Financial Aid Programs

The Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grants are generally awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. Federal Pell Grants do not have to be repaid and are usually the foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added.

A student's eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant is determined by the U.S. Department of Education using a standard formula established by Congress. Information provided on the FAFSA is evaluated to produce an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number. This number is included on your Student Aid Report (SAR) and will tell you if you qualify.

Awards depend on program funding, and you can receive only one Pell Grant in an award year. The amount you receive will depend not only on your EFC but also on your cost of attendance, whether you're enrolled full-time or part-time, and whether you attend school for a full academic year. You may not receive Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.

At SGC, Pell Grant funds are credited to student accounts.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

The Academic Competitiveness Grant provides up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student’s Pell Grant award. If you are completing the Free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), FAFSA on the Web will predetermine if you are eligible to answer the ACG questions. If you have submitted a paper FAFSA and have received your Student Aid Report (SAR) indicating that you may be eligible to answer the ACG questions, please call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4FED-AID.

Campus-Based Programs

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need--that is, students with the lowest EFCs--and gives priority to students who receive Federal Pell Grants. An FSEOG does not have to be repaid. Funding for this program is limited, so not every student who is eligible will receive an FSEOG award.

At SGC, FSEOG awards are usually in the amount of $300 per term ($500 per term for out-of-state students and students who live in campus housing) and are credited to student accounts.

Federal Work-Study

The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to your course of study.

At SGC, participants in the Work-Study Program are paid the current minimum wage and are paid every two weeks. Most Work-Study positions are located on-campus; however, some off-campus positions are available. The number of hours a student may work per week depends on the amount of his or her award.

AT SGC, FWS earnings are paid directly to the student by the College.

William D. Ford Direct Loan (DL) Program

South Georgia College will be changing its process for obtaining Federal Stafford and Federal PLUS loans beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year. South Georgia College currently participates in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, in which students and parents obtain funds from private banks, credit unions and lenders. Beginning fall semester 2010, South Georgia College will participate exclusively in the William D. Ford Direct Loan (DL) Program, in which borrowers obtain funds directly from the U.S. Department of Education. Eligibility rules and loan amounts are identical under both FFEL and DL programs.

Click here for a list of questions related to the Direct Loan Program that should help students and parents understand how this program will serve them.

William D. Ford Direct Loan (DL) Program Loans are available to students at SGC and can be either subsidized or unsubsidized.

A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. A student is not charged interest on this loan while he or she is enrolled in school at least half time or during authorized periods of deferment. The federal government "subsidizes" the interest during these periods.

An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of financial need; therefore, the student will be charged interest on the loan from the time it is disbursed until the time it is paid in full.

Beginning Fall 2008, first-year students may borrow up to $5,500 per year; second year students may borrow up to $6,500. Independent students may borrow an additional amount up to $4,000 per year.

Currently at SGC, Direct Loan funds are received by the College via electronic funds transfer (EFT) and will be credited to student accounts. Any excess loan funds remaining in a student's account after all fees have been paid will be paid to the student via their HigherOne account.

Georgia's HOPE Scholarship Program

Georgia's Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program

The LEAP Program was created to provide educational grant assistance to residents of Georgia who demonstrate substantial financial need to attend eligible postsecondary institutions in Georgia. Recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are also GA residents and must be enrolled at least half-time. Other requirements apply. Funding for this program is limited, so not every student who is eligible will receive an LEAP award.

At SGC, LEAP awards are credited to the student's account. The amount awarded per term is usually $300.00.

SGC Foundation Scholarships

SGC does offer a number of Foundation scholarships each year. These scholarships are administered through the Office of Advancement. For more information, call 912.260.4268.