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Frequently Asked Questions

The following are frequently asked questions. If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

THE BASICS

Q. What is the purpose of financial aid?
A: The primary purpose of financial aid is to provide assistance to students who otherwise would be unable to pursue their education. The basic premise of financial aid programs is that the primary responsibility for meeting college costs lies with the student and parents. Financial aid provides aid when the family is unable to meet the cost of attendance.

Q. What is financial need?
A: To determine a student's eligibility for financial aid, we calculate a student's demonstrated financial NEED. Need is the difference between the cost of education and what the parents and student might reasonably be expected to contribute to meet college costs. These contributions are determined by using the Federal Methodology as administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

Q. Where does the information that is used to calculate need come from?
A: The expected parental and student contributions are calculated based on the financial information provided by the parents and student on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid) and a Federal Income Tax Return. The analysis system attempts to judge how much a family can realistically afford to contribute, not how much they will pay. The system is concerned with objective facts of a family's financial position and not with the family's financial practices. The analysis procedure is used to determine an expected family contribution based not only upon income, but upon a variety of other variables as well: family size, number of family members attending college, taxes paid, investments, and so forth.

Q. Should I apply for Student Financial Aid?
A: Yes. CPCC encourages all students to apply for financial aid. Financial aid is designed to assist one in meeting the costs of attending college thru means such as grants, college work-study program, and/or scholarships.

Q. How are financial aid awards determined?
A: Awards are based on financial need. Due to the availability of funds, State grants, Federal Work-Study and scholarships are based on a first come first serve basis, based off the priority date.

Q. What should I know about Financial Aid?
A:

Avoid lines. Students wishing to apply for financial aid should do so early and meet all priority deadlines.
Financial aid awarded is to be used solely for legitimate educational purposes.
A student’s financial need is determined by subtracting the expected family contribution from the total cost of attending CPCC. The financial aid awarded should not exceed the student’s college cost budget.
The primary purpose of financial aid is to provide assistance to students who, without such aid, would be unable to attend college.
Students must renew their financial aid each year.
Students who withdraw during a semester must be aware of the Total Withdrawal Policy and Satisfactory Progress Standards. Student Financial Aid eligibility will be affected by withdrawing from classes and changing curriculums.
Students receiving financial assistance through any type of Title IV Federal Student Aid Programs, must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress toward a degree, diploma, or certificate. Students enrolled in a high school program or the GED program are ineligible for financial aid.
The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to review and cancel a financial aid award at any time because of changes in a student’s financial or academic status.

TYPES OF AID

Q. What types of Federal Grant Programs are available?
A: Federal Pell Grant Application is made by filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid). Eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant is based upon financial need as determined by the processing agency designated by the U.S. Department of Education. This Federal grant ranges from $400 to $4,050 for full-time undergraduate students.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) This federal grant is intended to assist students who demonstrate exceptional financial need, and is administered by Enrollment Services. Grants range from $100 to $200 per academic year. A student must have a Pell Grant to receive an FSEOG award.

Q. What type of Federal Loans are available?
A: Central Piedmont Community College does not participate in the Federal Direct Lending Program or the Federal Stafford Loan Program. However, we do offer the Federal Plus Loan and alternative loans.

Federal PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students): This loan program allows parents of dependent students to borrow up to the cost of attendance. These loans are available from lenders regardless of family income. The amount borrowed may not exceed the student's cost of education minus any financial aid. Repayment of the PLUS loan begins within 60 days after disbursement of the loan. The interest rate is a variable simple interest rate for first-time borrowers never to exceed 9 percent. The interest rate is determined by the U.S. Department of Education.

Q. What type of tuition assistance is available?
A:

Central Piedmont does offer several alternative loans. Please check our website at: http://www.cpcc.edu/sponsor.program
FACTS installment payment plan
The Ruth Taylor Tuition Assistance Program will provide a loan for two-thirds of the students tuition and fees only. Students must pay the first one-third of the tuition and fees plus an 8 percent processing fee before the promissory note is completed. The remaining balance will be divided into two (2) equal payments payable to Central Piedmont Community College. This assistance is for curriculum students only and will not be made for amounts less than $300.00.

Q. Are there part-time jobs available to students at Central Piedmont Community College?
A: Central Piedmont Community College does offer part-time employment to students who wish to work on campus. The College employs more than 300 students in various departments through the campus. Federal Work Study employment is based on a need for employment for the sole purpose of meeting educational expenses. This need is determined from the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid). Unlike other forms of financial aid, a Federal Work Study award is not applied to a students fee bill; students receive paychecks for hours worked.

ELIGIBILITY & QUALIFICATION

Q. What are the eligibility requirements for student financial aid?
A:Students should be accepted for admission to the College before any action can be taken on their application for Federal financial assistance, including scholarships, student employment, grants or loans. A student should meet the following eligibility requirements to receive federal assistance:

Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible program;
Have a high school diploma or GED;
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
Not be a member of a religious community that directs the program of study or provides maintenance;
Be registered with the Selective Service (males only);
Not be in default on a Title IV student loan borrowed for attendance at any institution;
Not have borrowed in excess of Title IV loan limits;
Not owe a repayment on a Title IV grant or loan received for attendance at any institution;
Maintain satisfactory academic progress;
Not be enrolled concurrently in an elementary or secondary school;
Provide a valid social security number;
If you have been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs, you must complete a Drug Conviction worksheet to determine if you are eligible to receive federal funds.

Q. I have been told that I will not qualify for financial aid if my parents earn more than $30,000 (or $40,000 or $50,000 or $60,000). Is this true?
A:There is no income cutoff for which a student may or may not qualify for financial aid. The analysis procedure determines each student's financial need based upon a number of variables: income, family size, investments, number of family members enrolled at least half-time in college, medical expenses, assets, etc. All students are urged to apply for financial aid for an accurate and professional evaluation, regardless of parents' income level, because income is only one consideration.

Q. I was not eligible for any grants last year, should I fill out a FAFSA this year?
A:Students should fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid) each year regardless of the financial aid they may have been awarded in the past. A student’s financial situation is rarely exactly the same as it was in a previous year. A student that does not fill out a FAFSA may be missing out on some forms of financial aid that they may have been eligible for had they completed the FAFSA.

Q. Am I eligible for financial aid, if I have defaulted on a student loan?
A:Students who are in default on long-term loans (Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Family Educational Loans or Direct loans) received from any postsecondary institution will not be considered for federal financial aid at CPCC until their default status is cleared.

WHEN & HOW

Q. When do I apply for financial aid?
A:After January 1. The Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) should be filed as soon after January 1 as possible.

Q. How do I apply?
A:Most ALL forms of financial aid require you to complete the FAFSA form. Complete the FAFSA application at www.fafsa.ed.gov

Q. What happens after I file the FAFSA?
A:Within 4-6 weeks of completion of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid) the student will receive a document called the Student Aid Report, commonly known as the SAR. The SAR has all the information that was reported on the FAFSA. The SAR will notify the student if they are eligible for the Pell Grant and what the family is expected to contribute to the cost of education. The Expected Family Contribution is commonly known as the EFC. When the Student Aid Report is sent to you from the Central Processor, thoroughly review the information on the SAR and make any changes or corrections that may be necessary and send the corrected SAR back to the Central Processor. Please read the comments on the SAR. They will provide you with important information.

Q. Must I complete a new FAFSA each year I am in school?
A:Yes a new FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid) must be completed each year. A students financial situation (student income, parents income, number in household etc) will change from year to year and an EFC must be calculated based on the most up to date information.

Q. How do I renew my scholarship each year?
A:Different scholarships have different eligibility requirements. A new scholarship application should be completed each year if not otherwise indicated on the initial scholarship application.

Q. What is the timetable for awarding financial aid?
A:For incoming and/or continuing students who apply on or before the priority deadline of June 1st for the Fall semester, our anticipated goal is to begin sending award notifications before or duringthe first week of April. The priority dates are June 1st (Fall), October 15th (Spring), March 1st (Summer).

Q. How is Financial Aid applied?
A:Pell Grant is awarded for the fall and spring semesters.The Pell award is based on full time enrollment.If you do not enroll for full time status, your Pell grant will be adjusted accordingly.If you do not attend full time fall and/or spring semester, your remaining Pell amount will be moved to the summer semester.If you do attend full time both fall and spring semesters, you will need to save some of your funds from your refund check to apply toward your summer costs.

Q. Will I be notified about my status?
A:Yes.The Financial Aid Office will send a letter indicating any documents needed to complete a financial aid file.Once a file is complete, a letter indicating the types of aid awarded will be sent.

Q. When will I be notified of the financial aid decision?
A:Students will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) which indicates eligibility for this federal gift aid program. It is generally received four weeks after the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid) has been received by the processing agency for the Department of Education. Students should follow all instructions on this form carefully.In approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the FAFSA is filed the college should receive the results of the FAFSA information from the Central Processor. Assuming that the FAFSA is valid and no changes by the student or parent are generated, an award letter should be produced, for all students accepted into the University, within a few weeks.When the College receives this information, it will then be reviewed. If additional documentation is required to clarify any questions, conflicting information, or verify the file in accordance with federal regulations, they will be requested at this time.

Q. Do I need to submit a copy of my and/or my parents tax returns directly to CPCC's Financial Aid Office?
A:DO NOT SUBMIT TAX RETURNS UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED TO DO SO BY THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE. Copies of Federal Tax Returns (1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) maybe required if you are selected for verification. If your tax return is needed to process your financial aid you will be contacted by the Financial Aid.

Q. The FAFSA asks for certain tax information. What do I do if I/my parents have not filed income tax returns yet?
A:When filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid) you may use estimated information. If you are going to complete the FAFSA using estimated information, use the best information to your knowledge at the time that you are completing the FAFSA. When your tax information is complete, make the corrections (if necessary) on your Student Aid Report and mail the SAR back to the federal processor. Only make changes on the SAR if the actual tax figures differ from the estimated figures.The Central Processor will then generate another Student Aid Report. In addition, submit a signed copy of your federal tax return(s) to the Financial Aid Office.

Q. My parents are divorced (or separated), and I will live with my mother (or father). How do I apply for financial aid?
A:Provide only the financial information for the parent with whom you lived with the most in the last 12 months, regardless of which parent claims you as a tax dependent and providing half their support. If, for example, you reside with your mother and your father claims you as a tax dependent, you would provide only your mother's financial information and only your mother would complete and sign your financial aid application.

Q. My parents are divorced, and I live with my mother, who has remarried. Should I provide my stepfather's financial information?
A:Yes, your stepfather's financial information should be provided since he supports you by way of food, housing, utility payments, etc.

Q. I live with foster parents (or legal guardians). What do I do?
A:When the word "parent" is used in the application, it means your mother and/or father (birth or Step), adoptive parents. If you had a legal guardian, because both parents are deceased, then you are to mark the orphan box and are considered to be independent.If you are living with a legal guardian and both of your parents are not deceased, you should contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss your particular situation in more detail.

VERIFICATION

Q. What does it mean that I have been selected for verification?
A:Central Piedmont Community College is required to verify certain information that students put on their FAFSAs. If you have been selected for verification, you are required to submit to the Financial Aid Office specific information to verify the information on the FAFSA. When the student and parent sign the FAFSA, they agree that the information provided on the FAFSA is accurate to the best of their knowledge and to provide the information requested by the financial aid office to verify the reported information.Students who are selected for verification and fail to submit the requested documents run the risk of having their financial aid canceled for that particular academic year.

Q. I need to submit my tax return to complete verification but I do not have a copy. How can I obtain a copy of my tax return?
A:Students and parents may obtain a printout of their tax return by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

CHANGES

Q. If I’m no longer working or my situation has changed, can any adjustments be made to my income reported?
A:Yes. Complete the Request for Professional Judgment form and provide requested documentation to the Financial Office.A Financial Aid counselor will review the documentation provided and make adjustments to previously reported data.If all requirements are met, a correction will be sent to the Department of Education.A revised award letter will be sent if the award is adjusted.

Q. If I am classified as a dependent student by FAFSA guidelines, but I consider myself to be an independent student, can I apply for financial aid as an independent student?
A:Only in extreme cases. Examples of this would be the death of your parents, or cases of abuse or neglect by your parents. Documentation of your situation is required and you must show how you currently meet your living expenses.

Q. What happens if I don't want to accept all the financial aid offered to me?
A:The financial aid award that is offered by CPCC is the total financial aid offer. You may choose to accept all the financial aid offered or you may choose to accept only certain individual financial aid components, such as the Federal Plus Loans, alternative loans, work, or grants. If one component is declined no additional aid will be offered to make up for that declined aid.

Q. I have been offered an outside scholarship. How does this affect my financial aid?
A:If the student receives resources at any time during the award year that was not considered in calculating the student's eligibility for aid, and these resources combined with the expected financial aid will exceed the student's need, the amount in excess of the student's need is considered an over award. Therefore, you must notify CPCC of any additional assistance that you receive such as outside scholarships, employer reimbursements, etc

REGISTRATION & BOOKS

Q. How do I register if I’m receiving Financial Aid?
A:If financial aid is awarded prior to the registration period, one may register for classes online, over the phone, or in person at any campus.A balance may be due, ifthe financial aid award does not cover the full tuition and/or fees.If a student chooses to register for classes prior to receiving their financial aid award it is the student's responsibility to attempt to re-register for their classes. You must make payment arrangements prior to registration to keep your schedule.

Q. How do I get my books if I am receiving Financial Aid?
A:After classes are in the system, one may go to the Follett Bookstore (with College ID) on the designated dates for book charges.The balance of Financial Aid after tuition will be available in the bookstore.

Q. When is the drop/add period?
A:Classes may be added through the first week of class each semester for 16-week sessions. Classes may be dropped through the fifth day of class. The current refund policy allows a 100% refund of tuition paid for curriculum classes dropped prior to the first day of the academic term. A 75% refund is issued for curriculum classes dropped on or after the first day of the term through the 10% point of the term.Tuition paid and applicable fees will be refunded 100% for classes cancelled by the College.

Q. What should I do if I have to withdraw from my classes?
A:FIRST, inquire with the Financial Aid Office about the effects a withdrawal would have on your Financial Aid status. Then, complete the necessary withdrawal forms provided in the Registrar’s office. Please review the Return of Title IV Funds Policy.Under this policy, one could owe the College money due to a withdrawal. One should make every effort to complete 60% of the semester before withdrawing all classes.An official withdrawal should be completed in the Registration Office and a copy submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

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