Financial Aid and Veteran Services
Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) offers various sources of financial aid to assist students in meeting educational expenses. Financial aid programs may include federal and state grants, scholarships, federal student loans, Federal Work-Study, and veterans' educational benefits.
Financial Aid Office Contact Information
Students needing assistance with financial aid may contact the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services:
Phone: 770-228-7348
Email: finaid@sctech.edu
Financial Aid staff serve students across Griffin, Henry and Thomaston Southern Crescent Technical College locations.
Veterans Services Contact Information
Students receiving Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits may contact the Veterans School Certifying Office:
Phone: 770-229-3095
Email: va@sctech.edu
Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services for assistance regarding financial aid eligibility, application requirements, and veterans' educational benefits.
Special Admit students are not eligible for federal or state financial aid programs.
Note: Not all Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) programs are eligible for Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loan funding.
Financial Aid
Important Financial Aid Policies and Procedures
Terms and Conditions of Receiving Financial Aid
Acceptance of Financial Aid
By accepting financial aid at Southern Crescent Technical College, students authorize the College to apply financial aid funds toward allowable educational charges, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, and other authorized charges in accordance with federal and state regulations.
Responsibility for Payment
If financial aid funds are insufficient, reduced, canceled, or if a student is determined ineligible for aid, the student remains responsible for any outstanding balance owed to the College.
Declining Financial Aid
Students who wish to decline all or a portion of their financial aid must notify the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services in writing.
Award Amounts
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grant eligibility is determined by the U.S. Department of Education based on information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Pell Grant awards are initially based on full-time enrollment (12 credit hours) and are adjusted based on the student's actual enrollment status each term.
HOPE and Zell Miller Awards
HOPE and Zell Miller eligibility and award amounts are determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC).
Award amounts are based on enrollment status and are subject to annual legislative appropriations and GSFC regulations.
Commercial Truck Driving (CDL)
Eligible students enrolled in Commercial Truck Driving programs may qualify for a one-time HOPE Grant, Zell Miller Grant, and HOPE Career Grant award, subject to GSFC eligibility requirements and annual funding levels.
Applying for Financial Aid
FAFSA Requirement
Students seeking federal financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov. Students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA at least four weeks prior to registration to allow sufficient time for processing and review.
Southern Crescent Technical College's Federal School Code is 005621.
FAFSA Submission Summary
After submitting the FAFSA, students will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary from the U.S. Department of Education. The FAFSA Submission Summary provides an overview of the information submitted on the FAFSA and includes the Student Aid Index (SAI), which is used to determine eligibility for federal student aid.
An electronic Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) is also transmitted to SCTC when the College's Federal School Code (005621) is included on the FAFSA.
HOPE Scholarship Evaluation Request
Students seeking HOPE Scholarship eligibility consideration for degree programs who did not graduate from a Georgia high school or whose HOPE eligibility cannot be determined through existing records may be required to submit a completed HOPE Scholarship Evaluation Request to the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services.
Additional information regarding Georgia's HOPE and Zell Miller programs is available through the Georgia Student Finance Commission at https://www.gafutures.org.
Reporting Additional Assistance
Students must report all types and sources of educational assistance received, including scholarships, grants, employer tuition assistance, veterans' educational benefits, waivers, and other educational resources. Receipt of additional assistance may affect a student's financial aid eligibility.
Priority FAFSA Deadlines
To allow sufficient time for financial aid processing, students should submit the FAFSA by the following priority deadlines:
• Fall Semester – July 1
• Spring Semester – November 1
• Summer Semester – April 1
Verification Process
Students selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education will be required to submit additional information to the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services before federal financial aid eligibility can be determined. Documentation may include, but is not limited to, federal tax information, household information, identity verification, or other supporting documentation as requested.
SCTC utilizes a secure Financial Aid Portal for the submission and processing of required documents.
Financial Aid Portal
Students must be admitted to Southern Crescent Technical College and have a valid FAFSA on file before creating a Financial Aid Portal account.
To create an account:
- Visit https://sctech.studentforms.com.
- Select "Create Account."
- Enter and verify the requested student information.
- Complete the account setup process.
Once the account is created, any required tasks or requested documentation will be available within the portal.
The Financial Aid Portal provides a secure method for submitting documentation electronically, completing required forms, and monitoring the status of financial aid requirements.
Federal Aid
Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grants are awarded to eligible undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree and who demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Most diploma, degree, and eligible Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) programs qualify for Pell Grant funding.
Students who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher are not eligible for Federal Pell Grant funding.
Students must submit a FAFSA each award year to determine eligibility.
Learning Support, Continuing Education, Provisional, Transient, and Special Admit students are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Federal Pell Grant Recalculation Policy
- Projected Full-Time Enrollment: SCTC awards Pell Grants based on a projected full-time enrollment status. This means that the grant amounts are initially determined assuming the student will be enrolled full-time.
- Proration Based on Enrollment Level: Pell Grant amounts are then prorated based on the actual enrollment level of the student during each term. If a student enrolls for less than the projected full-time status, the Pell Grant amount will be adjusted accordingly.
- Utilization of Census Date: The college uses the student's latest census date for all classes when disbursing federal Pell Grants each semester. Pell awards are issued based on the enrollment level calculated at that time.
- Relevant Link for More Information: Students seeking more information about Federal Pell Grants can visit the provided link: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/pell.
Financial Aid Repeated Course Policy
- Limit on Repeating Passed Courses: Federal regulations allow students to receive financial aid to repeat a previously passed course (earned grade of D or higher) only one additional time. This applies even if the course was passed at another institution.
- Definition of "Passed" Course: A "passed" course, according to federal regulations, means any grade higher than an "F," regardless of any school or program policy requiring a higher grade for course completion.
- Financial Aid Eligibility for Retaking Failed Courses: Students may receive federal financial aid for retaking a course they failed, irrespective of the number of times the course was attempted and failed.
- Exclusion of Courses with "W" Grades: Courses in which a student received a "W" grade (withdrawal) are not considered when determining if a course is being repeated for financial aid purposes.
- Limit on Aid Eligibility for Repeated Courses: Once a student has completed a course twice with a passing grade, they are no longer eligible to receive financial aid for that course.
- Recalculation of Aid for Non-Eligible Courses: If a student decides to retake a course that is not aid-eligible, a recalculation of aid will be done to exclude the credits for that course. This applies regardless of whether the student received aid for earlier enrollments in the course.
- Impact on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): All repeated courses, along with the original attempt, must be counted as attempted credit hours. This is to ensure compliance with the financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
- Distinction from Academic Affairs Repeating Courses Policy: It's noted that the repeat course policy for financial aid differs from the Academic Affairs Repeating Courses Policy, emphasizing the distinction between financial aid regulations and academic policies.
Gainful Employment
For more information on Gainful Employment, visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU)
The LEU is the sum of the percentages of your Federal Pell Grant scheduled awards that you received for each award year. The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding.
Not all Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) programs qualify for Direct Loans. SCTC Programs Eligible for Federal Aid
Unusual Enrollment History
An Unusual Enrollment History flag occurs when you receive Federal Aid funding from multiple institutions. The Department of Education will review Federal Aid disbursement information for the past four award years for all FAFSA filers. They will assign a "UEH flag" of N, 2, or 3 to your FAFSA.
Flags "2" and "3" require SCTC to review the student’s enrollment history and determine whether the student is enrolling only long enough to receive cash refunds of federal student aid. Students will be required to provide copies of academic records from previous colleges. Based on the data, students may be required to submit a UEH appeal.
To help students achieve academic success before exhausting federal financial aid limits, students should seek academic advising when planning their course schedules and throughout their college experience. When facing academic difficulties, students are encouraged to seek tutoring and other support services through their advisor.
Federal Student Loans
SCTC does not auto-award loans. Students interested in applying for and receiving federal loans will need to complete a loan request form and provide a current copy of their Master Promissory Note (MPN) and proof they completed entrance counseling. The college does encourage students to borrow conservatively and only request enough funding to cover the cost of tuition and fees. Additional loan information students should be aware of before borrowing:
- Loan Disbursement: Students cannot receive their full loan amount for the aid year in one term. One-term Loans will be disbursed in two payments after enrollment verification by the Registrar's Office.
- Loan Repayment: Acknowledgment that the loan must be repaid to the U.S. Department of Education.
- Use of Loan Funds: Money is designated for educational expenses only, and authorization is given to deduct direct costs from the loan.
- Enrollment and Academic Progress: Must be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program, taking courses within the major, and maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
- Adjustments to Loans: Any adjustments to loans after submission must be made in writing.
- Repayment Start: Repayment begins six months after graduation or when no longer enrolled half-time, and Exit Counseling must be completed upon leaving the college.
- Loan Cancellation: Understanding the ability to cancel the loan before disbursement or within 14 days after disbursement notification.
- Consequences of Default: Awareness of the consequences of loan default, including ineligibility for future federal aid, negative impact on credit rating, potential tax refund interception, wage garnishment, and accrual of collection fees and interest. Encouragement to explore repayment options, deferment, and forbearance before defaulting.
- Completion of Master Promissory Note (MPN): The student is required to submit a copy of their MPN for Southern Crescent Technical College at www.studentloans.gov before receiving federal direct loans.
- Completion of Entrance Counseling: The student will be required to Entrance Counseling Session for Southern Crescent Technical College at www.studentloans.gov before receiving federal direct loans.
Visit the SCTC’s Consumer Disclosure page for the loan request form for additional information.
Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)
The Federal Work-Study Program provides eligible students with opportunities to earn funds through part-time employment while attending college.
Eligibility requirements include:
- Completion of the FAFSA
- Demonstrated financial need
- Enrollment in at least six credit hours
- Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal Work-Study funding is limited and awarded based on financial need, available funding, and institutional hiring needs.
State Programs
Southern Crescent Technical College participates in the following Georgia Student Finance Commission programs:
- HOPE Grant
- HOPE Career Grant
- HOPE Scholarship
- Zell Miller Grant
- Zell Miller Scholarship
Eligibility requirements and award amounts are determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission and are subject to change.
Additional information is available at:
Cost of Attendance
The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of a student's educational expenses for an academic year and is used to determine eligibility for federal financial aid programs. The COA includes both direct costs paid to the College and indirect costs that students may incur while attending school.
Direct Costs
Direct costs are expenses charged directly by Southern Crescent Technical College and may include:
• Tuition
• Mandatory Fees
These costs appear on the student's account and are payable to the College.
Indirect Costs
Indirect costs are estimated educational expenses that are not billed by the College but are associated with attending school. These may include:
• Books and Supplies
• Housing and Food
• Transportation
• Personal and Miscellaneous Expenses
• Loan Fees (when applicable)
Indirect costs vary based on individual student circumstances and are included in the Cost of Attendance to provide a more comprehensive estimate of the expenses associated with attending college.
The Cost of Attendance is established annually by the Office of Financial Aid in accordance with federal regulations and may vary based on a student's enrollment status, program of study, residency status, housing arrangements, and other factors.
Actual charges owed to Southern Crescent Technical College may differ from the Cost of Attendance. Students should review their student account for actual tuition and fee charges.
The Cost of Attendance is not a guarantee of financial aid eligibility or an amount that will be awarded to a student. Rather, it serves as a budgeting tool and is one of several factors used to determine a student's eligibility for financial aid programs.