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SLCC SCHOLARSHIPS
The Tuition Scholarship
To help make your education affordable, SLCC offers a tuition scholarship to every student who enrolls full time. Students who live in campus housing receive a scholarship that covers 100% of tuition; commuter students receive a scholarship that covers 50% of tuition. After your first semester, the scholarship will continue if you are making satisfactory academic progress (1.75 cumulative GPA after your first semester, 1.85 CGPA after your second semester, 1.95 CGPA after your third semester, and 2.0 CGPA thereafter). Dormitory students receiving the scholarship pay room, board, a Student Services Fee ($650 per semester in 08-09), and book charges. Apartment students pay apartment rent, the Student Services Fee, and book charges. Off campus students pay half tuition, the Student Services Fee, and book charges. The scholarship may be received for up to 150% of a student’s attempted hours. For day students, the tuition scholarship is not credited to your account unless the you have remained enrolled full time for 60% of the semester . For AIM students, this will be the 75% point of the AIM semester. If you withdraw from a class or are withdrawn for excessive absences, and that withdrawal puts you below full time, you forfeit the scholarship.
There is no application for the tuition scholarship; if you meet the requirements, you are automatically eligible.
See Disbursement Policy for further information.
Other SLCC Scholarships
SLCC has a number of recognition scholarships awarded to returning students each spring (these are listed in the college catalog). However, in most cases these scholarships do not provide additional funding; the amount of the scholarship is applied toward the student’s tuition scholarship.
Returning students may apply to serve as a resident assistant, which offers $1,000 per semester room credit, applied directly to the student’s account. Returning students may also audition for music ensemble or summer camp team; both offer funds which are credited to the student’s account.
For students who are not able to pay the remainder of their school bill, there are several forms of financial aid available:
FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID
SLCC participates in the following federal financial aid programs: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Academic Competitive Grant, Federal Work Study, and Federal Stafford and PLUS Loans. See the section “How to Apply” for application instructions. For more information on the federal financial aid programs, consult the Department of Education’s The Guide to Federal Student Aid (www.studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html) This guide gives information about general eligibility requirements for federal aid as well as extensive information about the available programs.
Federal Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant does not have to be repaid. The amount of the award is based on your FAFSA results and enrollment status. The maximum Pell Grant for the 2010-2011 academic year is $5,550 for a student enrolled full-time in two semesters.
Effective July 1, 2009, students enrolled in a degree program may receive up to two Pell Grant scheduled awards in one award year to accelerate their program. This is new legislation. We continue to receive additional clarification and implementation guidance from the Department of Education.
- Definitions: Academic Year, Award Year, and Cross-Over Payment Periods
For purposes of federal financial aid programs at SLCC, an academic year is a period of time during which a full-time undergraduate student is expected to complete a minimum of 24 credit hours. Annual grant limits are tied to the completion of an academic year. The award year is a period from July 1 to July 30 of any year. The normal award year at SLCC is the fall and spring semesters. A cross-over payment period is any period that includes both June 30 and July 1. For purposes of federal financial aid programs, this period must be assigned to a specific financial aid award year.
- How This Will Work for Summer 2010:
SLCC will offer two summer sessions in 2010 (one in May-June and another in July-August). For the 2010 summer term SLCC will combine both sessions into one “cross-over payment period.” The 2010 summer term will be assigned to the 2009-2010 academic year (considered a “trailer”). Students interested in receiving federal financial aid for the summer must have submitted a 2009-2010 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
If a student enrolling for the summer term has not already used 100% of the First Scheduled Pell Grant award in 2009-2010, he/she may be eligible for an additional amount of Pell Grant from the First Scheduled Award, up to 100% of the scheduled award.
- For the First Scheduled Pell Grant Award, a student must
- Be Pell Grant eligible
- Be enrolled at any enrollment status (full time, ¾ time, ½ time or less than ½ time)
If a student has used 100% of his first scheduled award in 2009-2010, he/she may be eligible for a Second Scheduled Pell Grant for the summer term.
- To qualify for a Second Scheduled Pell Grant within the same award year, a student must
- Continue to be Pell Grant eligible (e.g., making satisfactory academic progress)
- Have received 100% of the First Scheduled Pell Grant Award
- Be enrolled at least a half time (6 hours or more during the summer term)
The amount of the Pell Grant from the Second Scheduled Award is the same as that for the regular semesters of 2009-2010, depending on the enrollment status. For example, if a student received $2,675 for enrollment in at least 12 hours in the fall and spring, the same amount would be available for taking 12 hours in the summer term. The amount decreases with lower enrollment statuses.
Note: Two additional rules go into effect for the Second Scheduled Pell Grant Award for the 2010-2011 academic year, but they will not affect the 2010 Summer Term at SLCC.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The FSEOG does not have to repaid. This grant is awarded to students with the greatest need as determined by your FAFSA results. At SLCC the amount of the grant is usually $200 per semester. FSEOG funding at SLCC is limited; funds are initially awarded to students with an EFC of 0; if additional funds remain at the end of the year, those students who still have eligibility may receive an increased amount.
Federal Academic Competitive Grant (ACG)
Pell Grant eligible undergraduates who completed a rigorous secondary school program of study and are enrolled full time in their first or second academic year of study may be able to receive an Academic Competitive Grant (ACG). Those who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 and have not previously enrolled in an undergraduate program may qualify for $750 an academic year. Those in their second academic year who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005 and have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the completion of their first year of postsecondary study may qualify for $1,300 a year.
Federal Stafford Loan
Stafford Loans are low-interest federal loans available to students who are attending college at least half time. The amount a student may borrow is based on year in school, dependency status, and remaining need after deducting other financial aid from cost of attendance. Maximum amount in 2008-2009 is $5,500 for freshmen dependent students ($2,000 of which must be unsubsidized); $6,500 for sophomores ($2,000 of which must be unsubsidized), and $7,500 for juniors and seniors ($2,000 of which must be unsubsidized). Independent students may borrow an additional amount in unsubsidized loan ($4,000 for freshmen and sophomores; $5,000 for juniors and seniors). Students begin paying back the loan six months after they have graduated or are no longer enrolled at least half time. Interest rates are established by the government and are announced each year in July. Beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011), all Stafford Loans at Saint Louis Christian College will be through the Direct Stafford Loan Program.
Subsidized and Unsubsidized – What’s the Difference?
A subsidized loan is awarded based on need; “subsidized” means that the government will pay all interest on the loan until your loan goes into repayment. Unsubsidized loans are not based on need but interest accrues on the loan from the day the loan is disbursed. How is that need determined? Your cost of attendance, less your EFC (from your FAFSA results) less grants and scholarships you receive will determine eligibility for a portion of your loan to be subsidized. Grade level also limits the amount of your loan that can be subsidized. For unsubsidized portions of your loan, you may pay the interest while you are in school or you may have it added to the principal of the loan.
Entrance Loan Counseling for Stafford Loans
Federal law requires that all first-time Stafford borrowers at SLCC receive entrance loan counseling before the loan is disbursed. All Stafford borrowers must also complete exit counseling when ready to graduate, leave the college, or drop below half-time attendance. Loan counseling can be completed on the following website: www.mappingyourfuture.org.
PLUS Loans
A parent may borrow a Federal PLUS Loan to help pay the expenses of a child who is a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half time. The parent must pass a credit check to be eligible to receive a PLUS Loan. In the event the parent is denied due to adverse credit, the student generally becomes eligible to borrow an additional amount in an Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan. Beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011), all PLUS Loans at Saint Louis Christian College will be through the Direct PLUS Loan Program.
PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS
Check with your high school counselor’s office to learn of scholarships for which you may be eligible. In addition, you may want to go online to do some scholarship searches. One useful website is www.fastweb.com. FastWeb’s free scholarship search includes more than 600,000 scholarships worth more than $1 billion. Many churches offer assistance to students studying for ministry in Bible colleges; check with your church leaders to see if they offer such a scholarship.
VETERANS BENEFITS
Saint Louis Christian College is approved for certification of students eligible to receive educational assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Contact your local VA office for information on eligibility. SLCC participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans eligible for Chapter 33 benefits.
Students with potential VA benefits should contact the SLCC Registrar’s Office (314-837-6777 X 1509) for information on how to proceed.
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
Students with physical disabilities which constitute substantial vocational handicaps may be eligible for aid covering tuition and fees. Students with certain visual and auditory losses may qualify as well. Students should contact their local Division of Vocational Rehabilitation office for an evaluation. If approved, DVR will notify the school .
STATE AID
SLCC does not participate in the Missouri state grant or scholarship programs, as Missouri does not make these funds available to students attending theological institutions. Most other states’ financial aid programs are available only to students from that state who attend instate institutions.
ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION LOANS (non-government loans)
Some students turn to alternative (private) education loans when the federal loans don’t provide enough money to cover their school costs. Private education loans tend to cost more than the loans offered by the federal government but are less expensive than credit card debt. Since federal education loans are less expensive than credit debt and offer better terms than private student loans, you should exhaust your eligibility for federal loans before resorting to private student loans. SLCC does not recommend any lenders for alternative education loans. Interested students can find information on these loans through an Internet browser under the title of “alternative education loans.”
COLLEGE PAYMENT PLAN
Saint Louis Christian College does not offer a payment plan. All institutional charges are to be paid in full before the first day of classes each semester unless the student has sufficient financial aid to cover them.
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