FINANCIAL AID — ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Congratulations on your upcoming enrollment at Blue Cliff College! We are so excited about your education and future.
Here is what you need to do to get started:
- Apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov
- You will need the campus school code where you plan to attend:
- Alexandria - 034226
- Fayetteville - 034225
- Gulfport - 035253
- Houma - 032943
- Lafayette - 034226
- Metairie - 032943
- Shreveport - 034225
- Keep your FAFSA confirmation page and forward a copy to the campus you will be attending.
Once you submit the FAFSA in its entirety, we can provide an estimated financial plan that will aid you in paying for your education. Please note that once your FAFSA is submitted to the federal government there is a possibility that some additional information may be required.
We are looking forward to assisting you and wish you great success in your endeavors.
Sincerely,
The Financial Aid Office
Blue Cliff College
FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS
A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded usually only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. Pell Grants are considered a foundation of federal financial aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added.
The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2009-10 award year (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010) is $5,350; the projected award amount for 2010-11 award year (July 1, 2010 to June 20, 2011) is $5,550. The maximum can change each award year and depends on program funding. The amount you get, though, will depend not only on your financial need, but also on your costs to attend school, your status as a full-time or part-time student, and your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less. |
Eligibility Requirements
Pell Grant
- Free
- Must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Award is up to $5,350 for 2008/2009; estimated amount for 2010-2011 is $5,550 (please note that award is based on enrollment status)
- Available to eligible undergraduate students
- Must not have earned a Bachelors
The Academic Competitiveness Grant was made available for the first time for the 2006-2007 school year for first-year college students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for second-year college students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005.
An Academic Competitiveness Grant provides $750 for the first year of study and $1,300 for the second year (must be a full year as defined by the federal regulations). Note: The amount of the ACG, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not exceed the student's cost of attendance. In addition, if the number of eligible students is large enough that payment of the full grant amounts would exceed the program appropriation in any fiscal year, then the amount of the grant to each eligible student may be ratably reduced. |
Academic Competitive Grant (ACG)
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient for the same award year;
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an associate's, bachelor's, or combined undergraduate/graduate (if it includes at least three years of undergraduate education) degree program or in a two-academic-year program acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor's degree; or in a one- or two-year certificate program;
- Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his or her program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution;
- Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second-year students);
- If first-year student, not have been enrolled previously as a regular student in an ACG-eligible college program when still in high school, or if they were in such a program, the courses must have been part of their high school program as well; and
- If second-year student, have successfully completed the first year and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Recognized Rigorous Secondary School Programs of Study
For qualifying for an ACG, any one of the following programs meet the "rigorous secondary school program of study" requirement:
- Rigorous secondary school programs designated by state education agencies (SEAs) and state-authorized local education agencies (LEAs) and recognized by the Secretary of Education.
- Advanced or honors secondary school programs established by states.
- Secondary school programs identified by a state-level partnership recognized by the State Scholars Initiative of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) of Boulder, Colorado.
- A program for a student who completes at least two courses in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program with a score of four or higher on the course examinations or at least two Advanced Placement (AP) courses with a score of three or higher on the College Board's exams for those courses.
- A secondary school program in which a student completes, at minimum:
- Four years of English;
- Three years of math, including algebra I and a higher level class such as algebra II, geometry, or data analysis and statistics;
- Three years of science, including one year each of at least two of the following courses: biology, chemistry, and physics;
- Three years of social studies; and
- One year of a language other than English.
- For each calendar year, the Secretary publishes a list of all rigorous secondary school programs of study. Click here for the list of rigorous secondary school programs for each year of graduation.
The U.S. Department of Education administers the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. This Direct Loan programs consist of what are generally known as Stafford Loans (for students) and PLUS loans for parents .Under the Direct Loan Program, the funds for your loan come directly from the federal government.
To apply for the Direct Loan Program you must apply for a Personal Identification Number
(PIN #) www.pin.ed.gov. Once your PIN # has been established you can go to the MPN website https://dlenote.ed.gov/empn/index.jsp to apply for your Direct Loan. |
Direct Subsidized Loan (SUB)
- Must be repaid
- Must complete the FAFSA
- Must complete Entrance Counseling
- Interest rate fixed not to exceed 6.8%
- Interest is paid while the student is in school
- Online Entrance Counseling is available during application process
- Online Exit Counseling is required (completed by term prior to graduation, or if you leave, or withdraw from school)
- Payment starts 6 months after you leave, or graduate from your program
- Maximum amount for freshman independent/dependent $3,500
- 2.0 % Origination Fee does apply.
- 1.5% Rebate Incentive applied at the beginning of the Loan.
Direct Unsubsidized Loan (UNSUB)
- Must be repaid
- Must complete the FAFSA
- Must complete Entrance Counseling
- Interest rate fixed not to exceed 6.8%
- Interest must be paid while the student is in school
- Online Entrance Counseling is available (during application process)
- Online Exit Counseling is required (completed by term prior to graduation or if you leave, or withdraw from school)
- Payment starts 6 months after you leave or graduate from your program
- Maximum amount for freshman independent student is $6,000
- Maximum amount for freshman dependent student is $2,000 (dependent students must be denied for the PLUS loan to be eligible for additional $4,000).
- 2.0 % Origination Fee does apply.
- 1.5% Rebate Incentive applied at the beginning of the Loan.
Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Student (PLUS)
- Must be repaid
- FAFSA is optional, however, we advise students to complete the form
- Must receive Rights and Responsibility policy
- Available to parents of dependent undergraduates
- Interest rate of 4.86% and capped at 9.00% (current rate is 5.01%)
- Origination & processing fees totaling 4.00%
- Borrower has the option to start repayment 60 days after the loans is fully disbursed OR
- 6 months after the student has completed the program or falls below half-time status.
- Subject to a credit check
Additional Links
College Navigator http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
National Student Loan Student Access http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/
Contact us today to find out how we can assist you in determining ways to fund your education.
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