Types of Aid Available

Financial Aid is categorized into two types: Gift Aid and Self- Help Aid.

• Gift Aid includes grants and scholarships that do not have to be repaid.
• Self-Help Aid includes student employment and student loans. Student loans must be repaid with few exceptions.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to assist students in pursuing their first undergraduate degree. The intent of the Federal Pell Grant is to provide a foundation of financial assistance to supplement the cost of postsecondary education.

Pell Grant funds will be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, and unpaid Residence Hall costs. Balance checks for unused Pell funds will not be disbursed to any student who has a balance due to CTC.

You may receive a Federal Pell Grant for a summer semester, even if you received a full Federal Pell Grant during the fall and spring semesters. Year-round Pell allows students to receive up to 150% of the award over the course of the academic year. You may use this to earn your degree faster. You’re not required to carry a full-time load to receive the summer Pell Grant; however for the scheduled award amount, you must be full-time (12 credit hours); otherwise it will be federally adjusted.

Summer is considered the final semester of the academic year. To be eligible for year-round summer Pell Grant funds you must:

• Submit the current FAFSA to apply for summer funds;
• Be eligible to receive Pell Grant funds for the payment period;
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Eligibility;
• Be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours) during the summer semester, if you were enrolled full-time status for fall and spring;
• However, if you are less than half-time you may be eligible for some funding, if you have NOT exhausted your scheduled Pell grant usage in fall and spring; and
• Have lifetime Pell Grant eligibility remaining.

NOTE: If you are transferring to CTC for only the summer semester, you are not eligible to receive financial aid at Central Texas College. You may be able to obtain financial aid from your home college or university.

Summer Pell Awarding

Summer Pell is awarded based on term weeks and Cost of Attendance (COA). For Federal Student Aid, term weeks are specifically defined. Summer is defined as a 10-week term. The Pell grant is prorated for summer awarding due to the 10-week term. For example, a scheduled annual award with a zero Expected Family Contribution (EFC ) is 7395, split between the fall and spring 16-week term. Summer calculations would be prorated by calculating the 10-week term divided by weeks in the academic year; multiplied by scheduled award for the prorated summer award.

Ryne’s enrollment status for summer is half-time, the payment for that term is based on a half-time annual award of $3,698. To calculate the payment for the term, the school uses the fraction 10/32:

10 weeks x $3,698 = $1,156
32 weeks in an academic year

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

This grant is available only to those students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and receiving a Pell grant. Grant awards and renewals are made on the basis of available federal funds, the student’s demonstrated exceptional financial need and the student’s satisfactory academic progress.

Compliance for Texas State Financial Assistance

Selective Service Registration Requirement

The Texas Education Code (TEC), Section 51.9095 requires that, students must file the required Selective Service Statement of Registration Status with their institution or other entity granting or guaranteeing financial assistance. This includes but is not limited to the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG), Texas College Work Study (TCWS), State exemption and/or waiver programs, or other assistance funded by state revenue, including federal funds or gifts and grants accepted by the state.

Convictions of Felonies or Offenses Under the Texas Controlled Substance Act (Formerly Controlled Substance Restriction)

The eligibility requirement found under TEC, Sections 56.404 and 56.405 for Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) a student is not eligible to receive a grant under this subchapter if the student has been convicted of a any felony or an offense under Chapter 4181, Health and Safety Code (Texas Controlled Substances Act), or under the law of another jurisdiction involving a controlled substance as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, unless the student has met the other applicable eligibility requirements under this subchapter. Contact Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Child Support Arranges

Per Texas Family Code, Title 5, Section 231.006, a student who is obligated to pay child support and is more than 30 days delinquent is not eligible to receive a state-funded grant or loan.

Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG)

TEOG program provides aidto financially needy students enrolled inTexas public two-year colleges and have a Texas State Grants Eligibility Certificate on file with the Student Financial Aid office. A student must satisfy general eligibility requirements. Academic performance and other requirements must be met for students to receive continuing eligibility. Any student facing extenuating circumstance leading to the loss of TEOG eligibility may submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal through the normal appeal process. The Financial Aid Office will determine if TEOG is part of the aid package that is offered to you.

College Work-Study Program (CWSP) and Texas College Work Study (TCWS)

These programs provide part-time employment opportunities for students who are in need of employment in order to complete their educational goals. In arranging a job and determining how many hours per week a student may work, not to exceed 19.5 hours per week, the financial aid officer will consider: (1) financial need, (2) class schedule, and (3) student’s academic progress. For additional information and application process, review work-study programs at www.ctcd. edu.

Loans

Central Texas College participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program for Dependent and Independent Undergraduate Students and Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program for parents of Undergraduate Dependent Students.

Sallie Mae private lending is available for Aviation and Nursing students ONLY

• Complete application through Sallie Mae website www.salliemae.com
• All eligibility requirements are through Sallie Mae
• Contact Sallie Mae for full loan disclosure information
• Must not exceed Cost of Attendance
• Funds sent directly to CTC to cover expenses

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loan Program)

The Federal Program that provides loans to eligible student and parent borrowers under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The loan programs include Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans and Direct Consolidation Loans. Funds are provided directly by the federal government to eligible borrowers through participating schools.

Please review the College Default Management plan at https:// www.ctcd.edu/students/current-ctc-students/financial-aid/ military-students/.

Federal Loan Eligibility Requirements

• Student must complete the FAFSA.
• Student must meet academic progress as determined by the Financial Aid Office.
• Student must be enrolled at least half-time (six semester hours per term)
• Student must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Student must not be in default on any federal loan or owe a refund back to any federal program
• Student must not have already exceeded aggregate loan
• Student must enroll in courses that fit their program

Federal Loan Maximums (for loans first dispersed on or after July 1, 2008)

• Classification
  • Freshman (0 to 30 credit hours)*
  • Sophomore (31 to 72 credit hours)**
• Dependent Undergraduate
  • $5,500* – No more than $3,500 of this amount may be subsidized*
  • $6,500 – No more than $4,500 of this amount may be subsidized**
• Independent Undergraduate
  • $9,500 – No more than $3,500 of this amount may be subsidized*
  • $10,500 – No more than $4,500 of this amount may be subsidized**

NOTE The amounts shown in the chart above are the maximum amounts that you may borrow as a full-time student (12 hours per semester) for the academic year. All annual loan limits are subject to proration and cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance.

Master Promissory Note (MPN)

The Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Direct Subsidized Loans and direct Unsubsidized Loans is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loans(s). You may receive more than one loan under an MPN over a period of up to 10 years to pay for your educational costs, as long as the school is authorized to use the MPN in this way and chooses to do so. Complete the MPN online at studentaid.gov.

Entrance Loan Counseling

All first-time Federal Direct loan borrowers at Central Texas College must complete entrance counseling before their loan will be accepted and processed. Borrowing a student loan is a serious financial obligation and the entrance counseling will provide you with important information you need to know to be able to make an informed decision about student loan borrowing. Complete your online entrance counseling on the Federal Direct Loan Servicing website at www.studentaid.gov. This session provides additional information regarding loan programs such as monthly repayments, deferments, grace period and cancellation.

Exit Loan Counseling

Federal regulations require all students who received a loan to complete a mandatory exit counseling prior to graduation, withdrawal from college or dropping below half-time attendance. Exit counseling is available by going directly to https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/. You will need a list of two different references (relatives or friends) that will always be in contact with you. Include their name, address and phone number.

Repayment

The most important thing you can do during repayment is to stay in close contact with your lender. If you have trouble making your monthly payments and need help, contact your lender to learn more about the many options available to you. Loan servicing information is available at www.studentaid.gov.

Sample Loan Repayment Schedule

Here is a brief summary of the repayment guidelines established in your promissory note:

• Your payments are expected on a monthly basis.
• Unless your lender agrees otherwise, the minimum monthly payment will be at least $50.
• Your minimum annual payment will not be less than the amount of interest due and payable.
• The maximum time allowed for repayment is usually 10 years.
• You may prepay on your loan at any time without penalty. This will reduce the total amount of interest you pay on your loan.
• Your lender will give you the opportunity to choose a standard, graduated, income-sensitive, or extended repayment schedule.

The Central Texas College Scholarship Fund

Central Texas College annually awards several two-year scholastic scholarships to qualified high school students. Information regarding this scholarship program may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Assistance. More information is available online at https://www.ctcd.edu/about-ctc/ctc-foundation/scholarships/.

Financial AidAdvisor –Military Students

CTC’s Financial Aid Loan Officer is the designated Financial Aid Advisor for Service members. The FA Advisor provides loan counseling, which includes, but is not limited to: (1) providing a clear and complete explanation of available financial aid, including Title IV; (2) explaining the difference between unsubsidized and subsidized federal student loans to include the terms, conditions, repayment and forgiveness options; (3) disclosing the College’s most recent student loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR), the percentage of CTC students who borrow and how CTC’s CDR compares to the national average; and (4) explaining to students they have the ability to refuse all or borrow less than the maximum student loan amount. Service members can contact the Financial Aid Loan Officer at financial.aid@ctcd.edu. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for special benefits on their financial aid student loans. Visit the CTC loan department’s website at www.ctcd.edu/students/current-ctc-students/financial-aid/loans/ and click on the FAQ “I am a member of the U.S. military. Am I eligible for specific benefits on my student loan?”

Return/Repayment of Title IV Funds*

The return of Title IV funds is a complex process involving a great deal of interoffice cooperation and coordination. Title IV funds are awarded to eligible students under the assumption that they will attend Central Texas College for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. Only students who have withdrawn from all classes in a payment period, term in which a student is receiving financial aid, are subject to the return of Title IV formula. If a student changes their enrollment status, such as drops courses but is still enrolled for at least one course they would not be subject to the return of Title IV funds formula, but would be subject to the Satisfactory Academic

Progress policy. Central Texas College is an institution required to take attendance. Central Texas College confirms enrollment at the census date, which is the last day to withdraw without a “W” grade. If a recipient of Title IV grant or loan funds withdraws from Central Texas College after beginning attendance, the amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance earned by the student must be determined. Dropping any class after it has started can cause funds to be owed either to the school, or the Department of Education and the amount owed will be determined based on the drop date of the class. The Department of Education considers a student who earns all F’s to have officially withdrawn unless an instructor can prove otherwise. Students in this catagory must repay 50% of disbursed Title IV funds.

The following list is of financial aid programs, Title IV, to which the Return of Title IV funds requirement applies. The financial aid programs are listed in order that the school must return per the federal formula:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
• Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
• Federal Parent PLUS Loan
• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

Central Texas College determines the date the student withdrew depending on the type of withdrawal. If the student begins the official withdrawal process or provides official notification to Central Texas College of his or her intent to withdraw the date Central Texas College determines that the student withdrew would be the date the student began the official withdrawal process, or the date of the student’s notification, whichever is later. If the student did not begin the official withdrawal process or provide notification of his or her intent to withdraw, the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew would be the date that Central Texas College becomes aware that the student ceased attendance. If Central Texas College is informed that a student has died, the withdrawal date is determined either by the official notification from the student, if they had started an official withdrawal process due to illness or accident, etc. prior to the death, or the withdrawal date is the date that Central Texas College determines is related to that circumstance if no official withdrawal was initiated. The withdrawal date will be no later than the date of the student’s death. Central Texas College does not disburse post-withdrawal disbursements to a student that has died during the payment period. The Record’s Office notifies the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) via the National Student Loan Clearinghouse of enrollment changes.

* Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic conditions, some students Financial Aid academic standard calculations may be waived under CARES Act legislation.

Official Withdrawal

The Record’s Office is the designated contact point for students who wish to withdraw. The Record’s Office assists the student with completion of the top section of the withdrawal form which includes student’s demographic information, why they are leaving and their last date of attendance. The student signs the form and returns the completed form to the Record’s Office. The Record’s Office determines the withdrawal date and reports it to the other affected institutional offices by entering that information into the student information system (SIS).

Office of Financial Aid checks to see if the student has received Federal Stafford Loans and if so provides them with an Exit Counseling request via email. The Office of Financial Aid begins the Return of Title IV funds process as soon the Office of Financial Aid determines the withdrawal of all classes from a weekly drop report that identifies the students who need to have the Return of Title IV calculation to determine the amount of federal financial aid programs the student has earned.

Unofficial Withdrawal

Upon receipt of an email from the Record’s Office that the student is no longer enrolled, or if the institution becomes aware that the student is no longer attending, and the student did not begin the official withdrawal process or provide notification of his or her intent to withdraw, the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew would be the date that Central Texas College becomes aware that the student ceased attendance. As soon as the Office of Financial becomes aware the Office of Financial Aid gathers the student’s information to complete the Return of Title IV calculation to determine the amount of federal financial aid programs the student has earned. The last date the student attended a class is provided by faculty.

In order for the Office of Financial Aid to determine if there is a return of Title IV funds for the student, the Office of Financial Aid collects the student’s information for the payment period, which includes original direct costs at Central Texas College for the payment period from the Student Account, the date of determination of the withdrawal date from the Record’s Office, the federal financial aid programs that have been disbursed or could have been disbursed to the student from the Student Account and from the SIS. With these documents the Office of Financial Aid utilizes the return of Title IV funds online program provided by the SIS, to calculate and manage the return of Title IV funds for the student. This software is tested to ensure it is compliant with the Federal Financial Student Aid (FSA) Department of Education software. When a student withdraws after the 60% point of their payment period, they have earned 100% of their federal financial aid funds and there is no money to return because the student has earned 100% of the Title IV funds he or she was scheduled to receive during the payment period. If the student earns equal to or less than 60% the student is subject to the return of Title IV funds calculation. The Office of Financial Aid determines the amount the student earned, which is based on a prorata schedule based on what the student has earned at the time of withdrawal. The return of Title IV funds calculation determines the amount of federal financial aid the student earned, the amount the student did not earn, the amount the student might have to repay, the amount the school must return, if a student is owed a post-withdrawal disbursement, and if the student owes a repayment.

After completion of the calculation online the Office of Financial Aid is responsible for ensuring the proper amounts are returned to the appropriate Title IV programs in a timely manner. The Office of Financial Aid returns funds from SIS to COD (Common Origination and Disbursements) as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after thedate itdetermines that the student withdrew. All returns of federal student aid grants and Direct Loan funds previously disbursed are made through the G5 (Fiscal Reporting System) by the Accounting Office.

The Office of Financial Aid collaborates with the Business Office to not release a Title IV credit balance when a student withdraws until the Office of Financial Aid performs the Return of Title IV Funds calculation, the Central Texas College refund policy has been applied, and any Title IV credit balance is allocated to repay any grant overpayment owed by the student as a result of the current withdrawal. Central Texas College returns such funds to the Title IV grant account within 14 days of the date Central Texas College performs the Return of Title IV funds calculation. Central Texas College releases the remaining credit balance to the student, parent for a PLUS loan, or back to the Title IV loan debt with student’s authorization.

The Business Office will notify the student of his or her obligation to repay funds, tracks the repayment, whether a repayment agreement will be offered and monitored by Central Texas College as well as the 45 day timing responsibility for referring overpayment to Department of Education for any amount over $50. Acceptable methods of payment for paying funds under an agreement with Central Texas College to the Business Office would be in the form of cash, personal check, cashier’s check, money order or credit card through the Business Office.

Business Office places holds that will be placed on the student’s school records or account, and is authorized to release them once the student’s obligation has been satisfied.

The Office of Financial Aid will record the student’s obligation to repay an overpayment in NSLDS and will monitor, update and notify the student.

The Office of Financial Aid offers the student any earned post- withdrawal disbursement. Students are notified via email and responses are due within two weeks upon notification. If the student does not respond in the two-week time frame the Office of Financial Aid will return funds according to the return of Title IV funds results. If timing will not allow for a two-week response time frame from the student, the Business Office will make all attempts to contact the student as quickly as possible, including phone calls. Central Texas College complies with the post-withdrawal disbursement time frames and disburses any Title IV grant funds a student is due within 30 days of the date the school determined the student withdrew, and disburses any loan funds a student accepts within 180 days of that date.

The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy is e-mailed to the student’s email account that is on file with Central Texas College with a letter of explanation regarding the student’s SAP status.

NOTE Federal, state and institutional rules and regulations regarding financial aid are subject to change.