Student Financial Aid Policies

How to Apply

All applicants should complete the FAFSA or the Renewal FAFSA.
When completing the FAFSA, ALL required items must be answered. Failure to do so may delay your Award Notification.
Use your full legal name when applying for aid. Do not use nicknames, abbreviations, or middle names as first names. The U.S. Department of Education requires that the name used when applying for aid match your name on Social Security Administration records. You will be asked for other information if there is a conflict.
When providing your parents names, please use the names that appear on their Social Security Cards. A match will be conducted with Social Security Administration records.

Financial Aid Awards

Each year, the OFA receives requests for more funds than are available. Although Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct and Federal PLUS Loans are available to eligible students year-round, other funds are awarded to eligible students on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The OFA uses your permanent home address on file in the Registrar's Office. Contact the Registrar's Office for information about changing your address.
The OFA 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 changes in your financial or academic status, academic program, resident status, enrollment status, etc. All student financial aid awards are contingent upon the availability of funds.
Aid awards are made for the normal academic year consisting of the Fall and Spring semesters. Maymester and Summer term are considered trailers to the normal academic year. Students interested in receiving aid must complete a one page Institutional Application for Summer Aid, which is available during the Spring semester. The Institutional Application for Summer Aid serves as an official notice of your intent to enroll during the Maymester and/or Summer term.

Enrollment Status

Irregular, non-degree, or transient students are not eligible for federal or state aid. HOPE Scholarship recipients may contact the OFA to request information on receiving HOPE as a transient student at another HOPE eligible institution.
A student's enrollment status is determined as follows:

                                  12+ hours Full-Time
                                  9-11 hours 3/4 Time
                                  6-8 hours Half-Time
                                  5 or Fewer Less-Than-Half Time

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 award amounts may be decreased.
Please be aware that as of Fall Semester 2009 each semester hour up to 15 will incur a charge. (See Tuition rates here: http://www.sgc.edu/prospective/tuition_and_fees.html )

Fee Payment

All fee payments, including financial aid payments, are due in the Cashier Office located on the second floor of Richey Hall. If you pre-register for classes for an upcoming term, note the Payment Deadline on your Fee Invoice. Your schedule will be canceled if you fail to pay your fees by this date.