Office of Financial Aid Policies

How to Apply

All applicants should complete the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA online. The Federal Processor electronically submits your application to STC Office of Financial Aid electronically if you have listed STC as a school to receive your application. This form will be used to determine your eligibility for all financial aid.
Applications for each upcoming academic year are available in the Office of Financial Aid in January. For priority processing, your FAFSA Application should be submitted four to six weeks before your anticipated start date. Applications submitted later may delay your application process and you may be required to pay for your tuition, fees and books until your application process is complete and you have received your award notification. Processing applications during the award year can take four weeks during peak processing times.
When completing a Financial Aid Application or Form, all required items must be answered. Failure to do so may delay your application process.
When completing all forms, use your full legal name. Do not use nicknames, abbreviations, or middle names as first names. The U.S. Department of Education and Georgia Student Finance Commission requires that the name used when applying for aid match your name on Social Security Administration records.

Financial Aid Awards

The Office of Financial Aid uses your permanent home address on file in the Admission's Office. Contact the Admissions Office for information about changing your address if needed or complete a Change of Address Form.
The Office of Financial Aid reserves the right to review and cancel awards at any time if you fail to meet the requirements of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy or because of changes in your financial or academic status, academic progress, resident status, enrollment status, etc. All student financial aid awards are contingent upon the availability of funds.
Financial Aid awards are made for the normal academic year consisting of the Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters.

Enrollment Status

For the purpose of awarding aid, the enrollment status is as follows:

Full-time status is any student enrolled and attending classes for a minimum of 12 federal credit hours per quarter.
3/4-time status is any student enrolled and attending classes for a minimum of 9-federal credit hours per quarter.
1/2-time status is any student enrolled and attending classes for a minimum of 6-federal credit hours per quarter.
Less-than-half time status is any student enrolled and attending classes for 1 to 5 federal credit hours per quarter.

Academic Year Definitions

For financial aid purposes, July 1st to June 30th represents the academic year
An academic year is represented by four (4) quarters
A quarter represent approximately 10 weeks or 50 days

Notes about Enrollment Status

Non-degree seeking or special admit students are not eligible for federal or state aid.
Your official enrollment status is determined each term at the end of the Drop/Add period. If you enroll full-time, then drop below full-time during the Drop/Add period, your financial aid awards may be adjusted.

Fee payment

All fee payments, including financial aid payments, are due in the Business Office located on the Main Campus in the Administrative Building. If you pre-register for classes for the upcoming term, note the Payment Deadline on your billing statement. Your schedule will be canceled if you fail to pay your fees by this date.

Additional Requirements

You must report to the Office of Financial Aid any aid you receive or expect to receive from an outside source regardless of when you receive notification of the award. This includes scholarships, grants, private loans, and assistantships or fee waivers.
The Office of Financial Aid urges all students, including transfer students, to carefully review STC's Office of Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Not understanding this policy could jeopardize your financial aid awards.
Dropping a class during the Official Drop/Add period at the beginning of the term will result in a review of aid eligibility for that term. Hours which are dropped do not count toward HOPE Scholarship eligibility or Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, although repayment may be required if student aid has already be authorized or disbursed for those hours. No grades are posted for dropped hours. Hours from which you withdrew each term will be considered as enrolled/attempted hours for purposes of determining HOPE eligibility and Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Withdrawing from a course will result in a grade of W, WP, or WF.

Current Students