Getting Financial Aid
Earning a college degree can be an important step in preparing for what’s next in life. Paying for that degree may seem daunting, but our financial aid office is here to help you navigate through the entire process. They will assist you in your quest to find funding through federal, state, and institutional resources. They will work with outside scholarship entities to process scholarships awarded to you.
The Financial Aid Action Plan was designed to help you get the best financial aid package possible and to help you feel more confident through the whole process. Begin this six-step process your junior year to get the best possible aid package.
Overview of the Financial Aid Process
Steps to Apply for Financial Aid
Check general scholarships early
Research general scholarships as early as your freshman year in high school
There is a lot of money out there; you just have to find it. You may be eligible for scholarships close to home or those based on race, nationality or special skills. Look into these opportunities at the local library and online, and talk with your high school guidance counselor.
1
Apply to Florida College
2
Fill out the FAFSA
3
Read your award letter
4
Sign and return your award letter
Indicate which awards you would like to accept, and sign and return your award letter to the financial aid office. Make sure to include any scholarships/aid that you’ve received from outside sources on your award letter. Signed award letters may be mailed, faxed, or scanned and emailed.
Some financial aid requires that an application and documentation be submitted before that aid may be added to your account. Please refer back to your award letter for directions and applications.
5
Check out scholarships
6
Talk to us!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The FAFSA needs to be resubmitted every year. Students will also need to accept their awards by signing and submitting their award letters. Follow the directions in your award letter and attachments to access all of your financial aid.
First, you must submit your FAFSA before the deadline. Adopt is a need-based program, meaning that you qualify based on your FAFSA. You will see it listed on your award letter if you qualify.
The financial aid office attempts to process your financial aid documents in a timely manner to allow you an opportunity to review your aid and accept your awards prior to the beginning of each school year. However, some factors may encourage a quick processing time:
- Have an admission application on file.
- Submit a processed FAFSA to our office.
- Complete all additional financial aid requirements. (Please see your award letter.)
- For students who are selected for verification, submit all required verification paperwork and necessary documentation.
Typically, our office begins processing financial aid award packages for the upcoming academic year in mid-November.
The Central Processing System (CPS) randomly selects students who have submitted FAFSAs to undergo the verification process each year. Approximately 30 percent of all applications are chosen for verification. This means that your award letter cannot be finalized until the financial aid office reviews your submitted verification documents. If your FAFSA is selected for verification, you and your parents/spouse (if applicable) will need to submit additional documentation. You will be notified by email (if chosen) and given specific directions about the information you need to provide, which may include your tax return transcripts.
You can request your tax return transcripts by visiting www.irs.gov or using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA.
It depends on all of the aid received before the loan is applied, but generally, no. The government allows a limited amount of funding through the student Stafford Loan. The government allows parents who qualify to cover the final costs through the Parent PLUS Loan.
You will need to notify your state of your plans to attend Florida College so that they know who to contact for billing purposes. It is also helpful to mention that Florida College is a private college. As each prepaid plan is different, you will need to contact your prepaid plan provider if you have questions about how much they will pay. The financial aid office does not have access to this information.
If you have questions regarding your financial aid, you may contact Erin McAllister in the financial aid office at mcallistere@floridacollege.edu. If you have questions about charges, payments or your billing statement, please contact Elaine Bennett at bennette@floridacollege.edu.
The state of Florida provides a list of recipients who are eligible for Bright Futures to our office by the end of the summer. If you are receiving an athletic award and you do not see it listed on your award letter, please contact your coach. If you have a scholarship from an outside source, you will need to send us documentation (such as a letter) and we will add it to your account.
