Financial Aid

Contact Information
Office of Financial Aid Georgia Gwinnett College
1000 University Center Lane
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Phone: 678-407-5701
Fax: 678-407-5925 ggcfinancialaid@ggc.edu
http://www.ggc.edu/admissions/financial-aid

Eligibility for Financial Aid

Eligibility depends on many factors. To receive aid from the student aid programs offered at Georgia Gwinnett College, students must satisfy the following:

• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree in an eligible program of study.
• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate.
• Be a U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
• Have a valid Social Security Number.
• Not be in default on a Federal Stafford Loan or own an over-payment on a Federal Student Grant.
• Make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• Register with the Selective Service if required. If the student is a male age 18-25 and has not yet registered with the Selective Service, he can give the Selective Service permission to register him by checking a box on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). He can also register through the Internet at www.sss.gov.
• Sign a statement on the FAFSA certifying that the student (1) will use federal and/or state student financial aid only to pay for attending an institution of higher learning, (2) is not in default on a federal student loan or has made satisfactory arrangements to repay it, (3) does not owe money back on a federal student grant or has made satisfactory arrangements to repay it (4) will notify the school if he or she defaults on a federal student loan.

Applying for Financial Aid

A student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov in order to be considered for federal financial aid at Georgia Gwinnett College. When completing the FAFSA, use the Federal School Code of 041429. The FAFSA serves as the initial application for all Federal Grants and Loans in addition to being one of the ways a student can apply for HOPE Scholarship or Zell Miller Scholarship. Once the GGC Office of Financial Aid receives a completed FAFSA, the student will be evaluated for financial aid based on the U.S. Department of Education’s federal methodology of needs analysis.

The deadline to have the financial aid file complete is July 6 for Fall Semester, December 1 for Spring Semester and April 15 for Summer Semester. Files completed after these dates will still be processed in the order of receipt, however it may not be processed in time for the appropriate term’s payment deadline. Students completing their financial aid files after the posted deadlines should be prepared to pay out-of-pocket and be reimbursed for any aid they are eligible for and accept once the file has been processed.

Students admitted for dual enrollment will have different requirements based on the Dual Enrollment Schoalrship Program regulations.

Cost of Attendance

For students not living with their parents the Cost of Attendance for 2017 - 2018 is:

For students living with their parents the Cost of attendance for 2017-2018 is:

*The tuition rate may vary depending on what rate the student is being charged.

Types of Financial Aid

HOPE Scholarship

Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship provides money to assist students with the educational costs of attending college in Georgia.

Eligibility for HOPE Scholarship:

• Students must be designated as a HOPE or Zell Scholar by GSFC (Georgia Student Finance Commission) out of high school, as defined by the HOPE program, or earn at least a 3.0 grade point average at the college level at specific credit-hour checkpoints.
• Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student
• Meet the residency requirements determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission
• Meet U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements
• Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements
• Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990
• Not be in default or owe a refund on a student financial aid program
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress
• Must have a completed GSFAPP, the state application, or current-year FAFSA on file prior to the end of the term in which the student is eligible for HOPE.
• Must meet academic rigor by high school graduation of at least two(2) full credits for 2015, at three (3) full credits for 2016 and at least four (4) full credits for 2017 from the academic rigor course category list provide by GSFC.
• Must be within seven years of High School graduation if the student has never been invoiced for HOPE scholarship in the Spring 2011 semester or earlier. Students who were invoiced for a HOPE Scholarship during the Spring 2011 semester or earlier will have until seven years after their high school graduation date or June 30, 2015.

The HOPE scholarship covers up to $114.00 per credit hour of college level courses in the 2018-2019 school year. It does not pay for any learning support courses, institutional fees or books.

If the student graduated from a Georgia high school after May 1, 2007 or later, the student may view his initial HOPE eligibility status at www.gafutures.org.

If the student graduated from a Georgia high school before May 1, 2007, but never attended a college or university, she will need to submit an official high school transcript to the GSFC for a complete review.

Checkpoint Requirements

Students may continue to receive the HOPE Scholarship if they have a 3.00 or better HOPE GPA at each checkpoint.

Check points are:

• At the end of each Spring semester
• At the end of the semester where the 30, 60, and 90 credit hour is attempted.
• Freshman recipients who enroll in fewer than 12 hours for each of their first three terms are checked at the end of the third term rather than at the end of Spring semester.

Gaining HOPE Eligibility after enrolling in GGC

Students not meeting the academic requirements following high school may be eligible to receive the HOPE Scholarship after attempting 30 semester hours of college-level coursework, provided the student meets the Georgia residency and U.S. citizenship requirements set forth above and has a HOPE GPA of 3.00 at the end of the term in which the 30 semester credit hour is attempted. Students who have attempted more than 30 hours of coursework must have had at least a 3.00 HOPE GPA at the end of the semester in which the 30, 60, 90 hours were attempted in order to gain HOPE. Students may only lose HOPE Scholarship two times. After the second time HOPE has been lost, the student will never be eligible to receive HOPE Scholarship again.

Attempted means all college level course work, including grades of W, taken after high school graduation regardless of whether HOPE paid for the course or not. Learning Support courses taken before Fall 2011 and after high school graduation are also included in attempted hours.

HOPE Limits:

A college degree-seeking student is ineligible for the HOPE Scholarship if the student has:

1. Received payment from any combination of HOPE Scholarship, Zell Miller Scholarship, HOPE Grant and Dual Enrollment Program funds (through Spring term 2011) totaling 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of credit; or
2. Attempted 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of college degree credit, regardless of whether or not HOPE funds were received while attempting the hours; or
3. Earned a baccalaureate (four-year) college degree, regardless of whether or not HOPE funds were received while earning the degree, or
4. Reached the Seven Year Expiration of Eligibility date.

HOPE for GED Recipients

Legal residents of Georgia who earned a General Education Development (high school equivalency) diploma awarded by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education after June 30, 1993 may receive a one -time $500 HOPE award. This award can be used toward tuition, books and other educational costs at an eligible public technical institute or public or private college/university in a degree, diploma, or certificate program. Full-time enrollment is not required. Students must use their GED HOPE eligibility within 24 months of the date of the GED diploma. Military personnel have 52 months to exercise eligibility.

HOPE for Transient Students

Transient students who are eligible for HOPE Scholarship funds must have their home institution provide a HOPE Transient Certificate to Georgia Gwinnett College before receiving HOPE Scholarship funds. Transient students should plan to pay full semester’s bill by the published tuition and fees due date. Eligible transient students will be reimbursed the eligible HOPE Scholarship amount certified by their home institution.

For complete information on HOPE eligibility, please refer to the GAfutures.org website.

Zell Miller Scholarship

Georgia’s Zell Miller Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship provides money to assist students with the educational costs of attending college in Georgia.

Eligibility for the Zell Miller Scholarship

Meet one of the following academic requirements at the time of high school graduation:

• Graduate from a HOPE eligible high school as the Valedictorian or the Salutatorian.
• Graduate from an eligible high school with a minimum 3.7 grade point average combine with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a 26 composite score on the ACT test in a single test administration.
• Complete a HOPE eligible home study program with a 3.7 grade point average combined with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and ready portions of the SAT test or a 26 composite score on the ACT test in a single test administration.
• Graduate from an ineligible high school or complete an ineligible home study program with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a 26 composite score on the ACT test in a single test administration, and then earn a 3.3 grade point average or 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level course work taken after high school graduation or home study completion. This option allows for payment of the first 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours after they are taken.
• Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student.
• Meet HOPE’s Georgia residency requirements.
• Meet HOPE’s U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements.
• Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements.
• Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990. A student may be ineligible for Zell Miller Scholarship payment if he or she has been convicted for committing certain felony offenses involving marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs
• Not be in default or owe a refund on a student financial aid program.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the college.
• Must meet academic rigor by high school graduation of at least two(2) full credits for 2015, at three (3) full credits for 2016 and at least four (4) full credits for 2017 from the academic rigor course category list provide by Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC).

The Zell Miller Scholarship covers 100% of tuition for college level courses. It does not pay for learning support courses, institutional fees or books. A student cannot receive both the Zell Miller Scholarship and HOPE during the same semester. If a student is not eligible for Zell Miller at the time of high school graduation, the student will never be eligible for the scholarship.

Checkpoint Requirements

Students may continue to receive the Zell Miller Scholarship if they have a 3.3 or better HOPE GPA at each checkpoint.

Check points are:

• At the end of each Spring semester
• At the end of the semester where the 30, 60, and 90 credit hour is attempted.
• Freshman recipients who enroll in fewer than 12 hours for each of their first three terms are checked at the end of the third term rather than at the end of Spring semester.

Students who have lost the Zell Miller Scholarship may gain it back one time by having a 3.3 cumulative college GPA at 30, 60 or 90 attempted hours. Students may only lose the Zell Miller Scholarship twice. After the second time the Zell Miller Scholarship has been lost, the student will never be eligible to receive the Zell Miller Scholarship again.

Attempted means all college level course work, including grades of W, taken after high school graduation regardless of whether Zell Miller paid for the course or not. Learning Support courses taken before Fall 2011 and after high school graduation are also included in attempted hours.

Zell Miller Scholarship Limits

A college degree-seeking student is ineligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship if the student has:

1. Received payment from any combination of HOPE Scholarship, Zell Miller Scholarship, HOPE Grant and MOWR Program funds (through Spring term 2011) totaling 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of credit; or
2. Attempted 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of college degree credits, regardless of whether or not Zell Miller funds were received while attempting the hours; or
3. Has earned a baccalaureate (four-year) college degree, regardless of whether or not Zell Miller funds were received while earning the degree.
4. Graduated from high school more than seven years ago and did not receive a HOPE Scholarship payment prior to Summer term 2011.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is a federally funded program that provides need-based grants to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree. The application is the FAFSA. Eligibility is based on the Expected Family contribution (EFC). Students receive the EFC on the Student Aid Report (SAR) after submitting the FAFSA. The EFC range for Federal Pell Grant eligibility is 0 to 5,486. The awards range from a maximum of $6,095 per year (0 EFC) to a minimum of $652 (5,486 EFC) per year for full-time enrollment. Pell Grant payment for part-time enrollment is prorated based upon the student’s level of enrolled hours. Students receiving the Federal Pell Grant may also be eligible for other types of financial aid. There is a life-time limit to the amount of Pell a student can receive. Students can receive the Federal Pell grant for the equivalent of 12 full time semesters (600%). When 600 % of lifetime Pell eligibility has been met, the student is no longer eligible for Pell Grant funds.

Beginning in Summer, 2018, students may receive up to 150% of their annual Pell Grant award if they attend summer semester. In order to receive the additional eligibility, the student must be enrolled at least half time (6hrs), be meeting all other eligibility requirements, and not be limited by the Lifetime Eligibility Limit (LEU).

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is a federally funded program that provides need-based grants to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree, exhibit extreme need, and are also receiving the Pell Grant. The application is the FAFSA. Eligibility is based on the EFC as calculated by the FAFSA. The College receives a limited amount of FSEOG Grant funding each year. Awards are randomly made to those with highest need first until all funds are exhausted.

Federal Work Study

The Federal Work Study program is a federally funded program that allows students to work a campus-sponsored job while earning a wage. Jobs are not guaranteed. Funding is limited based upon the amount the federal government awards the College each year. Earnings are also limited based upon the student’s need as determined by the FAFSA application. Students must complete a FAFSA to be considered. Eligible students may apply through the College’s job site at jobs.ggc.edu. Students may not begin earning the Federal Work Study award until they are hired and being working a federal work study job.

Institutional Scholarships

GGC Scholarships are Foundation funded scholarships awarded in part on the basis of academic achievement and financial need. Review individual scholarship for additional eligibility criteria complete an appropriate year’s FAFSA application and the GGC Scholarship application (after orientation) to determine eligibility. Scholarship application at http://www.ggc.edu/admissions/tuition-and-fees-and-financial-aid/financial-aid/scholarships-and-grants/#ggc-scholarships

William D. Ford Federal Direct Stafford Subsidized Loan

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Stafford Subsidized Loan program allows students who are enrolled at least half-time to borrow money from the federal government at a low interest rate. Interest rates are fixed based on current Federal Stafford loan rates. No repayments are due and no interest accrues until six months after the student graduates, leaves the College, or ceases to be a half-time student. Origination and processing fees of approximately one-half percent are deducted from the loan amount borrowed.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Loan

Any student that is enrolled at least half-time, regardless of need, may borrow from the William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program. Interest rates are fixed based on current Federal Stafford loan rates. No repayments are due until six months after the student graduates, leaves the College, or ceases to be a half-time student; however, interest begins to accrue the day the loan disburses on the student’s behalf. It is recommended students pay the interest while enrolled. Origination and processing fees of approximately one-half percent are deducted from the loan amount borrowed.

Loan limits for both the Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program are listed below:

PLEASE NOTE: Students who are first-time borrowers and are in the first-year of their undergraduate study cannot receive the first installment of a Stafford Loan disbursement until 30 calendar days after the student’s program of study begins.

To receive a Federal Direct Stafford Loan you must complete the following steps:

• Accept your loans in your BANNER Account
• Have a completed Master Promissory Note (MPN) on file at www.studentloans.gov
• Have a completed Loan Entrance Counseling session on file at www.studentloans.gov

William D. Ford Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

This program is available to parents of dependent students who are enrolled at least half-time. Parent borrowers may borrow from the federal government up to the cost of attendance at GGC minus other aid. The interest rate is fixed based on the current PLUS loan rates. Parents are allowed to select their loan amount up to the student’s cost of attendance. A credit check is required. The student will be allowed to borrow under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program if the parents cannot borrow under the PLUS Loan Program.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards (SAP)

In order for a student to receive financial aid at Georgia Gwinnett College, the student must demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). SAP includes two standards: GPA and Pace. Students must meet both standards to continue to receive financial aid.

GPA

In order to maintain eligibility for financial aid with the qualitative standard, a student must maintain the academic standing necessary to remain at GGC. The GPA policy is the same as the academic policies of GGC.

If a student fails to meet the GPA standard for academic progress, then he/she will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester.

The checkpoint for SAP is at the end of each semester. The cumulative GGC GPA is used.

Pace

In order to meet the Pace standard, students must complete and pass (earn) 67% of courses attempted throughout his/her course of study. Courses earned include grades of A, B, C, or D. Courses attempted include any course in which grades of A, B, C, D, F, FN, W, WF, or I are given.

If a student fails to meet the Pace standard for academic progress, then he/she will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester.

The checkpoint for SAP is at the end of each semester and includes a student’s full academic history.

Maximum Time Frame

Regulations allow a student to maintain eligibility for attempting credit hours that are 150% of the credit hours required to receive a degree. For GGC baccalaureate students that is a maximum of 184 attempted hours. Once a student reaches 150% of the number of credit hours required for his/her program, he/she will be ineligible to receive further financial aid. All attempted course hours must be included in this calculation, including those that are not included in the student’s GPA for repeated course work and terms for which the student did not receive any financial aid. Transfer credit accepted by the College is also included. Students who are seeking a double major or double degree will have 150% of the total amount of hours it would take to complete both majors and/or degrees.

Treatment of Student Success & English for Academic Purposes Courses

Student Success Courses

Student Success courses are non-credit courses but they do count as institutional load credit in the semester in which they are taken. These courses do count for the student’s enrollment status for that semester. Because they bear no quality points and no GPA hours, they are not considered in SAP calculation. The attempted hours on these courses taken prior to Fall 2011 do accumulate for HOPE scholarship eligibility checkpoints and will count toward the student’s HOPE GPA calculation.

Per federal regulation, a student is limited to one academic year’s (30 semester hours) of remedial coursework in order to retain eligibility for financial aid funds. If a student attempts more than 30 semester hours of remedial coursework, federal aid cannot be used to pay for those courses.

Students are no longer able to enrolled in non-credit courses only.  All student success courses offered for Fall 2018 forward are offered in a co-requisite format. Only the college-level portion of the student success course is included in the evaluation of Pace and GPA for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Audit Courses

Students are not eligible to receive financial aid for audited courses. Audited courses are not included in the number of hours attempted or earned for SAP consideration.

Repeated Courses

Students who receive a ‘W’, ‘WF’, ‘F’ or an ‘FN’ in a course, that student is allowed to repeat the course and receive financial aid (assuming he/she is meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress) until he/she receives a ‘D’ or better. Once the student has received a ‘D’ grade or better, he/she can repeat the course a second time and still receive federal aid. The third time the student repeats a course in which he/she has earned a ‘D’ or better, this becomes an illegal repeat and the Office of Financial Aid cannot provide federal funding for that repeated course. If a student retakes a course that is not aid eligible, a recalculation of aid is completed to exclude the credits for the repeated course. This rule applies whether or not the student received aid for earlier enrollments in the course. This rule applies regardless of the minimum grade required by the program. A ‘D’ is considered passing for federal requirements.

All repeated courses affect financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress calculations. A repeated course, along with the original attempt, must be counted as attempted credit hours. All students must successfully complete 67% of cumulative attempted hours by the end of each term.

Grade Forgiveness

All hours that a student has attempted at GGC and all transfer hours accepted by the College are included in a student’s Pace and GPA calculations. This includes hours that may have been “forgiven” through Academic Amnesty. The policies on repeated course work and transfer policies apply and the GPA and Pace calculations are the same for students who have been granted grade forgiveness as for all other students.

Grade Changes

When the Financial Aid Office is notified of a grade change, the student is checked for satisfactory academic progress (SAP) at that point; even if SAP has been previously checked. Should SAP status updates as a result of an official grade change result in SAP suspension, all aid will be removed from the student’s account and any loans returned to the lender.

Financial Aid Warning and Financial Aid Probation

If a student does not meet both standards for academic progress, he/she will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester. If the standards are not met at the end of the warning period, the student will lose eligibility for financial aid for a period not less than one semester of enrollment in addition to any other consequences imposed by the College. The student must demonstrate compliance with all standards of academic progress to regain eligibility for financial aid.

In order for the student to meet the requirements of his/her warning period, the student must meet both the GPA and Pace standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress at the end of the one semester warning period. If the student fails to meet the requirements for his/her warning period, the student will be ineligible to receive federal and/or state aid until he/she meets the appropriate requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress based on the GGC GPA and hours.

Appeal Process

Students who fail to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress may appeal his/her status based on extenuating circumstances. Examples may include but are not limited to health reasons, family reasons, or other unusual reasons. The student should complete a SAP appeal form that is available from the student’s BANNER account. Additionally, there must be an appeal statement from the student which should explain the extenuating circumstances. Documentation supporting the student’s appeal must be submitted at the same time as the appeal. In addition, letters of support from an academic mentor/faculty member must be submitted. Only completed packets will be processed and reviewed. An incomplete packet will result in a denied appeal. If a student is granted an appeal for SAP, the student will be placed on Financial Aid probation for a period of one semester. No appeals will be accepted for the term after the appeal deadline for the semester. Deadlines are listed on the appeals form.

You may not appeal for the following circumstances:

- Financial reasons or lack of knowledge that your aid was in jeopardy
- Not being prepared for or mature enough for college
- Unfair or incorrect grade for a course or improper advising
- Problems with professor or course content
- Living situation is not conducive for academic success
- Child care or day care issues
- Transportation issues
- Work-related issues
- Chronic illnesses that are not being properly managed

Students may only have two granted appeals during their time with Georgia Gwinnett College. Continued probation during an academic plan counts as one granted appeal for this purpose.  The decision of all SAP appeals is final.  There is no appeal for the appeals process. A meeting with the Director or his/her designee may be necessary but is neither required nor guaranteed. The decision of the Director is final.

No Show Policy for Financial Aid

Faculty will notify the Registrar’s Office in cases where a student never attends class. Students are coded as NS in Banner and dropped from the course. Financial Aid is then adjusted based on the correct number of attended hours.

If a student failed to attend class prior to financial aid census date, the student is not eligible to receive Pell funds for that course even if the course is reinstated. The student’s load credit will be evaluated as of the day census was performed and cannot be changed unless the student actually attended the course prior to the census date each term. The census date for the term is determined by the Calendar committee, but it is usually the day after fee payment each term.

Unofficial Withdrawals and Financial Aid

Students who ceased attending class or failed to complete assignments due to not attending courses will receive a grade of FN. Students who receive all FN grades or a combination of FN, W, WF, I and IP%’s for a semester will be treated as an unofficial withdrawal for financial aid purposes and a Return to Title IV calculation will be performed at the end of the semester.

Financial Aid and Scholarships for Study Abroad

Financial Aid

GGC students can use their federal and state aid, including the HOPE Scholarship, for study abroad under limited circumstances.

GGC faculty-lead study abroad programs are generally eligible for federal and state financial aid. Each student’s eligibility is determined by the current-year FAFSA application. Normal eligibility requirements apply, including annual limits.

To receive academic credit for non-GGC study abroad programs, students need to complete a Request for Transient Permission Form and a Study Abroad Course Approval Form (See Section 3.53.5). Students who do not complete and submit these forms to the Office of Internationalization cannot receive financial aid for their study abroad program. In addition, a Consortium must exist with the host institution for federal financial aid to be used.

Once a student has submitted these forms, his/her financial aid can be reviewed and awarded. Normal GGC disbursement dates apply. Aid cannot be released earlier than 10 days prior to the start of your program as outlined on your Consortium agreement. For GGC faculty-lead courses, aid cannot be released prior to the scheduled GGC disbursement date for the semester. If a financial aid check is scheduled to arrive while the student is abroad, the student should consult with his/her bank about granting Power of Attorney to a close friend or relative so that he/she can deposit the financial aid check. Direct Deposit is strongly encouraged.

Important Note: While most students are able to use financial aid to assist with the cost of studying abroad, it is very likely that the student will need to cover these expenses up-front and then be reimbursed at a later date by financial aid or other scholarships. Due to federal regulations, these funds very rarely come through in time to use them to cover study abroad expenses in advance. Students should be aware of this and make arrangements to have their expenses covered in the meantime.

Steps to Securing Financial Aid for Study Abroad

Students should complete their FAFSA application well in advance of their term abroad. They should verify how their financial aid package will apply to their study abroad program. This is easily accomplished by meeting with a Financial Aid Advocate.

Financial Aid for Transient Students

Students receiving HOPE scholarship must coordinate payment details with the financial aid offices at both Georgia Gwinnett College and the transient institution. Students receiving Veteran’s Affairs Benefits should coordinate with the Veteran’s Affairs representative at both Georgia Gwinnett College and the transient institution.