Applying for Financial Aid

You can apply for all types of financial assistance by completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). FAFSA application forms are available in the financial aid office or the application can be completed online.

After applying for federal aid, you will receive a student aid report (SAR).  This is the result of the review of your application.  Review this information carefully.  This is your copy.  Do not return this report to the processing center unless corrections are required.

Only the schools listed on the report will receive a copy of this information.  The schools that you listed on your application will contact you for any additional additional information required.

If your application is selected for the verification process, you will be required to submit copies of all income information, both taxable and untaxable.

Students applying for state aid must complete the FAFSA. The  deadline for applying for most state aid is March 1st of each year.  However, applications for the Promise Scholarship must be received before January 31st.

The FAFSA form and the forms for state aid available through the Community and Technical College System of Weset Virginia can be found by clicking on the links below:

Financial Aid FAQ

What is financial aid?
Financial aid consists of scholarships, grants, loans and employment opportunities to assist you in financing a postsecondary education.

If you apply for financial assistance through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), you will receive a PIN number. This is used to reapply for assistance. You must apply for assistance every year during the month of January.

Approximately three weeks after your application is received, you will receive a student aid report (SAR), this is the result of the review of your application. Review this information carefully, do not return it to the processing center unless corrections are required. Check the schools that received your information. Only the schools listed will receive a copy of your SAR.

The school(s) that you listed will contact you if other documents are required.

An award letter from the school containing the cost of attendance and the actual amount you could receive must be received prior to enrollment.

Types of financial aid
Merit-based aid - funds awarded based on academic ability, generally in the form of scholarships or tuition waivers.

Need -based aid - funds awarded as a result of filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and determination of a financial need. Aid in the form of grants does not have to be repaid. Self-help aid consists of loans which must be repaid or employment through the Federal College Work Study Program.

Eligibility for need-based aid is determined by the difference between the cost of attendance (student budget) and the family's ability to pay (Expected Family Contribution.)

Sources of Financial Aid
Institutional aid is provided by the institution
Private aid is provided by community organizations, foundations, and professional associations
State aid is funded through the state and includes grants and scholarships.Federal Aid is aid administered through the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of Education is the largest provider of financial aid.

Federal Aid Programs

• Federal Pell Grant - current maximum of $4050.
• Federal College Work Study (earned).
• Federal Supplemental Grant (does not require employment or repayment).

Currently, eligibility for federal assistance is limited to undergraduates without a first baccalaureate or professional degree. Eligible students may receive Pell Grants for a period of time necessary to complete a first undergraduate baccalaureate degree, provided they are making normal progress toward the completion of that degree program. You must must complete your program of study within 150% of the published length of the educational program. You should be aware that a change in enrollment (adding/dropping courses), may affect your eligibility to receive assistance in future semesters. You must apply for aid every year. However, you do not have to attend school on a full time basis to receive some types of federal/state aid.

Standards for Financial Assistance

In accordance with federal regulations, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical college has adopted the following standards of academic progress for students applying/receiving financial assistance.

Students receiving and/or applying for federal assistance must meet the criteria adopted by the institution for Standards of Academic Progress. The following factors must be met in order to be considered:

Students must complete at least 65% of the total number of hours enrolled each semester.

Students must maintain an overall grade point average of 2.00.

Students who fail to meet this criteria will be notified in writing by the financial assistance office. Students may request, in writing, a semester of probation.

While attending on a probation status, students may not drop/fail any classes and must complete the semester with an overall grade point average of 2.00.

Upon completion of the probation period, the standards of progress are again reviewed. Students who again fail to meet the standards of progress will no longer be eligible to receive federal assistance.

The Financial Aid Office is required by federal statute to determine how
much financial aid was earned by students who withdraw, drop out, are
dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a payment
period or term.

For a student who withdraws after the 60% point-in-time, there are no
unearned funds. However, a school must still complete a Return calculation
in order to determine whether the student is eligible for a post-withdrawal
disbursement.

The calculation is based on the percentage of earned aid using the
following Federal Return of Title IV funds formula:

Percentage of payment period or term completed = the number of days
completed up to the withdrawal date divided by the total days in the
payment period or term. (Any break of five days or more is not counted as
part of the days in the term.) This percentage is also the percentage of
earned aid.

Funds are returned to the appropriate federal program based on the
percentage of unearned aid using the following formula:

Aid to be returned = (100% of the aid that could be disbursed minus the
percentage of earned aid) multiplied by the total amount of aid that could
have been disbursed during the payment period or term.

If a student earned less aid than was disbursed, the institution would be
required to return a portion of the funds and the student would be required
to return a portion of the funds. Keep in mind that when Title IV funds are
returned, the student borrower may owe a debit balance to the institution.

If a student earned more aid than was disbursed to him/her, the institution
would owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement which must be paid
within 120 days of the student's withdrawal.

The institution must return the amount of Title IV funds for which it is
responsible no later than 45 days after the date of the determination of
the date of the student’s withdrawal.

Refunds are allocated in the following order:

· Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
· Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans
· Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans (other than PLUS loans)
· Subsidized Direct Stafford Loans
· Federal Perkins Loans
· Federal Parent (PLUS) Loans
· Direct PLUS Loans
· Federal Pell Grants for which a Return of funds is required
· Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grants for which a Return of funds
is required
· Other assistance under this Title for which a Return of funds is
required (e.g., LEAP)