Nov 23, 2024  
2015 - 2016 Catalog 
    
2015 - 2016 Catalog [ARCHIVED PUBLICATION]

Financial Assistance


STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Delgado Community College believes that no student who wishes to pursue a college education should be denied that opportunity for financial reasons. In determining the need for financial assistance, the Office of Student Financial Assistance is guided by its estimate of each student’s actual expenses and the data supplied by the student in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

At Delgado Community College, we want to provide students with the best financial assistance possible.  In order to be considered for assistance for non-federal as well as federal funding sources, students must complete the FAFSA and submit any financial documents/forms requested.

In order to apply, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov (Delgado’s school code is 004626).

Delgado Community College participates in most major federal and state financial aid programs; additional detailed information on student employment, loans, grants, and scholarships may be secured by contacting the Student Financial Assistance office. There is financial assistance at each college location to assist students in removing the financial barriers that may discourage students from attending college.

The Office of Financial Assistance will communicate with students via email and LoLA, and it is the responsibility of the student to monitor Delgado’s email and his/her LoLA account regularly, as well as any email address provided when completing FAFSA. If students would prefer not to receive Financial Aid communications and award notifications via email, they must submit their requests in writing to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

The Application Process

At Delgado Community College, students are encouraged to carefully explore all financial aid options at their campus. To start the process, students must:

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov (Delgado’s school code is 004626).

2. Check the status of FAFSA application through LoLA and submit ALL required documents.

  • Submit completed forms to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.  Please allow 30 days from submission date of last document for processing.
  • Submit proof of high school graduation or college transcript to the Admissions Office before financial aid can be processed.
  • If tax transcripts are required, request them directly from the IRS online at www.irs.gov (under Tools, choose Order a Tax Return Transcript), or by calling 1-800-908-9946.
  • Verify acceptance of the Terms and Conditions.

3. Accept awards online

  • Once aid is processed, students will receive notification via their Delgado student email address.
  • Students are asked to accept or decline each federal subsidized and unsubsidized loan.  No funding will be disbursed without this acceptance. Students may accept all or just part of the aid offer.

4. Disbursement

  • Disbursement of funding is necessary for school tuition and fees to be paid.
  • After tuition and fees are paid, if there is a remaining credit balance, those funds may be utilized in the bookstore.
  • Students can check their account balance by logging in to LoLA.

5. Receive Refund

  • Refunds are funds paid to a student that are based on the credit balance remaining after tuition and fees and other applicable charges have been paid.
  • A negative balance indicates a refund has been applied.
  • Refunds are distributed through the Delgado Community College Dolphin One Card which is administered by Higher One.
  • For more information about your Higher One account, please visit https://dolphinonecard.higheroneaccount.com/.

Deadlines

While students may apply for federal financial aid throughout the year, Delgado Community College has established financial aid processing priority dates for each enrollment period. If all financial aid documents are submitted by the processing priority date, financial aid will be packaged prior to the start of class.

  1. Priority Processing - Applications of students who have submitted all requested documentation by the established deadline dates listed below will be given priority. Students will be notified before the start of the semester/session if they qualify for Federal Title IV aid.
    Fall semester            May 22
    Spring semester       October 16
    Summer session       March 18
  2. Documents received after priority processing date - If students do not submit all the requested documents by the deadline date, financial aid may not be processed by the start of the semester. However, the Financial Aid Office will attempt to process students within 30 days of receipt of the last document submitted.
  3. Late Applications - Students who apply for financial aid after the deadline date or fail to submit all documents on or before the deadline will be responsible for securing their class schedules, either by paying in full at the Bursar’s Office or by making payment arrangements online. If students register during early registration, they must make payment arrangements no later than the Thursday preceding the first day of regular registration. If students register during regular or late registration, they must pay in full or make payment arrangements before the close of business on the day they register.

Financial Aid Eligibility

In general, a student must meet the following requirements to qualify for Title IV Financial Aid:

  1. Demonstrate financial need (except for certain loans);
  2. Be a high school graduate or have a high school equivalency diploma from a state department of education or regionally accredited institution;
  3. Be either a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen;
  4. Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program;
  5. Make satisfactory academic progress in a course of study;
  6. Not be in default of any educational loans at any school attended; or if in default, must have made satisfactory repayment arrangements;
  7. Not owe a refund on grants at any school attended;
  8. Register with the Selective Service. If required, the student can give Selective Service permission to register him by checking a box on the FAFSA.  He can also register through the Internet at the Selective Service website: www.sss.gov/;
  9. Have a valid Social Security Number.

General Information

Delgado Community College has a comprehensive financial assistance program to help meet the cost of education. The College offers student financial assistance programs:

  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  • Federal College Work-Study (FCWS) (FWS)
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans
  • Direct Subsidized Loans
  • Direct PLUS Loans for Parents
  • Veterans Benefits

Financial Assistance is the economic assistance available to help students meet the difference between what they can afford to pay and what it will actually cost to go to school. This assistance is provided in one of the following forms:

  1. Grants - Grants are a form of non-repayable assistance.  Grants are awarded based on the student’s need and availability of funds.
  2. Scholarships - Academic scholarships are awards based on academic achievement. Participation in student activities or special talents are required for Leadership Scholarships. Scholarships do not have to be repaid.
  3. Loans - Loans are financial awards with a low interest rate made to students attending at least half-time, which must be repaid to your lender.  Repayments usually begin 6 months after graduation, withdrawal from school, or when a student drops to less than half-time. All first-time loan recipients must complete an online entrance counseling session at www.studentloans.gov before receiving student loan funds. In addition, Delgado’s Federal Default Management Program requires that all funds for first-time loan recipients be delayed thirty (30) days from the first day of class.
  4. Employment - Employment opportunities are provided through the Federal College Work-Study Program, the Federal Community Service Program, and the Campus Work-Study Program.

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