Financial Aid

• Student Financial Assistance
• Grants
• College Work-Study
• Loans
• Scholarships
• Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
• Return of Federal Title IV Funds 

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 scholarships and state and federal funding sources, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit any financial documents/forms requested.

FAFSAs can be completed at https://studentaid.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 his/her preferred email and LoLA accounts 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)

• Students must create an FSA ID. This ID will be used to electronically sign all of the student’s financial aid forms. Online website is https://studentaid.gov/.   
• Once completed, visit https://studentaid.gov/ to complete the FAFSA.  Delgado Community College school code is 004626. 
• In addition, all first-time borrowers must receive loan counseling before loan funds can be disbursed. Students must complete a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Loan Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/.

2. Check the status of FAFSA application through LoLA and submit ALL required documents either in person, by fax, via online form (if available), or through email.

Verification

The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects FAFSA applications for a process known as verification. Verification is a review of the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for accuracy. If selected, the student is notified by email with instructions to create an account and what information must be gathered and submitted to the gateway. When reviewing a LoLA account, the student will also see directions to the Inceptia Gateway. 

After a file is complete, the student is notified to view his/her award offer in LOLA. The student’s classes will not be secured with financial aid until this process is completed. Delgado has partnered with Inceptia for the processing of verification files. To access the gateway, visit: https://www.verificationgateway.org/delgado2021. Students needing assistance with the verification process are encouraged to visit the nearest Welcome Desk on campus or email finaid@dcc.edu. 

3. Accept Awards online

• Once federal student aid is processed, the student will receive an email notification to the student’s preferred email address.

• Once federal student aid has been accepted, federal funds will be authorized to secure the student’s classes.

• The Pell Grant awarded in LoLA is based on full-time enrollment. If a student is not enrolled full-time at the Pell Recalculation Date, the Pell Grant will be adjusted accordingly.

• Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours for Federal Student Loans. Before accepting any loan, please visit https://studentaid.gov/ to review total debt and loan amount. Loans must be paid back to the Federal Government beginning 6 months after a student drops below 6 credit hours. A student’s Pell Grant is automatically accepted for the student; however, if a student is interested in student loans, they will need to accept the loan.

4. Authorize Aid

• All student aid that is accepted will be authorized to secure the student’s class. This occurs after tuition and fees are assessed for the semester. Authorized aid secures the student’s schedule.

• If a student has authorized aid and has a credit balance on his or her account (negative balance), after tuition and fees have been paid, books may be purchased using a bookstore credit. The credit is automatically placed on the student’s Delgado ID. Students can access their Bookstore Credit using their Delgado ID Card.  Please log into the Student ID Card portal to access bookstore credit information. Bookstore credits are only available for a limited time at the beginning of each term. 

5. Disbursement

• Students can check their account balances by logging in to LoLA.
• After the first official financial aid disbursement date, authorized aid will be disbursed to the student’s account, which will pay the cost of tuition and fees and any applicable charges.
• After tuition and fees are paid, if there is a remaining credit balance, the student will be due a refund.

6. Receive Refund

• Refunds are funds paid to a student that has a credit balance remaining after tuition, fees, and other applicable charges have been paid. A credit balance (negative balance) indicates payments exceed charges, and the student is due a refund. Student accounts exhibiting a credit balance are refunded to students after the 14th day of class (7th day for Summer) and then on a regularly scheduled published refund after that.
• Refunds are delivered to students through BankMobile based on the student’s Refund Selection Preference. Delgado will NOT issue refund checks, so students MUST select a refund preference online through BankMobile. For more information on refunds and BankMobile, see Refund Questions on the Delgado website and/or https://dolphinonecard.vibeaccount.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 will be given priority. Students will be notified before the start of the semester/session if they qualify for Federal Title IV aid. Visit Important Dates (Academic Calendar) in the current semester/session’s Student Handbook for priority processing dates.
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 prior to the published deadlines, either by paying in full at the Bursar’s Office or by making payment arrangements online.

Federal 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 or demonstrate eligibility for Ability to Benefit Title IV funds through (1) continued enrollment in an eligible career pathway program and (2) successful completion of six non-remedial credit hours or a qualifying score on an approved Ability to Benefit (ATB) Test (see First-Time Freshmen Financial Aid Eligibility section); 
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. Have a valid Social Security Number.
9. Be fully admitted to Delgado Community College.

First-time Freshmen Eligibility

First-time freshmen may be eligible for federal financial assistance if they fall into one of the following categories:

High School Graduates - High school graduates of state approved or regionally accredited schools of secondary education may be eligible for federal financial assistance. High school graduates from schools not approved by the state or schools/programs that are not regionally accredited may be eligible for federal financial assistance once they have demonstrated evidence of potential for success by completing an Adult Basic Education program, enrolling in an eligible Career Pathway Program, or attaining a high school equivalency.

High School Equivalency Diploma Recipients - High school equivalency diploma recipients of state approved or regionally accredited programs may be eligible for federal financial assistance. High school equivalency diploma recipients from schools or institutions that are not approved by the state or schools/programs that are not regionally accredited may be eligible for federal financial assistance once they have evidence of potential for success by completing an Adult Basic Education program, enrolling in an eligible Career Pathway Program, or attaining a high school equivalency.

Home School Graduates -  Home school graduates of state approved, state registered, or regionally accredited programs may be eligible for federal financial aid. Home school graduates of programs that are not state approved, state registered, or regionally accredited may be eligible for federal financial assistance once they have obtained a high school equivalency diploma from a state approved or regionally accredited program or have demonstrated evidence of potential for success by ​completing an Adult Basic Education program, enrolling in an eligible Career Pathway Program, or attaining a high school equivalency.

Non-High School Graduates – Non-High School graduates may be eligible for federal financial assistance once they have demonstrated evidence of potential for success by completing an Adult Basic Education program, enrolling in an eligible Career Pathway Program, or attaining a high school equivalency.  Non-high school graduates who do not attain the required level on the Ability to Benefit (ATB) assessment as defined by the U. S. Department of Education are enrolled as non-degree/certificate seeking (non-matriculating). Applicants in this category are not eligible for federal financial assistance and are limited to 11 credit hours before meeting admission requirements. 

General Information

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. See Grants.
2. College Work-Study - Employment opportunities are provided through the Federal College Work-Study Program, the Federal Community Service Program, and the Campus Work-Study Program. See Federal College Work-Study at Grants.
3. Loans - Loans are financial awards with a low interest rate made to students attending at least half-time, which must be repaid to the lender. You must accept loans through LoLA to receive them. Before you accept any loan, please visit https://studentaid.gov/ to review your total debt and loan amount. Loans must be paid back to the Federal Government beginning 6 months after you drop below 6 credit hours. Repayments usually begin 6 months after graduation, withdrawal from school, or when a student drops to less than half-time. All first-time loan borrowers must complete an online entrance counseling session at https://studentaid.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. See Other Forms of Financial Assistance.
4. 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. See Scholarships and Awards.

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

• Scholarships

Grants

Federal Pell Grant

The Pell Grant is an entitlement program. It is awarded to help undergraduates pay for their college education. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be paid back. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree are ineligible for a Pell Grant. To qualify for a Pell Grant the student must have financial need and be enrolled in a degree-seeking program.

Pell Recalculation Dates and Financial Aid Eligibility

In accordance with federal regulations, the Office of Student Financial Assistance will recalculate Federal and State aid based on the enrollment status as of the Pell Recalculation Date for the academic term/session set by the College. The Pell Recalculation Date is the point at which a student’s enrollment is locked, and the dates for each academic term/session are published in the Financial Aid Deadlines located in the current Student Handbook’s Important Dates (Academic Calendar) section. Federal Pell Grant funds may be available to students enrolled less than half-time. See year round Pell for exceptions. 

Awards that are affected by the Pell Recalculation Date are:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
• GO Grant

Note: Direct loans are recalculated prior to disbursement.

Pell Lifetime Eligibility Limit

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over a student’s lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding.  Because the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student receives each year is equal to 100 percent, the regulations state that a student may receive up to 12 semesters or the six-year equivalent of 600 percent.

Whether a student has used all of his or her Pell Grant eligibility or only a portion, the student needs to be conscious about the lifetime limit of the Pell Grant when changing majors and/or scheduling classes; the Pell Grant equivalent of 600 percent will be for the student’s entire award history.

To view Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU), students can log on using their FSA ID to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at https://studentaid.gov/ to view LEU.  (The LEU will be found on the Financial Aid review page.)  The information will include all Pell Grants received over a lifetime from any college, not just Delgado Community College.  If 600 percent of lifetime eligibility is not used, some Pell Grant eligibility may be remaining, if eligible. 

For additional information on the Pell Grant program, please visit http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell/calculate-eligibility.  

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

FSEOG money is limited and available only for those who have exceptional financial need. Students with exceptional financial need are those who are eligible for a Pell Grant, have the lowest expected family contribution, are enrolled at least half-time, and still have unmet financial need.

Louisiana Go Grant

The purpose of this program is to provide a need-based component to the state’s financial aid plan to support nontraditional and low to moderate-income students who need additional aid to afford the cost of attending college.

Student Eligibility

To be eligible for a Louisiana Go Grant, a student must:

• Be a Louisiana Resident
• File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Receive a federal Pell Grant
• Have remaining financial need greater than $299
• Be a student enrolled in an eligible Louisiana institution on at least a half-time basis (minimum 6 hours)

 Renewal Requirements

• Must file a FAFSA or the Renewal Application at least annually
• Continue receiving a federal Pell Grant
• Have remaining financial need greater than $299
• The Award can be renewed for subsequent years to a maximum lifetime award that correlates to that of the Federal Pell Grant (a student is not guaranteed to receive award in subsequent years).
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Visit Satisfactory Academic Progress to view the policy.

College Work-Study

The Federal Work-Study Program encourages and provides part-time employment for students to help meet their cost of attending college. Hourly wages must not be less than the federal minimum wage.  Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of the application process for Federal Work-Study assistance. The FAFSA can be completed on the web at https://studentaid.gov/.

Community Service (CMS) jobs are defined as positions that improve the quality of life for community residents, particularly low-income individuals, or solve particular problems related to their needs including on-campus child care services that are open and accessible to the community. CMS also includes services to students who have disabilities and are enrolled in school.  On-campus jobs can meet the definition of community services, provided that the services are open and accessible to the community and that they meet the other Federal Work-Study limitations and conditions.

The Family Literacy Program provides literacy or pre-literacy education to children and literacy training for parents or other caregivers of children in the program. It also provides a means of equipping parents or other caregivers with the skills needed to partner with their children in learning as well as providing literacy activities between parents or other caregivers and their children.

Student Eligibility

• Students must meet the eligibility requirements for student aid.  There is no restriction for students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree (unlike the Federal Supplemental Equal Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and Pell programs).
• Students must be approved for a federal work-study position by the Federal Work-Study coordinator before beginning employment,

Federal Work-Study Requirements:

In addition to meeting the general eligibility requirements, students wishing to be considered for Federal Work-Study:

1. Must have financial need as determined by FAFSA, and
2. Be enrolled (at least half-time) in a course of study leading to a degree or certificate.

Loans

Loans are funds that are borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education that the student must pay back. There are eligibility requirements that a student must meet in addition to completing a FAFSA before federal loans can be offered. 

Taking out a loan is an important financial decision. Understanding the types of federal loans available and the associated responsibilities is key to making good borrowing decisions. 

• Subsidized Loans: The Federal Subsidized Loan is a loan that must be repaid upon completion of school or dropping below part-time status. 
   
• Unsubsidized Loans: The Federal Unsubsidized Loans enable students to borrow regardless of need and must be repaid upon completion of school or dropping below part-time status. Interest will accrue on this loan while the student is enrolled and may be paid or capitalized as agreed by the borrower and the lender. 
   
• Direct Plus Loans for Parents: The Direct Plus Loan for Parents allows parents of dependent students to borrow per year up to the cost of education less any other aid. The repayment period begins on the day the loan is disbursed, and the first installment to the Department of Education is due within 60 days of that date. This loan is not based on need. The parent applying for the loan is responsible for repaying the loan. In this case, parent means your parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent. The lender is required, however, to verify that the parent borrower does not have an adverse credit history.

For additional information, visit: https://www.dcc.edu/student-services/financial-aid/types-of-aid/default.aspx

Scholarships

Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)

Track your TOPS eligibility and status by registering for a LOSFA Student Hub Account. TOPS is a program of state scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend either one of the Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities, schools that are a part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System or institutions that are a part of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Eligibility is determined by Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) following a student’s graduation from high school. Students should receive a TOPS Award notification from LOSFA by July 15th. Additional information is available on LOSFA’s website or by telephone (1-800-259-5626, ext. 1012).

Scholarships

Scholarships are funds that do not have to be repaid. Scholarships are usually based on academic merit but can be based on a student’s interests, hobbies, religion, ethnicity, and/or financial need. Awarded amounts will be equally divided between fall and spring semesters, unless otherwise noted. See the Office of Student Financial Assistance Scholarships web page for more information.

Amarillo College

• Full time Students
• Financial need
• GPA= 2.75
• Award Amount varies

Barbara Rose Memorial Scholarship

• For continuing students
• GPA=2.50
• Music Major
• Piano course scheduled each semester
• $150.00 per year

Brian Fazekas Memorial Scholarship

• Enrolled in Delgado’s Registered Nursing (RN) program - AS-NURS
• Possess a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
• Enrolled in minimum of 7 credit course hours
• Possess unmet financial aid need
• Applicants must submit recommendation letter from a clinical instructor (full-time or adjunct) who can address the applicant’s:
  • academic proficiency
  • commitment to excellence in clinical practice
  • level of caring, compassion
  • how the applicant is giving of themselves to others.

Chancellor Scholarship (Book Voucher)

• Minimum 2.0 GPA

Culinary Scholarship

• For Culinary Arts Majors
• Amount Varies year-to-year
• Minimum 2.0 GPA

Delgado Achievement Fund

• For new and continuing students
• Amount varies
• Annual award

Fry Family Leadership (3 Scholarships Available Annually)

• For continuing students
• GPA=3.0
• Students must attend full-time, participate in a student organization, and demonstrate financial need
• $2,500.00
• Annual award
• Must Maintain GPA and continuous enrollment
• Application requires Written Essay and Recommendation Letters

Funeral Program Scholarship

• For Funeral Service Education Majors
• Minimum 2.0 GPA

Dr. John “Jack” Finn Undergraduate Endowed Scholarship (3 Scholarships may be Available Annually)

• For First Generation Nursing students
• $300.00
• Annual award

Jacobs Tech Scholarship

• For students in any Delgado technical program
• Minimum 2.0 GPA

Leon Giorgio Endowed Scholarship (3 Scholarships may be Available Annually)

• For First Generation students
• $300.00
• Annual award

Melissa Deno Scholarship

• Yearly award (Fall-Spring)
• Awarded to students professionally diagnosed with Dyslexia and ADHD
• Minimum 2.0 GPA
• Student will submit Delgado’s Scholarship Application (which requires an essay).
• Recommendation letter & medical documentation of their diagnosis is required
• Student must possess minimum of 24 credit hours earned
• Enrolled in minimum of 6 credit hours per semester
• No minimum number of students awarded; Number will depend on how many meet criteria & how much financial need is required

Sara Robbins Nursing Endowed Scholarship (3 Scholarships may be Available Annually)

• For Nursing Students
• $500
• Annual award

Seymour Weiss Memorial Scholarship

• For students in each of the College’s divisions
• In recognition of outstanding academic performance at Delgado based on successful completion of at least 15 credit hours at Delgado, cumulative GPA, activities, and service at Delgado
• $500 per semester
• Minimum 3.5 GPA
• Annual award

NOTE: Full-time faculty and staff are not eligible for Delgado Scholarships.

For additional scholarship opportunities available throughout the academic year, see the Office of Student Financial Assistance Scholarships web page.​

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

The federal government mandates that students maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward completion of their degrees, certificates, or technical diplomas within a reasonable period of time in order to be eligible for Title IV financial aid programs (including grants, work study, Stafford, and PLUS).

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined as:

• Earning (passing) a required number of hours (67% of *all hours attempted) and
• Achieving a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
• Total attempted hours must not exceed 150% of the published length of the student’s degree, certificate, or technical diploma program.

Developmental/Remedial and ESL Courses

Developmental/remedial courses and English as a Second Language courses will be counted towards a student’s qualitative and Pace progression standards for SAP.  However, a student may receive financial aid for a maximum of 30 semester hours for developmental/remedial courses as long as the courses are required as a result of placement testing, the student is in an eligible program of study, and SAP requirements continue to be met.  ESL credits are unlimited in number as long as they are taken as part of an eligible program and SAP requirements continue to be met.

Disclosure Statement

Students are expected to monitor their own SAP and consult with the Office of Student Financial Assistance when they have questions or concerns.  The Office of Student Financial Assistance provides written or electronic notices to students at the end of semesters where students become ineligible. It is imperative that students keep their mailing and email addresses (preferred) updated with Delgado Community College and check their Delgado email (preferred) and LoLA accounts on a regular basis.  Failure to monitor SAP or lack of understanding of how SAP works is not a basis for an appeal.

Terminology Guide

• Appeal- The process by which a student who is not meeting satisfactory academic progression standards must petition the committee for reconsideration of his/her eligibility for federal student aid funding.
• Qualitative- The qualitative standard is the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA). Students must achieve a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
• Quantitative/Pace- The quantitative measure is the measure, i.e. “pace,” at which the student is progressing.  A standard calculation used is to divide the cumulative course hours completed/earned by the cumulative/total course hours attempted. 
• Maximum Time Frame- Students may receive federal financial aid if they have attempted below 150% of the hours required to complete their program.
  • To determine the maximum allowable hours for a specific program of study, all students are expected to reach their chosen academic goal by the time the student has attempted 150% of the credit hours required for the student’s degree, certificate, or technical diploma.

SAP Timeline/ When is SAP Reviewed?

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be reviewed and determined:

1. Before aid is initially awarded and
2. After each payment period.

Visit the College’s website for the full Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.

Return of Federal Title IV Funds

When a student completely withdraws from the College during an academic period for which he or she is a recipient of Title IV funds, the College is required to determine whether the return of Title IV funds must be made according to statutory and regulatory requirements. The rules that govern the return of Title IV funds assume that a student earns his or her aid based upon the period of time that the student remains enrolled.

Explanation of terms:

• Disbursements/disburse/disbursed - payment of the loan funds to the borrower by the school.  Students generally receive their federal student loan in two disbursements.
• Earned - the percentage amount of Title IV aid that the student receives.
• Unearned - the difference between Title IV aid that was disbursed or could have been disbursed for the payment period of enrollment and the amount of Title IV aid that was earned when a student withdrew.

During the first sixty percent (60%) of an enrollment period, a student “earns” Title IV funds in direct proportion to the length of time that he or she remains enrolled. The percentage of time during an academic period that a student remained enrolled is the percentage of disbursable aid for that period that the student earned.

Assistance is “disbursed” if a student could have received it at that point of an academic period when the student withdrew from the College. Total disbursable assistance includes the amount of funding that was disbursed and that which could have been disbursed but was not based on the student’s date of withdrawal. A student who remains enrolled at the College beyond the sixty percent (60%) point of an academic period is presumed to have earned all aid for that period. Unearned Title IV funds, other than Federal Work Study, must be returned.

Unearned assistance is the amount of disbursed Title IV funds that exceeds the amount of Title IV funds earned under statutory and regulatory guidelines. The responsibility to repay unearned Title IV funds is shared by the College and the student in proportion to the Title IV funds each is assumed to possess. The College will notify, in writing, a student who is required to repay and return unearned Title IV funds prior to the end of the enrollment period.