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Financial Aid Eligibility

Financial Aid Awards

GNTC offers a comprehensive financial aid program that includes grants and scholarships that are non-repayable (determined eligible to receive them, meet all requirements and you do not have to pay them back). All financial aid is to assist students with their educational costs. Financial Aid Awards are determined based on federal and state regulations and institutional polices.

Financial Aid is an annual process. The financial aid year begins with the Summer term and includes the Fall and Winter semesters and then ending with the Spring semester. Students planning to attend for an upcoming year must complete the Financial Aid Application Process for that particular year.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Basic Eligibility Requirements for All Types of Aid

• Enroll in a Associate Degree, diploma or certificate program of study at Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress with the College. (Refer to GNTC Catalog.)
• Maintain good standing with the College.
• Must be an U.S. Citizen, or an eligible non-citizen.
• Not in default of a guaranteed Student Loan, Federal Direct Student Loan or owe a refund on a PELL, FSEOG, or HOPE Grant/Scholarship received at any postsecondary institution.
• Registered, as required, with Selective Service & Social Security Administration, INS (Immigration & Naturalization Service). The DOE performs matches with various federal agencies while processing each FAFSA.
• Must provide all required documents and have a complete financial aid file before being awarded the aid.
• For each type of aid, there are additional requirements for determining eligibility and the award amount. The information listed below should give some indication of additional requirements. More specific information regarding your individual case can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office.

Award Amounts

Being awarded a type of aid and how much will depend not only on the student's financial aid status with regards to his/her EFC, but also on the student's enrollment status. The enrollment status includes: chosen program of study and full-time or part-time enrollment.

What happens if I drop or withdraw from a class?

You should check with the Financial Aid Office before you drop or withdraw from a class to find out how your financial aid may be affected. Your HOPE award is based on your enrollment after the 3rd day of the term. Your Federal award is based on your enrollment after the 7th day of the term. Your financial aid award may be adjusted based on the date that you withdrew from a course or the date that your instructor reported you last attended the course.

Basic Information & Requirements for Specific Types of Aid

Review the Top 6 Student Actions that Delay Financial Aid

Federal PELL Grant (PELL):

• Federally funded to students based on determined financial need.
• Awarded to students that are not currently in high school and have not earned a Bachelor's Degree. High School Diploma or GED must be documented.
• Eligible Programs of Study: Associate Degree, Diploma and Pell-eligible Certificate.
• A student can only receive Pell at one school during a given time period. If you are planning to attend more than one school, you need to decide which school you want to receive your Pell award at and communicate that with that school. Failure to do so may result in your having to pay that money back.
• GNTC students taking transient course(s) at another institution will be eligible to receive Pell for the transient course(s) only after the Home College has received the Enrollment Verification from the Host College.
• Awards range from $400-$5,550 per academic year.

Federal Direct Student Loans:

• Federal Subsidized student loans and Federal Unsubsidized student loans will be offered.  Eligibility are determined from the Student Aid Report received after the student completes the FAFSA. Visit the Student Loans page for more information.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG):

• Federally funded to students with exceptional financial need.
• Awarded to students that are not currently in high school and have not earned a Bachelor's Degree. High School Diploma or GED must be documented.
• Meet academic standing requirement.
• Eligible Programs of Study: Associate Degree, Diploma and Pell-eligible Certificate.
• Awards range from $150-$600 per academic year and funds are limited and awarded until exhausted. To be considered for FSEOG, student must be registered for at least 12 credit hours & must be receiving the maximum Pell amount.

Federal Work Study (FWS):

• Federally funded to students based on determined financial need.
• Work in pre-approved departments on campus or in community service positions.
• Paid twice a month for actual hours worked - 15 hours maximum per week.
• Eligible Programs of Study: Associate Degree, Diploma and Pell-eligible Certificate.
• Drop off a completed FWS application to any GNTC Financial Aid Office.

Basic Requirements for State Aid Programs:

• Must be a resident of the State of Georgia. (Have lived in Georgia at least 24 months prior to enrollment.)
• Registered, as required, with Selective Service.
• Cannot have an outstanding balance on previous Financial Aid awards, cannot be in a Satisfactory Repayment Plan for a defaulted student loan.

Georgia's HOPE Grant: (Beginning Fall Semester 2011)

• Eligible Programs of Study: Diploma and Certificate.
• HOPE Grant will only cover 81% (based on the 11/12 or 12/13 tuition cost) of tuition. Books or fees are not covered.
• Must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA according to Institutional & GSFC Policy.
• Maximum number of paid semester hours cannot exceed 63.
• Cannot have earned a prior bachelor’s degree.

Georgia's HOPE Scholarship (Beginning Fall Semester 2011)

• Eligible Programs of Study: Associate Degree.
• Cannot have earned a prior bachelor's degree.
• Graduated high school in 1993 or later as a HOPE Scholar (met required GPA) and if attended college previously must have maintained the cumulative 3.0 or better GPA requirement—see the Financial Aid Office for eligibility.
• If not a HOPE Scholar from High School, must have completed 30 semester hours towards any degree and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better within 7 years of graduating high school or obtaining a GED. (Can also enter at the 60th or 90th semester hour.)
• Maintain 3.0 GPA according to Institutional & GSFC Policy.
• All attempted courses taken towards any degree are counted in the cumulative number of semester hours and GPA. Cumulative GPA must be 3.0 or higher.
• If attended any other college, academic transcript(s) must be provided to the Registrar's Office for cumulative GPA evaluation.
• If you have attended any other college, the cumulative number of credit hours towards a degree and G.P.A. are considered when determining eligibility.
• Maximum number of attempted semester hours is 127. Maximum number of combined (Grant & Scholarship) hours cannot exceed 127.
• HOPE Scholarship will cover  81% (based on the 11/12 or 12/13 tuition cost) of tuition. Books or fees are not covered.

Zell Miller Scholarship

• A student who graduated high school with a 3.7 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale and with an SAT score of 1200 or an ACT score of 26, on a single administered test, is eligible.
• The Valedictorian and Salutatorian from a high school graduating class are considered automatically eligible, regardless of GPA/SAT/ACT.
• Starting Fall Semester 2011, current students will have to meet the GPA/SAT/ACT requirement from high school and have at least a 3.3 GPA at the 30, 60 or 90 semester hour check point of their college coursework.

Veteran's Benefits

Associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs at GNTC are approved for Veteran's Educational Benefits. A staff member is available to provide needed services to students who qualify for these benefits. Veterans can receive other financial aid in addition to VA benefits; therefore, it is recommended that all Veterans apply for financial at: fafsa.ed.gov. For additional information, contact the Veteran's Office (Financial Aid) at (706) 764-3523 Walker County Campus or 706-802-5382 Floyd County Campus. You can also visit the VA website at: gibill.va.gov.

Workforce Investment Act

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) at GNTC provides financial assistance to economically disadvantaged, special needs populations, and dislocated workers who have lost employment due to technological changes, plant closures, or foreign competition.

WIA provides assistance with tuition, textbooks, and required supplies. A daily stipend for the use of child care, travel expenses, and other expenses is provided to eligible students.

Eligibility is determined by economical and employment status, as well as choice of program. Job placement assistance is offered to all WIA participants upon completion of occupational training. For additional information and applications, call the WIA Office at (706) 764-3562 on the Walker County Campus or (706-295-6840) on the Floyd County Campus.

Other Financial Aid

Qualifying students attending Georgia Northwestern Technical College may also be eligible to participate in non-campus based programs: unemployment compensation, TANF, Social Security benefits, Vocational Rehabilitation, Medicaid benefits, and Welfare Reform Act. For additional information on these and other programs, contact your state and local agencies.

Remember you must reapply for financial aid every year!