FAQs about Financial Aid
General Questions about Eligibility and Applying
1. I probably don't qualify for aid. Should I apply for aid anyway?
Yes. Many families mistakenly think they don't qualify for aid and prevent themselves from
receiving financial aid by failing to apply for it. In addition, there are a few sources of aid such
as unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans that are available regardless of need. The FAFSA
form is free. There is no good reason for not applying.
2. Should I apply for admissions before applying for financial aid?
Not necessarily, however the financial aid office will not be able to complete your file and
provide you with an award letter until you have done so. You can apply for free and have this
step out of the way by clicking on the following link: FSCC Application
3. Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year?
Yes. You are required to apply for financial aid every year. If your financial or family
circumstances change, your eligibility for financial aid may change significantly, especially if
you have a different number of family members in college.
4. How do I apply for a Pell Grant and other types of need-based aid?
Submit a FAFSA. The financial aid office will determine your eligibility based on the
information provided to us by the US Department of Education
5. I got an outside scholarship. Should I report it to the financial aid office?
Yes. If you are receiving scholarships or aid of any kind, you must report the scholarship to the
financial aid office.
6. I have not yet completed my GED, can I still get financial aid?
To qualify for federal aid, a student must have either a high school diploma or its recognized
equivalent (GED). Students without either a high school diploma or equivalent should contact
the Financial Aid Office.
7. What do I have to do to maintain “Satisfactory Academic Progress” for my financial aid?
A student must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 1.75 for the first semester at any
post-secondary institution and a cumulative GPA of 2.00 for all following semesters.
Additionally, students must complete enough hours each semester to maintain the level or
status for which they were paid (ie: full time: 12 or more hours, ¾ time: 9-11 hours, ½ time: 6-
8 hours). If a student is considering a withdrawal from a class, they should visit the Financial
Aid Office to find out how their eligibility for financial aid might be affected. (For more detailed
information regarding the policy for Satisfactory Academic Progress, see page 22 of the Student
Catalog.)
8. I would like to transfer to FSCC mid-year. What do I need to do?
First, you will want to add the FSCC school code to your FAFSA by logging back in to your
FAFSA on the web, or follow this link: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/addschool.jsp,
and add school code 001916. Next, you will want to contact the financial aid office at your
current school and have them cancel all aid awards, including loans. (Loans do not transfer
with you to FSCC. You will be required to complete a new Master Promissory Note for your file
at FSCC). Also, make sure to request that an official academic transcript be sent to the
registrar’s office from all previously attended colleges.
9. I have received my award letter and I am eligible for a Pell Grant refund. When can expect my refund?
Pell Grants will be disbursed no later than 3 weeks after the 20th day of school each semester.
(The 20th day is calculated by actual school days, not calendar days). Any charges for tuition, fees,
books, dorm, etc., will be deducted from your financial aid award before any refunds to students are
released. The business office does not issue paper checks to students. Your FSCC issued student I.D. is
also a debit card where any refunds are electronically sent. You can also set up a direct deposit to your
own personal bank account through your Gizmo log in.
10. What about my Stafford loan money? When will I receive it?
All loan proceeds begin disbursing 30 days after the beginning of the academic period. (Please
remember that since loans disburse before Pell Grants, any balance owed to FSCC may be
deducted from your loan funds first.) Federal regulations require that each loan approved be
disbursed in two payments. This will mean two disbursements if a student chooses to apply
for a semester loan period rather than an annual loan period. A student must also complete
entrance and exit counseling sessions before receiving loan proceeds.
11. Is my program of study eligible for financial aid?
There are certain criteria that have to be met by the program you are enrolled in for financial
aid eligibility. A student must be seeking either a degree or a certificate in order to qualify.
While most programs are eligible, some of the shorter certificate programs are not (ie:
Manicuring, Allied Health, Truck Driving). If you are unsure of your program’s eligibility,
please contact the Financial Aid Office.
12. How long can I receive financial aid at FSCC?
Full-time students may receive aid at a Community College for a maximum of 96 Credit Hours.
Generally, students who have already received a degree are not eligible to receive aid for any more
classes at FSCC. However, such students may receive additional aid if they enroll in certain vocational
degree or certificate programs at FSCC which are eligible under federal guidelines. Any students with 96
credit hours or more will be required to complete a 96 Hour Appeal Form and a Degree Audit to determine
eligibility by the Appeals Committee.
13. I plan to enroll in the Cosmetology program. Will financial aid cover the expenses related to this program?
While Cosmetology is an eligible program to receive aid, a student may not charge the cost of
the kit fee against their financial aid. The student must pay for the kit from their personal
funds, but may reimburse themselves if a refund is available to them from their financial aid.
14. What happens if I withdraw from all my classes or stop attending?
Withdrawing or not attending can have major consequences. You may have to repay a portion of your financial aid to
either the federal government or FSCC. Always contact the finacial aid office before withdrawing to see if you will owe
a repayment. For more information click here.
FAFSA Questions
1. Where do I get a FAFSA application?
You may choose any of these three methods to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
- Apply online at http://www.FAFSA.ed.gov (Recommended) or
- Complete a PDF FAFSA (Note: PDF FAFSAs must be mailed for processing) or
- Request a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-
FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 1-319-337-5665. If you are hearing impaired, please contact
the TTY line at 1-800-730-8913.
NOTE: If applying online, it may be helpful to print a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet from:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/toolsandresources.jsp
2. How soon after January 1 should the FAFSA form be sent in? Is it better to wait until the
income tax forms have been completed?
Yes. We recommend E-Filing your federal taxes as soon as possible after January 1st. Wait 2 weeks,
then file your FAFSA and use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically transfer your income information
to the FAFSA. If you do not use this method you will be required to obtain an IRS Tax Transcript to turn
into the Financial Aid Office. Call (800) 908-9946 or (800) 829-1040 for a transcript of your federal
taxes. Please allow 10 working days to receive it by mail.
3. Should I pay for help to fill out my FAFSA?
No, you don’t need to. If you apply using FAFSA on the Web, you get online instructions for
each question, and you can “chat” live online with a customer service representative.
Regardless of how you apply, you can get free help by calling the Federal Student Aid
Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID or by contacting the financial aid office.
Be aware that there are web sites that offer help filing for a fee. Those sites are not
affiliated with the US Dept. of Education. (Remember: Free Application for Federal
Student Aid) If you inadvertently logged on to the fafsa.com web site, rather than
www.fafsa.ed.gov and were charged a fee, you may call (800) 750-3446 and select option
#1 to request a refund.
4. What is the PIN?
The Personal Identification Number (PIN) serves as your identifier to let you access your
personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. It's like the PIN you get
from your bank that permits you to access your account. The PIN also allows you to sign your
federal student aid application online and allows you to correct your application data online.
In the interest of keeping your personal information secure, do not share your PIN! You should
never give your PIN to anyone. Be sure to keep your PIN in a safe place.
You can apply for a PIN by clicking here.
5. Why should I get a PIN?
You can use your PIN to access your financial aid data at FAFSA on the Web where you can
electronically sign your application, submit corrections to your processed FAFSA, or obtain a
copy of your processed FAFSA information. A PIN is also required to use the new IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
6. I lost my PIN. What should I do?
If you have lost or forgotten your PIN, you will need to request that it be sent to you again. If
you think that someone else may know your PIN, or you believe your PIN may have been
compromised when it was lost, the Department of Education can generate a new PIN for you.
Click here for instructions for replacing a lost PIN or to request a duplicate of your PIN.
7. What is the Data Release Number (DRN)?
The Data Release Number (DRN) is required to make certain changes associated with the
FAFSA you filed. Just call the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Information
Center (1-800-4-FED-AID [1-800-433-3243]). The DRN also allows you to release your FAFSA
data to schools you did not list on your original FAFSA. The DRN is printed in the lower left hand corner of your Student Aid Report (SAR).
8. Does FSCC impose a deadline date for filing my FAFSA?
Please see our Priority Dates listed on our Financial Aid home page for assurance of your aid
being awarded before each semester begins.
While there is no “deadline date”, students should keep in mind that the file must be completed
and an award letter must be issued and signed by the student before the last day of the
semester in order to be considered for aid that semester. Failure to meet this deadline will
result in no aid award for that semester and the Business Office will require full payment
for any balance due.
9. I have received notice that my Student Aid Report has been selected for verification. What does this mean?
If selected for verification the financial aid office will ask you to submit tax transcripts, W2s, and other
documents, as appropriate. Be sure to include ALL requested documents to ensure timely
processing of the information. No financial aid will be processed until all documents are
received.
10. I have been asked to provide tax transcripts. How do I do that?
You may request copies of tax returns and W-2s by phoning the following IRS phone number(s):
(800) 829-1040, (800) 908-9946, or on-line at www.irs.gov
Click on the following link for the FAFSA on the Web “Frequently asked questions”:
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/faq001.htm