The FAFSA is the foundation for putting together your financial aid package, and this quick guide will give you a jump start.
Need help? Contact our Financial Aid team!
First Things First
Getting organized is a great first step (like a lot of things in life!)
- Pull together the documents and information you'll need to complete the application –here's the list on the FAFSA site
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- Get your Federal Student Aid ID (it will be your legal signature on the FAFSA).
- You'll need SCC's Title IV School Code, too: 017027
Apply!
You're ready to apply for financial aid – complete the FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov.
That's it!
What's Next?
It takes about two weeks to process your FAFSA application. After that, you can check the status on the FAFSA site.
It's a good idea to print copies of all pages (or save them as PDFs) for your own records, too.
Once your application's been processed, you can review and print your Student Aid Report (SAR).
FAFSA Verification Info
Important Deadline
Files completed for verification by the July 1 priority deadline will be given first consideration for processing in order to allow earliest possible disbursement of student aid refunds. After July 1, files are processed based upon receipt date and completion of financial aid file.
It is strongly recommended that you attempt to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool. If not eligible to use the tool, you will need to request your Tax Return Transcript directly from the IRS via Web or phone (1-800-908-9946).
Documents Requested
- Verification Packet/Worksheets (These will be requested and made available in your MySCC Portal)
- Tax Return Transcript
- W-2s
What is Verification?
When a student files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the U.S. Department of Education will send results of the FAFSA (the Student Aid Report) to the student via U.S. mail or by email. This report will indicate if the student has been selected for the verification process. Not all students are selected by the U.S. Department of Education for verification. The Financial Aid Office will also receive notification from the U.S. Department of Education and will contact the student as well. It is imperative that the student check their MySCC Portal for this reason.
The verification process requires the college to collect additional documents from the student and his/her family in order to verify information provided on the FAFSA. Along with verification worksheets, the student will need to provide the Financial Aid Office with all required documents and information indicated on the verification worksheets. Depending on individual situations, additional documents may be requested as needed. It is the student's responsibility to make sure the Financial Aid Office receives the items requested in a timely manner.
How to Avoid Delays in the Verification Process
- Use the IRS Data Retrieval tool when completing your FAFSA.
- Complete your verification packet as soon as possible.
- Request your IRS tax return transcript directly via Web or phone, 1-800-908-9946.
- Provide all W-2s for each person whose income is reported on your FAFSA.
- Amounts reported on the Verification Packet are to be annual/per year figures, not monthly, unless otherwise indicated.
- Complete all items (do not leave blank).
- All applicable parties must sign the verification packet.
- If you or your parents marked separated or divorced as the marital status on the FAFSA, but filed a joint return, you will need to provide a copy of all W-2s.
- If there are further discrepancies on the packet regarding other income information reported, additional documents could be requested at a later date.
Special Circumstances
A Professional Judgement a.k.a. 'Special Circumstance' appeal allows for a financial aid adjustment due to extenuating circumstances that may have significantly reduced current or prior year income compared to the tax data reported on the FAFSA.
Qualifying special circumstances include:
- Recent unemployment of a direct family member (mother or father) of dependent student
- Recent unemployment of an independent student or their spouse
- Forced reduction in income
- Marital status change resulting in loss of income
- Death of a dependent student's parent
- Death of an independent student's spouse
- Unusually high medical expenses not covered by insurance
- Primary/Secondary education tuition costs
- Circumstances related to Covid-19
- Involuntary loss of income due to reduced hours or shutdowns as a result of Covid-19 during 2020 or 2021
- Loss of income effective 2020 or 2021 due to disability
- Significant medical expenses not covered by insurance during 2020 or 2021 as a result of Covid-19
Reasons not considered special circumstances:
- Voluntary loss/decrease in income
- Student or spouse reducing hours or quitting job to go to school
- Excessive consumer debts
- Thinking you should qualify for a Federal PELL Grant
- FAFSA EFC is already '0' (You may find the EFC on your Student Aid Report)
How do I submit a Special Circumstances Appeal?
- Complete the FAFSA Verification process (see the section above for required items)
- Complete the Special Circumstances Appeal in Eforms. Select the appropriate form based on the academic year you are applying for.
Anything Else?
At this point, you may also decide to request a student loan or apply for Federal Work Study to cover any gaps in your education costs. Your call – it's optional!
FAFSA Application Deadlines
It's no fun to miss a deadline that may mean missing out on financial aid or getting the class schedule you really want. Make note of these dates to ensure you've got all your ducks in a row.
Make sure that you are completing the appropriate FAFSA for the academic year in which you will be attending. An academic year begins in fall and ends in summer. If you are applying for financial aid in the current Spring 2022 term, you will need to complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA. Make sure to add our FAFSA school code: 017027. Without the school code, SCC cannot view your FAFSA.
Term
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Which FAFSA?
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FAFSA priority deadline
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FA Checklist priority deadline
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Summer 2022
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2021-2022
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Apr 1, 2022
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May 1, 2022
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Fall 2022
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2022-2023
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Jun 1, 2022
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Jul 1, 2022
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Spring 2023
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2022-2023
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Nov 1, 2022
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Dec 1, 2022
|
Summer 2023
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2022-2023
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Apr 1, 2023
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May 1, 2023
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Spring 2022 Refund Dates
Last day to receive a 100% refund for dropped courses
Term
|
Term Start
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Term End
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Last Date for 100% Refund
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Spring 1st 8-week
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Jan. 24 |
Mar. 19
|
Jan. 29
|
Spring Main-Semester
|
Jan. 24
|
May 17
|
Feb. 5
|
Spring Late-Start
|
Feb. 14
|
May 17
|
Feb. 24
|
Spring 2nd 8-Week
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Mar. 28
|
May 17
|
Apr. 2
|
May Mini-Session
|
May 23
|
Jun. 8
|
May 24
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Why refund dates matter for FA
- Remaining in a course past this date means you may be responsible for the charges if the course is not financial aid eligible.
- Remaining in a course past this date means it will be counted in your FA Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) measures, which can affect future FA eligibility. For more information on the FA SAP policy, please see the FA SAP web page and FA SAP Handbook
- Withdrawing from a course after this date will result in a lowered completion ratio.
- If you do not withdraw from the course and receive an 'F' grade, this will both lower your completion ratio and lower your GPA.
Census Dates
Census dates are the dates that financial aid eligibility is confirmed. A snapshot of your course schedule, active degree program and attendance/participation on the census date will determine your financial aid disbursement.
How Census Dates are Determined
- MAIN term = End of 4th week of the term (Friday)
- Mini-term = 14 days after 1st day of term (15th day)
Term
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Census Date
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Last day to add a course
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SP1 (1st 8 Week)
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Feb. 16
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Jan. 25
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SP MAIN (16-week)
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Feb. 16
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Jan. 27
|
SP3 (10-week)
|
Feb. 28
|
Feb. 16
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SP2 (2nd 8-week)
|
Apr. 11
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Mar. 29
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SP3 (10-week)
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Feb. 28
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Feb. 16
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Why census dates matter for FA
- Adding a course after the census date could mean you are responsible for the cost of the course.
- After the census date, any degree program changes will NOT be considered for FA eligibility in the current term.
- Attendance records must reflect that you are actively participating in a course in order to receive financial aid disbursement. If instructor reported attendance records show that you ceased participation in the course before the term census date, you may forfeit financial aid eligibility for that course.
- Important Note: If you are in at least one MAIN term course, the MAIN term census date will be used to determine your FA eligibility. In other words, aid will not be re-calculated at a later date within the term even if you add a mini-term course.
Spring 2022 Withdrawal Dates
Last day to withdraw from a course and receive a 'W' instead of a letter grade
Term
|
Last day to receive a 'W'
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Spring 1st 8-Week
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Mar. 4
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Spring MAIN (16-week)
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Apr. 22
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Spring Late-Start
|
Apr. 22
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Spring 2nd 8-Week
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May 6
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May Mini
|
Jun. 3
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Why withdrawal dates matter for FA
Although a 'W' will lower your SAP completion ratio, withdrawing before this deadline can prevent a lower GPA