How Eligibility is Determined

• Calculating your eligibility for financial aid begins with determining your cost of attendance. Because actual costs will vary from student to student, the Office of Student Financial Aid uses average costs.
• The cost of attendance structure is first based on your anticipated place of residence for the award year (e.g., commuting from the home of a parent or guardian; or off-campus home or apartment). Then other factors, such as state residency, are taken into consideration.
• Once the above has been determined, you are assigned a cost of attendance. Your cost of attendance contains both direct and indirect educational costs. Direct costs include Terra State Community College charges for instructional and general fees (based on a minimum of 12 credit hours of enrollment for fall and spring semesters), and the non-resident fee, when applicable. Indirect costs include books and supplies, transportation costs, personal expenses, and off-campus room and board costs. Keep in mind that average costs are used to determine eligibility and that your actual costs (particularly indirect costs) may be different.

• Since you are the primary beneficiary of your college education, a fundamental premise associated with need-based financial aid is that you and, if you are dependent, your parents have the first responsibility to pay for your college education. Therefore, when determining your level of financial need, we begin with your estimated cost of attendance (see above) and subtract your EFC and other student resources from it.
• If the resulting calculation is a positive figure, then you are considered to have financial need. The Office of Student Financial Aid attempts to meet your financial need by providing access to federal, state, and institutional funds.
• If your combined EFC and other resources are higher than the estimated cost figure, you are not eligible for need-based aid, but may qualify for low-interest educational loans. Employment is another source of funds to assist you in paying your school expenses.

If you are eligible and aid funds are available, you will receive a "package" composed of funds from different sources. These funds are combined with your resources in an attempt to meet your financial need. The types and amounts of financial aid in your package are limited by regulatory maximums, your academic class status (freshman or sophomore), grade point average, fund availability, your enrollment status (full- or part-time), and your level of need. Keep in mind that your financial aid package may change as a result of new application data, the verification process, changes in your enrollment status, or office error.

Following the receipt of your FAFSA results, a financial aid "package" will be offered to you. The financial aid package will contain one or a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and/or work study. Grants and scholarships are sources of student financial aid which are available for education expenses with no requirement to repay. Student loans are the most common source of student financial aid and must be repaid. Students receiving a loan are required to complete entrance counseling and sign a master promissory note which details the conditions of the loan. Finally, you may receive work study eligibility which requires that you be enrolled for at least six credit hours and secure a job before receiving funds.

Criteria for selecting recipients for financial aid awards vary.

• Federal loans, Federal Pell Grant, and State programs are awarded to students who meet eligibility requirements specific to each of those programs.
• FSEOG and Federal Work-Study are subject to funding limitations. FSEOG awards are made through an automated selection process. Award amounts will depend on annual funding limitations.
• Additional information about applying for and receiving federal student aid may be found on the U.S. Department of Education's website https://studentaid.gov.
• Scholarships from Terra College Foundation have funding limitations and are awarded through a selection process based on required award-specific criteria.

Based on a change in your eligibility, your enrollment, or an office or agency error, your aid may be revised at any time. If your financial aid has already been credited to your student account, you may be responsible for partial or full repayment of the funds, regardless of the reason for the adjustment.

Financial aid is contingent upon many factors, including availability of federal, state, and institutional funding.

The Office of Student Financial Aid has the right to review, adjust, and cancel a financial aid award at any time due to changes in your financial or academic status or your failure to provide requested documentation.

As required by federal, state and institutional guidelines, revision of your aid package may occur if:

• Your aid was based on inaccurate or false information (including estimated income data or grade level).
• The Office of Student Financial Aid or another agency made an error in determining your eligibility for, or disbursement of, your financial aid awards.
• The amount of financial aid awarded to you exceeds your calculated financial need.
• You do not maintain satisfactory academic progress.
• You fail to meet enrollment, grade point average, participation, or other requirements required by a specific award.
• You drop classes or withdraw from Terra State Community College.
• You were selected for verification and the completion of the verification process changes your eligibility. The Office of Student Financial Aid must check the accuracy of the data you report on your FAFSA.

Financial aid may be awarded for unlimited repeats of failed courses (SAP policy still applies).

Financial aid may be awarded for one repeat of a passed course.