Helping You Get to College: Federal Financial Aid
The first step in paying for college is to apply for federal aid by completing the online FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
For assistance filing your FAFSA, attend FAFSA Day at Southwestern Community College on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon. Register at http://www.cfnc.org/fafsaday. The application web-site is secure and college financial aid staff requires the information to award federal funds to students.
FAFSA requires tax information from the previous year, so complete the application soon after filing taxes and be sure to use the IRS automatic data retrieval option. Whether attending college full or part-time or believe your income too high for eligibility, apply. Certain funds are available no matter your course hours and many merit-based scholarships require the FAFSA.
The primary aid programs annually available through FAFSA are:
· Pell Grant ($555-$5,550)
· Federal Work-Study (minimum of $7.25/hour for part-time work on or off campus)
· Low-Interest Direct Stafford Loans ($5,500-$10,500 depending on eligibility)
· Low-Interest Direct PLUS Loans (amounts vary)
Questions? Call SCC’s financial aid office at (828) 339-4438.
