Question – When should I apply for financial aid?
Answer – You can apply starting January 1 each year for the school year beginning the following fall. You can apply up until June 30 of the current school year, so if you are starting school or attending school now, and haven’t applied, you can still do so.

Question – How many hours do I have to take to be considered full time for financial aid?
Answer - 12 credit hours each semester are required for you to be paid the full time amount. These 12 hours must be hours that are required for your program as listed in the catalog. If you are less than full time, your aid will be prorated as follows:
      9-11 credit hours Three quarter time
      6-8 credit hours Half time
      5 or less credit hours Less than half time
Note that student loans and certain grants other that Pell grants require at least 6 credit hours. Pell grants do not have a minimum number of hours.

Question - When will I get my refund check?
Answer – The Financial Aid Office publishes a schedule of dates that you can charge books to your financial aid and dates that refund checks are paid out. This schedule is mailed with your award letter, is posted on our web site and the dates are noted in the day planner section of this handbook. You will get a refund check if your tuition and book charges are less than your financial aid amount for the semester. Checks are paid out approximately two weeks after classes start each semester. Checks will be available to pick up at 1 p.m. on the first day scheduled, and they will be mailed to students at 1 p.m. the next business day. We will verify that you are attending all classes, including on-line classes, before your funds are released.

Question – Will I get financial aid for the summer term?
Answer – If you are full time during the fall and spring semesters, your full annual aid will be paid out, half in the fall and half in the spring. Therefore, you will not have any remaining aid for summer. If you only receive financial aid during one of the fall or spring semesters, or if you are not paid at the full time rate for fall or spring, you will probably have some funds available for summer. If you believe you may have aid remaining for summer, please stop by the Financial Aid Office after you have registered for summer classes.

Question - Can I participate in the work-study program?
Answer - Work-study is a federal financial aid program where you are paid for working on campus part-time. You must have financial need as defined by the federal guidelines, so not all students qualify. Most of the jobs are clerical in nature, and a limited number of positions are available. Students are paid monthly. If you wish to apply, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Question – How do I apply for scholarships?
Answer – Scholarships are available from many sources in the community and beyond. You are encouraged to apply for any scholarships for which you are eligible. In addition, there are several scholarships each year that are awarded by the SCC Foundation. Check the list on the financial aid website or in the scholarship notebook in the Financial Aid Office, and request an application for any scholarship that applies to you. Most of the deadlines are in the spring and early summer so that scholarships can be awarded starting with the fall semester.

Question - Can I get a student loan?
Answer – We encourage you to do everything you can to avoid taking out a student loan while at SCC. Our costs are low enough that most grant awards will cover tuition and books. If you do need to pursue a student loan, you will need to request instructions and application materials from the Financial Aid Office. Our primary lender is College Foundation, Inc. (CFI) and our guarantor is the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. CFI conducts credit checks and you will not be approved if you have a history of late payments, non-payment or default.