn child who will be born during the academic year may also be counted in the household size if the parents, or independent student and spouse, will provide more than half of the child's support through the end of the year.

NOTE: Household size and tax exemptions are not necessarily the same. Exemptions look at the previous year or tax year and household size refers to the school year for which the student is applying for aid.

Because a PLUS Loan is a type of Unsubsidized Loan, interest on a PLUS Loan starts to accrue the day the loan is disbursed to the college. Even though the account may not be in repayment, interest is still accruing. See here for more detailed information.

This depends on what time of year you complete the FAFSA. Notification of offers typically begin in March for Autumn semester and continues throughout the year. For planning purposes, we recommend that you plan for a minimum of four weeks from submission of the FAFSA to receipt of an offer notification from the College.

The College will inform you of any documentation you need to submit to determine your aid eligibility. Students should check their CSCC email account for requests for additional documentation. It is important that you only submit the documents that the College is requesting from you.

No. Federal student aid funds are based on your expected attendance for the full academic year. Therefore, if you are only enrolled for one semester or intend only to attend one semester, you are only eligible for a one semester fund amount or half of an academic year's eligibility.

NOTE: One exception applies to students graduating who will complete their academic program of study in the fall semester. These students may be eligible to receive a prorated portion of their Direct loan funding for the Autumn semester. If you are interested and qualify for proration due to graduation, contact Student Central for more information.

Eligible financial aid students (total financial aid disbursement minus tuition/fees) will have a credit up to $1000 at the Columbus State Bookstore, designated solely for the purchase of required textbooks and course materials (exclusions apply).

The student's remaining financial aid credit balance (equal to the student's total financial aid disbursement minus tuition/fees, and minus the amount used at the Columbus State Bookstore) will be disbursed in the form of a check or direct deposit. Refunds will be processed beginning the fifth or sixth week of the semester, after course attendance and participation is verified. For direct deposit refunds, allow 1-2 business days for bank processing. For check refunds, allow up to 14 days for processing plus standard U.S. Postal mail delivery time. For semester specific information, see "Disbursement and Refund Process."

Columbus State uses a "freeze date" each semester to determine a student's enrollment status for disbursing financial aid. Financial aid will only pay for courses added before the freeze date for a class section. The financial aid freeze date is determined individually for each class scheduled. If a student adds or drops classes before the freeze date, the student's financial aid will be recalculated and adjusted accordingly. A student may owe funds back to the financial aid programs as a result of these changes.

If a student makes schedule changes after the freeze date their Pell Grant disbursement will not be adjusted; however, Direct Loan disbursements may be affected it the student's enrollment status has dropped below 6 credit hours.

You can log in to selfservice.cscc.edu and click on "Student Finance." Once you choose the correct semester, your current account activity will be shown– including a detailed summary of your charges for tuition and fees. You can view payments applied to your account and your overall balance.

If there is an outstanding balance on your student account that must be paid after the financial aid funds have been applied, you can also make a payment on this link. In the event you do not pay your balance in full, you may be dropped administratively from your course schedule.

Eligible financial aid recipients will have a credit, up to $1000, designated solely for the purchase of textbooks and course materials. The credit can be used for in-store purchases of textbooks, reference books, school supplies, technology products, backpacks and totes, academically required apparel, COTA Bus Passes (Available in Customer Care only), and other required supplies related to your scheduled courses (yoga, lab, hospitality, art, and drafting). Only the student may make purchases using their Financial Aid funds. A valid photo ID (Columbus State Cougar ID, driver's license, state ID, or military ID) along with their Cougar ID number is required. Funds not used will be released to students if they remain eligible for their financial aid.

To view the amount you have available to you for purchase of books and supplies, log in to selfservice.cscc.edu and choose "Student Finance." On the left side of the page, click on "Bookstore Funds Available." At the time your funds become available to use at the Bookstore, an email notification will be sent to your CSCC student email account. See here for more information.

You are not required to use the Columbus State Bookstore to purchase your books and course materials for your class. If you chose to purchase books somewhere other than the Columbus State Bookstore, you will receive the full amount of your financial aid credit via check or direct deposit. Refunds are released after course attendance and participation is verified, approximately the fifth or sixth week of the semester.

An email notification will be sent at the time the funds become available at the Columbus State Bookstore and also when a financial aid direct deposit or check refund has been processed. Please check your CSCC student email account for notifications. To view your account, sign in to selfservice.cscc.edu, choose "Student Finance." Please note, account information is not released over the telephone.

The bookstore credit will be available at the Bookstore until approximately four weeks into the semester. Once the bookstore purchasing window closes, your remaining financial aid credit balance (equal to the student’s total financial aid disbursement minus tuition/fees and minus the amount used at the CSCC Bookstore) will be disbursed to you in the form of a check or direct deposit. Refunds will be processed beginning the fifth or sixth week of the semester, after course attendance and participation is verified. An email notification will be sent to your CSCC email account when these funds have been issued to you.

Please see the following link for each semester’s detailed information: Financial Aid Disbursement

NOTE: Currently, only financial aid refunds may be issued using the direct deposit process.

Step 1: Log in to selfservice.cscc.edu

Step 2: Click on "Banking Information'

Step 3: Click on "Add an Account" on the right side of the screen

Follow the instructions.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you already have bank information set up with Columbus State and you want/need to change it, you will have to verify your old info before new account information can be entered.

If you need assistance, please contact Student Central with your questions.

To apply for federal aid you must meet general eligibility requirements. A list of eligibility criteria is available on studentaid.gov. Once you become a recipient you are responsible for continuing to meet basic eligibility criteria, meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards, and completing the FAFSA every year.

Eligibility for federal stuent aid depends upon your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), grade level, number of credits enrolled, dependency status, availability, and the Cost of Attendance (COA).

When your FAFSA information is reviewed a financial aid offer is constructed for you. Your offer will include the maximum amount of Federal Student Aid you may be eligible for at that time. If your FAFSA information or other educational information changes, your aid eligibility may also be adjusted.

Keep in mind that offer amounts vary and depend upon your financial need (as determined by the federal government - based on results of the FAFSA). Direct Loan funding eligibility is based on your grade level and dependency status and are subjected to yearly loan limits and aggregate lifetime loan limits.

Yearly loan limits:

Aggregate loan limits:

• As a dependent undergraduate student you may borrow up to $31,000 in direct loans
• As an independent undergraduate student you may borrow up to $57,500 in direct loans

No. Students who are currently in default on educational loans are not eligible to receive Federal Student Aid. It is recommended you contact your lender and attempt to make a satisfactory payment arrangement with them.

Once your default status is resolved, you must provide a letter from your loan servicer(s) stating that the default status has been cleared and that you are again eligible to receive Federal Student Aid.

If you have questions regarding your eligibility, contact Student Central.

Students receiving Federal Student Aid (Grants, Loans, Federal Work Study) are required to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards mandated by the Department of Education.

To learn more see “Satisfactory Academic Progress."

Withdrawing from a class or all classes at any point after the drop/add period will negatively affect a student's completion rate or pace towards degree completion and future financial aid eligibility. If you withdraw from one or all of your classes, you may be required to return some of your financial aid. You can learn more at "Satisfactory Academic Progress."

Financial Aid students who completely withdraw (or are reported as not attending by instructors) from ALL classes during a given term may be subject to repayment of federal funds to the U.S. Department of Education. This requirement is called the “Return of Unearned Title IV Funds Policy." The return of these funds may create a balance owed to the college.

The policy states that a student must attend through the 60% point of the term in order to earn their federal financial aid. Students are issued financial aid at the beginning of the semester in “good faith,” meaning that the student will follow through by attending and completing the classes that were paid through financial aid.

The U. S. Department of Education requires that unearned Title IV calculations be based on the number of calendar days the student actually attended the course divided by the total number of calendar days in the semester.

The availability of summer aid is dependent upon how much aid you used during the school year. Any portion of your yearly eligibility that was not utilized during the autumn and spring semester may be awarded in the summer semester. If your eligibility for aid changes due to progression in grade level, you should contact Student Central. Students must enroll in at least 6 credit hours to be considered half-time for loan eligibility during the summer.

Students who know at the time of receipt of their offer notification they are planning on attending summer semester they may request some of their federal student aid be moved to cover summer semester. See the Summer Financial Aid link for information.

Yes. Federal regulations limit the number of times a student may repeat a course and receive financial aid for that course.

Students may only receive federal financial aid funding for one repeat of a previously passed course. For this purpose, passed means any grade higher than an “E,” regardless of any program policy requir­ing a higher grade to have been considered to have passed the course. All courses attempted at CSCC are included in this requirement including courses previously attempted and paid with non-federal financial aid funds.

A student may receive funding multiple times for repeated failed courses (normal Satisfactory Academic Progress policy still applies to such cases), and if a student withdraws be­fore completing the course that he or she is being paid Federal Student Aid funds for re­taking, then that is not counted as his or her one allowed retake for that course. However, if a student passed a class once then is repaid for retaking it and fails the second time, that failure counts as their paid retake, and the student may not be paid for retaking the class a third time.

Examples of repeated coursework that may, or may not, count for financial aid eligibility:

Allowable: Repeated coursework may be included if the student received an unsatisfactory or failing grade. There is no limit on the number of attempts allowable if the student does not receive a passing grade.

Allowable: Student is enrolled in 15 credit hours which include 3 credit hours repeating a previously passed course. Because the student is enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits which are not repeats, the student's financial aid eligibility is not impacted by the repeat.

Not permissible: Student receives a D in a course and decides to repeat the course to improve his/her GPA. The student may repeat this passed course one time, but if the student wants to repeat it a second time, the second repeat would not count for financial aid eligibility.

All repeated courses do affect financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculations. A repeated course along with the original attempt must be counted as attempted credits. See Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) link for further information.

How much financial aid you receive depends on a number of factors: whether you are classified as an in-state resident or an out-of-state resident will directly affect your cost of attendance — which may affect your total amount of financial aid eligibility.

You may be eligible for more Federal Subsidized or Unsubsidized Direct loans. Once your semester grades have been posted and are viewable, you may have additional loan eligibility. This would occur if your grade level has increased from a first year level to a second year level (greater than 30 credit hours earned). Additional factors in calculating this increase will depend on your Cost of Attendance and the amount of your initial financial aid offer. Note, the increase could affect your loan eligibility for the upcoming summer semester if you plan on attending and receiving federal student loans.

If you would like your eligibility for a loan increase to be reviewed, contact Student Central for instructions.