Financial Aid

Tennessee State Scholarships & Grants – South College

Florida State Scholarships & Grants – South College

Indiana State Scholarships & Grants – South College

If you anticipate the need for federal financial aid assistance to pursue your program of study, get a head start in determining your federal aid eligibility by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).   

The student’s ability to contribute to the cost of his or her education is determined by the FAFSA need analysis process. The need analysis is a consistent, systematic way of measuring a family’s ability to pay for educational costs and its eligibility to receive funds from federal and state programs. 

The FAFSA determines the ability, not the willingness, of the student or the student’s family to finance his or her education. Everyone who applies is treated fairly and equally under this system. The amount of financial aid that a student receives may not exceed his or her cost of education as established by the college. 

When you start the FAFSA, plan to have your tax information available (and your parent’s tax information if you are a dependent student) to complete the FAFSA, and please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions.

The Federal Pell Grant program provides assistance to eligible undergraduate students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. Unlike loans, Pell Grants do not need to be repaid.

For many students, Pell Grants provide a foundation onto which other aid may be added. The amount of the award is determined through the FAFSA needs analysis process and enrollment status of the student.

Eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant will be determined as of the drop/add period for each term. The Pell Grant is awarded based on the eligibility of each individual student based on the number of hours for which the student is registered as of the official drop/add date each term. For students who choose to register for a course in which the start and end dates fall after the drop/add date for the full applicable term, the student must register for the course prior to the main term drop/add date in order to be eligible for Pell Grant associated with those hours. For students whose initial enrollment is during a mid- quarter term, Pell Grant eligibility is determined as of the drop/add date of the initial term of enrollment. The addition or removal of courses between that point and the end of the term will not affect Pell Grant awards for that term except in the situation where a student fully withdraws and a Return to Title IV calculation must be conducted. Please see the Return of Title IV section of the catalog for further information on eligibility upon withdrawal.

Like the Pell Grant, the Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA) does not require repayment. Awards are made by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation using the FAFSA needs analysis process. To be eligible, you must be a resident of Tennessee attending a college located in Tennessee.

Funding for this program is limited, and application should be made as soon as possible; the FAFSA opens each year, usually on or after October 1 each year. The deadline for application is set by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation each year. For more information, please visit www.tn.gov/collegepays.

The South College First Responder Grant is available to all current or retired first responders who are not receiving 100% coverage of tuition and fees under any VA educational benefit and/or state, federal, institutional, or private grant or scholarship program.

Beginning in the winter quarter of 2017, the First Responder Grant offers $1000 per term for full-time students, $500 for half-time students, and $250 for students with less than half-time credit hours. Visit the First Responder Grant page for more information about eligibility and benefits, or see a member of the financial aid staff.

For more information about the South College Military Grant, see the Military and Veterans section further below.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program provides assistance that does not require repayment to eligible undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. It is awarded to a limited number of students with exceptional need. In accordance with federal regulations, priority is given to students eligible for the Pell Grant program.

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to, and agree to, teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.

Recipients of a TEACH Grant must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which a TEACH Grant is received.

Failure to complete this service obligation will result in all amounts of TEACH Grants received being converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan and the total amount repaid to the U.S. Department of Education.

Interest will be charged from the date the grant(s) were disbursed. TEACH Grant recipients will be given a 6-month grace period prior to entering repayment if a TEACH Grant is converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

Students who want to receive a Federal TEACH Grant must sign an Agreement to Serve for each academic year in which the award is received. Because the grant may convert to a loan if the student is unable to fulfill the requirements of the program, recipients are required to complete loan counseling for each academic year in which the award is received. Recipients must also complete loan exit counseling prior to graduation. For more information, contact a member of the financial aid staff.

Available to students at the South College Asheville and South College Atlanta Learning Sites, South College Promise Grants were designed to keep student loan debt to a minimum. To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens who are 21 or under and applying as full-time students for undergraduate programs (certificates are ineligible).

South College Promise grants are available for South College students beginning in the winter term of 2017. Visit the South College Promise page for more information about eligibility and benefits.

The South College Closed Institution Transfer Grant was created to help eligible applicants from recently closed institutions continue their education and prepare for a rewarding career path. This grant is available to transfer students who have been admitted to South College and will begin classes on campus or online within 12 months of their previous school’s closure. For grant recipients, the South College application fee is also waived.

For eligibility and academic requirements, along with disbursement details, visit the South College Closed Institution Transfer Grant page.

The South College Teacher Education Grant is available to any eligible student who meets the following requirements and who are not receiving 100% coverage of tuition and fees under any VA educational benefits and/or state/federal/institutional/private grant or scholarship program.  This Grant is effective April 2019. South College reserves the right to discontinue this Grant at its discretion.

For additional eligibility and other requirements, along with disbursement details, visit the South College Teacher Education Grant page.

The South College Graduate Health Care MBA Grant is available to any eligible student who has graduated from a South College Graduate Health Care program (Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, or Masters of Health Science Physician Assistant). This Grant is effective beginning April 1, 2020.  South College reserves the right to discontinue this Grant at its discretion.

Other restrictions/details of the grant are as follows:

For additional eligibility and other requirements, along with disbursement details, visit the South College Graduate Healthcare MBA Grant page.

South College is an approved school for the Frank O’Bannon Grant. Like the Pell Grant, the Frank O’Bannon Grant does not require repayment as Awards are made using the FAFSA needs analysis process. To be eligible, you must be a resident of the state of Indiana attending an approved college in the state.

The William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Program provides tuition assistance to Florida undergraduate students attending an eligible private, Florida college or university. Each participating institution determines application procedures, deadlines and student eligibility. Like the Pell Grant, the EASE grant does not require repayment. Awards are made by the Florida Office of Student Financial Aid and designated by the school to eligible recipients.

2023-24 EASE Accountability Report

This program provides Tennessee students with scholarship funds from the Tennessee Lottery through the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, “Aspire” Award, Tennessee Hope Access Grant, and General Assembly Merit Scholarship.

These scholarships are awarded based on criteria established by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation and the State of Tennessee. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must have their FAFSA processed by the federal processor by the priority deadline established by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation. For more information, visit www.tn.gov/collegepays.

Available to Tennessee high school seniors applying for admission at South College’s Tennessee learning sites, the Tennessee Promise scholarship provides two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Promise scholarship will cover tuition and fees not covered by the Pell grant, the HOPE scholarship, or state student assistance funds. Tennessee Promise participants must complete eight hours of community service per term enrolled, and maintain satisfactory academic progress (2.0 GPA). Visit our Tennessee Promise page to learn more about the scholarship.

Tennessee Reconnect was developed to give those who did not complete college after high school an opportunity to reach their goal of a college degree.

As a last-dollar scholarship, Tennessee Reconnect will provide whatever amount remains after your Pell, HOPE, TSAA, and other financial aid funds are applied, up to $4,200. The Application Fee is waived for eligible TN Reconnect students.

South College is an Indiana approved school for the 21st Century Scholarship. Available to Indiana students who are recent high school graduates. The scholarship is designed to provide two years of tuition-free attendance to an approved school.

South College is an approved educational institution for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.  The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program establishes lottery-funded scholarships to reward Florida high school graduates for high academic achievement.

This program offers long-term, low interest rate loans to students with financial need. Students must be enrolled at least half-time to participate.

Money for the Federal Subsidized Direct Loan program is borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. Interest does not accrue and repayment does not begin until the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. To receive this loan, the student must sign a promissory note and complete loan entrance counseling and loan exit counseling through the Federal Student Loan Aid website.

This program offers long-term, low interest rate loans that are not based on financial need. Money for the Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan is borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education.

Interest does accrue while the student is enrolled; however, repayment does not begin until the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. To receive this loan, the student must sign a promissory note and complete loan entrance counseling and loan exit counseling through the Federal Student Aid website.

This program offers long-term loans that are not based on financial need to parents of dependent undergraduate students; however, the parent must meet the credit approval criteria for the Direct PLUS Loan program. Determination of the student’s eligibility for need-based aid is not required, but recommended.

Federal Direct PLUS loan funds are borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. Interest begins to accrue as each disbursement is made. Repayment begins after the loan has been fully disbursed. For loans first disbursed after July 1, 2008, the parent may defer payment while the student is enrolled at least half-time.

This program offers long-term loans to students enrolled at least half-time in a graduate program of study. The loan is not based upon financial need; however, the borrower must meet the credit approval criteria for the Direct GradPLUS loan program.

Direct GradPLUS loan funds are borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. Interest begins to accrue as each disbursement is made. Repayment begins after the loan is fully disbursed; however, the student may request deferment of repayment while enrolled at least half-time. To receive this loan the student must sign a promissory note and complete loan entrance counseling and loan exit counseling through the Federal Student Aid website.

At the discretion of our financial aid officers, South College periodically makes loans available to be used solely for expenses incurred as a direct result of enrollment at the college. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Financial Aid Office during the initial application process or subsequent award periods. Eligibility for all federal student aid must have been exhausted in the term for which the South College Loan is disbursed prior to this loan being applied to a student’s account.

These loans are awarded as part of the student’s financial aid package when other funds are insufficient to cover tuition, fees, and textbooks. South College Loans are limited to 50% of the amount of tuition in each term used, with the only exceptions based on extreme need, not exceeding 3 terms of enrollment, and must be approved by the Executive Vice President of Student Experience. South College Loans have an in-school monthly payment required of $50, which begins 30 days after the first disbursement of the loan. The loan goes into full repayment 30 days after the student is no longer actively enrolled. The college reserves the right to discontinue this program at any time.

At the request of a student or parent, South College financial aid officers may be able to provide information regarding credit-based, non-federal loans to students who may need additional funds to supplement the cost of attendance. South College does not recommend or endorse any private loan lender.

The Federal Work-Study Program provides part-time employment opportunities on campus or at off-campus non-profit agencies. Financial need, prior work experience, individual skills, and academic major may be considered when placing students in specific work-study positions. Federal Work Study provides a unique opportunity for students to build their skills and resumes while in school. FWS positions are designed to work around student’s class schedule while allowing students to reduce out of pocket expenses. The first 25% of wages earned through FWS will be directly applied to the student’s account. The student may elect to have the remaining 75% applied to the account or paid directly to the student through the payroll process. Students are paid for Federal Work Study hours on the 15th of each month for hours worked in the prior month. Federal Work Study students are limited to working 20 hours per week during the regular term. Federal Work Study positions may be limited and are offered on a first come, first served basis to students who are eligible.

For more information about the Federal Work-Study Program, contact the Financial Aid Office.

South College has participated in the Yellow Ribbon program since 2011. Each campus is separately approved by the appropriate State Approving Agency to certify students for VA Educational Benefits for its approved certificate and degree programs. VA Educational Benefits are determined by the VA and are certified and applied to student accounts based on Federal and state guidelines.

Certain veterans and dependents of veterans are eligible to receive financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information regarding these benefits, contact the Financial Aid Office. Students or applicants may also contact the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office at 1-800-827-1000 or visit the Veterans Affairs website.

As part of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Section 3679 of title 38, South College prohibits the denial of access and/or the charge of additional penalties against student veterans using Chapter 33 or Chapter 31 as outlined below.

A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11* GI Bill^® benefits.

The South College Military Grant is available to all active-duty military members, veterans with honorable or general discharge status, and military spouses who are not receiving 100% coverage of tuition and fees under any VA educational benefit and/or state, federal, institutional, or private grant or scholarship program.

Beginning in the winter quarter of 2017, the Military Grant offers $1000 per term for full-time students, $500 for half-time students, and $250 for students with less than half-time credit hours. Visit the Military Grant page for more information about eligibility and benefits. For more information, see a member of the financial aid staff.

We appreciate your service and understand how hard it can be to balance your National Guard duties, home life, workload, and an academic career. Preparing to enter a new and exciting industry takes planning and, on occasion, a little extra help.

South College is honored to participate in the Tennessee Support, Training, and Renewing Opportunity for National Guardsmen (STRONG) Act, which provides opportunities for eligible members of the TN National Guard to receive funding for tuition while earning their first bachelor’s degree over the next four years. This tuition reimbursement program puts the goal of continuing education in reach for those who serve our state and country.

Under TN STRONG, you get the financial assistance you need to pursue your academic goals during your enlistment. To qualify, you must:

To learn more, visit the Tennessee STRONG Act website.

South College offers additional support for military families. Learn more at our Military and Veterans Services.

* Post 9/11 GI Bill® students are required to verify their enrollment each month.