TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID:
There are three kinds of financial aid: Gift Aid (money you don’t have to pay back); Work Aid (money you have to work for to earn as a paycheck); Loans (money you have to pay back).
There are four basic types of financial aid: Grants, Scholarships, Student Employment and Loans.
Most grants and scholarships are gift aid.
There are four sources that offer financial aid to attend Columbia State Community College: the United States government (federal aid), the State of Tennessee (state aid), Columbia State Community College (institutional aid) and outside donors (private aid).
For more information on Federal aid programs CLICK HERE.
For more information on Tennessee aid programs CLICK HERE.
For more information on scholarships please CLICK HERE.
GRANTS:
Federal Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is Federal gift aid.
Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) determines if you can get the Pell Grant.
For the 2011-2012 award year your EFC must be between 0 and 5273 to be eligible for the Pell Grant.
Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) determines how much Pell Grant you can get each year.
The Dept of Education puts a limit on how much Pell Grant you may get each year.
Not everyone gets a Pell Grant.
It is meant for only the neediest of students.
The amount of Pell that you get is also determined by how many classes you are taking each semester.
For more information on the Federal Pell Grant CLICK HERE.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant is Federal gift aid.
The Office of Financial Aid at Columbia State awards FSEOG.
Funds are limited.
You must have a certain Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to get FSEOG.
The amount of money you may get depends on your EFC and how much FSEOG money Columbia State has to award.
For more information on the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant CLICK HERE.
Federal Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (FIASG)
The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is Federal gift aid.
You cannot get Pell Grant and receive FIASG.
To see all the requirements for FIASG CLICK HERE.
Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)
The Tennessee Student Assistance Award is State gift aid.
Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) determines if you can get TSAA.
To be eligible for consideration your EFC must be 2100 or less.
You must be a Tennessee resident to get TSAA.
You must be enrolled and attending at least 6 credit hours each semester to get TSAA.
The State of Tennessee awards TSAA based on when the FAFSA was completed by the student.
The deadline for being considered for TSAA is stated on the FAFSA each year. The State of Tennessee recommends that you file the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st.
Funds are limited.
Students are awarded TSAA by the State of Tennessee on a first-come, first-served basis until all TSAA money is spent.
Filing the FAFSA before-or-on the FAFSA deadline does not guarantee that you will be awarded TSAA.
It is not uncommon for the State of Tennessee to award all TSAA money before the deadline.
Please file your FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st of each year to help insure you are considered for TSAA.
For more information on the Tennessee Student Assistance Award CLICK HERE.
Tennessee Helping Heroes Grant (THHG)
The Helping Heroes Grant is State gift aid.
The state of Tennessee awards THHG on a first-come, first-served basis until all money is THHG is spent.
You must fill out a state form to apply for this grant.
To see all the requirements that you must meet to get THHG CLICK HERE.
To apply for The Helping Heroes Grant CLICK HERE.
Tennessee HOPE Access Grant
The Tennessee HOPE Access Grant is a State gift aid.
You may only receive the Tennessee HOPE Access Grant for one year.
For more information on the Tennessee HOPE Access Grant CLICK HERE.
Tennessee Hope Foster Child Tuition Grant
For more information on the Tennessee Hope Foster Child Tuition Grant CLICK HERE.
SCHOLARSHIPS:
Scholarships may come from three sources: Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarships (TELS); Columbia State Community College Foundation Scholarships or Private Donor Scholarships.
TENNESSEE EDUCATION LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIPS (TELS)
Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
The Tennessee HOPE Scholarship is a State gift aid.
You must complete the FAFSA to get the HOPE Scholarship.
If you are a new freshman who graduated from an eligible Tennessee high school with a 21 ACT composite (980 SAT) or have an overall weighted minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) you may get the HOPE Scholarship.
If you are a new freshman who graduated from an approved Home School program or from an approved private high school with a minimum 21 ACT composite (980 SAT) you may get the HOPE Scholarship.
If you are a new freshman who completed the General Education Degree (GED) with a minimum test score of 525 and have a 21 ACT composite you may get the HOPE Scholarship.
For more information on The Tennessee HOPE Scholarship CLICK HERE.
Tennessee General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS)
The Tennessee General Assembly Merit Scholarship is State gift aid.
You must get the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship to be able to get the GAMS.
For more information on the Tennessee General Assembly Merit Scholarship CLICK HERE.
Tennessee ASPIRE Award
The Tennessee ASPIRE Award is a State gift aid.
You must get the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship to be able to get the ASPIRE Award.
For more information on the Tennessee ASPIRE Award CLICK HERE.
Tennessee HOPE Scholarship for Non-traditional Students
Tennessee HOPE Scholarship for students 25 or older.
For more information regarding the Non-Traditional Component CLICK HERE.
COLUMBIA STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
Content currently under construction. Please check back.
PRIVATE DONOR SCHOLARSHIPS
Content currently under construction. Please check back.
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT:
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
Federal Work-Study is a Federal work aid.
Eligible students are awarded a part-time job and assigned to a department, office, or extended campus at Columbia State Community College.
Some students who receive Federal Work-Study may be assigned to community service projects in the community.
You must have “need” to be considered for FWS.
Money is limited and awarded by the Office of Financial Aid on a first-come, first-served basis.
Everyone who wants and/or is eligible for a Federal Work-Study may not be awarded.
For more information on the Federal Work-Study program please CLICK HERE.
If you want to be considered for a Federal Work Study assignment at Columbia State Community College please select “Yes” to question 31 on the FAFSA, “Are you interested in being considered for work-study?”
Institutional Work-Study
Institutional Work-Study is Columbia State Community College work aid.
The Office of Financial Aid at Columbia State awards Institutional Work-Study to students who indicate they want a Federal Work-Study on question 31 of the FAFSA, but are not awarded because of ineligibility or lack of FWS funds.
LOANS:
Federal Direct Stafford loans are Federal student loan aid.
You must complete a FAFSA each year to receive Direct Stafford Loans.
You do not have to pass a credit check to receive Direct Stafford Loans.
You are not required to pay anything on your loans while you are enrolled and attending at least 6 credit hours a semester.
You are not required to begin paying on your Federal Direct Loans until 6 months after you leave school by graduation, total withdrawal or dropping below at least 6 credit hours attendance in a semester.
This 6 month period after you leave school is called your “grace” period.
The U.S. Department of Education limits the amount that you may borrow each year based on your dependency status (dependent or independent) as determined by the FAFSA and your current grade level (freshman, sophomore, etc.). This is called your “annual” borrowing limit.
Your grade level will never be higher than sophomore at Columbia State Community College.
The U.S. Department of Education also limits the amount that you may borrow while going to college. This is called your “aggregate” borrowing limit.
For more information on the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program please CLICK HERE.