Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year?
Yes.  Note that your eligibility for financial aid may change. To continue receiving financial aid you must be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, such as earning a minimum number of credits and achieving a minimum grade point average.

I received an outside scholarship. Should I report it to the Financial Aid Office?
Yes. If you are receiving any kind of financial aid from external sources, you must report the funds to the Financial Aid Office.

Are Federal Work Study earnings taxable?
The money you earn from Federal Work Study is subject to federal and state income tax.  The earnings are exempt from FICA taxes provided you are enrolled full-time and work less than half-time.

Can I charge my books if I am eligible for grants?
If you have been awarded a Pell Grant, SEOG, IIA, scholarship, or TRIO SSS grant and there is enough left after paying tuition and fees, you may use the award to pay for your books. You must wait 24 hours after any enrollment changes to charge your books.  Inform the salespersons at the bookstore that you have grants and they will charge your books against your award.

FAFSA Questions
Are photocopies of the FAFSA acceptable?
No. Only the original FAFSA form produced by the U.S. Department of Education is acceptable. Photocopies, reproductions, and facsimiles are not acceptable.

My parents are separated or divorced. Which parent is responsible for filling out the FAFSA?
If your parents are separated or divorced, the parent with whom you lived the most during the past 12 months is the parent to fill out the FAFSA. Note that this is not necessarily the same as the parent who has legal custody. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, the parent who provided you with the most financial support should fill out the FAFSA. If you have not received any support from either parent during the past 12 months, use the most recent calendar year for which you received some support from a parent or lived with either parent.

My parents are divorced, and the parent I'm living with has remarried. Does my stepparent have to report his/her income and assets on the FAFSA?
Yes. If your parent remarries and is married at the time you fill out the FAFSA, they must report both the parent and stepparent income and assets even if they weren't married in the previous year.

Timing Issues
How long will it take to find out if I qualify?
It can take up to four weeks to process your FAFSA if you submit a paper application and three weeks if you apply on the Web. Processing at the College requires an additional two weeks once all signed and completed documents are received.

What happens if I apply late?
You are responsible to pay your tuition by the date specified. If your financial aid is not finalized by the date tuition is due, you must pay or go on the Deferred Payment Plan.

When will I get my refund check?
Pell, IIA, SEOG, loans, or scholarship funds remaining after tuition, fees, and books are paid will be given to a student after the fourth week of the term, AFTER class attendance is verified. Students may not be paid for any courses they have never attended.

Can I apply for aid even after I have paid tuition and fees?
Yes! If you are found to be eligible for financial aid, you will be issued a check for your eligible amount.

When can I apply for a loan?
CSC requires that a student earns 12 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA before s/he is eligible to apply for a loan. In addition, a student must apply for financial aid and have received his/her award notification before a loan request can be processed.