Florida College Access Network Conference

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Florida College Access Network Conference Septemb
er 2006 Tampa, Florida
Financial Aid Whats New What to
Do! Presented by Cynthia Williams Florida
Department of Education Office of Student
Financial Assistance (OSFA)
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Agenda

• State Grants Scholarships
• Federal Programs
• Additional Financial Aid Resources
• Institutional Aid
• Private Sources
• College Goal Sunday
• Financial Aid Resources

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State Grants Scholarships

• 604 million was appropriated to fund State
  Programs in 2006-07.
• Three largest state funded programs
• Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program-
  346.3M
• Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG) - 120.5M
• Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) - 102.6M

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Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program

• Merit based scholarships that reward high school
  graduates for high academic achievement
• Award Amount up to 75 -100 of tuition fees
• Comprised of the three following awards
• Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS) - 100
• (Including Academic Top Scholars)
• Florida Medallion Scholars Award (FMS) 75
• (100 at Public Community Colleges)
• Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award 75

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Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program

• Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS)
• 3.5 GPA in 15 College Preparatory Courses
• 1270 SAT or 28 ACT
• Community Service
• 100 Tuition and Fees Award
• Florida Medallion Scholars Award (FMS)
• 3.0 GPA in 15 College Preparatory Courses
• 970 SAT or 20 ACT
• 75 Tuition and Fees Award (100 at Public
  Community Colleges)
• Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award (GSV)
• 3.0 GPA in Coursework Required for HS Graduation
• 3.5 GPA in 3 Vocational Courses
• College Placement Test Scores at Non Remedial
  Levels
• 75 Tuition and Fees Award

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Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)

• Need-based grant for students who demonstrate
  substantial financial need.
• Students are required to complete the Free
  Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• 2006-07 Maximum Award Amount - 1,722
• EFC and colleges cost of education determine
  amount of awards
• Institution determines application procedures,
  deadlines and student eligibility.
• Contact college financial aid counselor

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Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG)

• Provides tuition assistance to Florida
  undergraduates attending eligible 4-year,
  private, postsecondary institutions.
• Institution determines application procedures,
  deadlines and student eligibility.
• 2006-07 Annual Award Amount - 3,000
• Contact college financial aid counselor

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New State Grants Scholarships

• First Generation Matching Grant Program
• Creates a need-based grant program for 1st
  generation in college students who attend a
  public state university
• State universities will match state funds with
  private funds up to 6.5 million
• Student eligibility is based on
• Parents have not earned a baccalaureate degree
• Need determination Students required to file
  FASFA
• Undergraduate, resident, full-time status
• University can award up to the Cost of Attendance

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New State Grants Scholarships

• Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Training Grant
  (CMV)
• Highway safety in Florida is a priority
• 1,000,000 grant
• Training to receive the commercial drivers
  license
• At Public and Private Vocational Training Centers
• 2,500 Forgivable Loan

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State Grants Scholarships

• Merit-based
• Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
• Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program
  (federal funds)
• Need-based (requires FAFSA)
• Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)
• Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant Program
• Rosewood Family Scholarship Program
• Mary McCloud Bethune Scholarship Program
• Florida Work Experience Program
• First Generation Matching Grant Program
• Special Interest
• Children/Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans
  (CSDDV)
• Ethics in Business Scholarship
• Florida Resident Assistance Grant (FRAG)
• Access to Better Learning Education Grant
  (ABLE)
• Commercial Motor Vehicle Grant Program

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How to Apply for State Aid

• Submit Florida Financial Aid Application online
• Eligibility criteria vary by program
• In general
• Must be US citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Meet residency requirement
• Attend a postsecondary institution in Florida
• Be enrolled in a degree or certificate program
• Not owe a repayment on a federal or state grant
  or be in default of a federal or state loan
• Make satisfactory academic progress

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Visit OSFA Website at www.FloridaStudentFinancial
Aid.org
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Florida Financial Aid Application One Application
for All Programs
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Florida Financial Aid Application Application
for 2007-08 available December 1st

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Important Application Deadlines

• April 1, 2007
• José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant
• Rosewood Family Scholarship Fund
• Scholarship for Children/Spouses of
  Deceased/Disabled Veterans
• April 15, 2007
• Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program
• High School Graduation
• Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program

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Federal Programs

• Federal Grants
• Pell Grants are available to undergraduate
  students only and do not have to be repaid
• Federal Loans
• Student loans that must be repaid and are
  available to both graduate and undergraduate
  students
• Stafford Subsidized (Need-based)
• Stafford Unsubsidized

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New Federal Programs

• Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
• First and second year college students
• Pell grant recipients Need-based Program
• Enrolled at a 2- or 4-year institution
• Degree-seeking, Full-time
• U.S. Citizens (Eligible non-citizens NOT
  eligible)
• High School rigorous curriculum
• Bright Futures coursework, or
• Two AP or IB courses with passing test grades
• ACG Award Amount
• 1st year 750
• 2nd year 1,300

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New Federal Programs

• SMART Grant
• Third and fourth year students
• Degree-seeking in designated program of study
• Computer Science, Engineering, Foreign Language,
  Life Sciences, Mathematics, Multidisciplinary
  Studies, Physical Sciences, Technology
• Award Amount
• 3rd year - 4,000
• 4th year - 4,000
• Pell Grant recipients Need-based Program
• Enrolled full-time at a 2- or 4-year institution
• U.S. Citizens (Eligible non-citizens NOT
  eligible)
• Awards determined at the students postsecondary
  institution

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How To Apply for Federal Aid

• Complete the Free Application for Financial
  Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Check Student Aid Report (SAR) for Accuracy
• FAFSA
• Calculates the student Expected Family
  Contribution (EFC)
• Schools use EFC to award financial aid

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FAFSA Website www.fafsa.gov
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Federal Student Aid Eligibility

• To receive federal student aid a student must be
• A US citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Registered with the Selective Service
• Attending a participating school
• Working toward a degree or certificate
• Making satisfactory academic progress
• Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in
  default on a federal education loan
• Must have financial need (except for unsubsidized
  Stafford Loans)
• Not have any drug convictions

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Institutional Sources of Aid

• Most postsecondary institutions provide
• Internships
• Merit scholarships
• Need-based grants
• Check with financial aid officers for more
  information.

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Private Sources of Aid

• Corporate Scholarships
• Non-profit Scholarships
• Scholarship from civic professional
  organizations
• Check with college Foundation office or financial
  aid office

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College Goal Sunday

• February 25, 2007
• Program to help low-income families and
  first-generation college students complete FAFSA.

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Financial Aid Resources

• www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org
• www.fafsa.edu.gov
• www.finaid.org
• www.fastweb.com

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• Contact Us
• Florida Department of Education
• Office of Student Financial Assistance
• 1-888-827-2004
• www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org