Financial Information

Estimated Cost of Attendance

Following are the estimated costs used by the Financial Aid Office to determine financial aid award amounts as required under federal financial aid guidelines. This information is provided to assist you in planning your educational expenses.

2025-2026 Estimated Cost of Attendance

The amounts listed below are used for financial aid purposes and are estimated in each category based on 12 credit hours (per term) in attendance for two terms. Actual costs may vary depending upon the type of program, number of hours enrolled, etc.

Freshman/Sophomore

Junior/Senior

Fees

All fees are due and payable on the day of registration, unless other arrangements are made before the class begins. Fees may be paid by cash, check, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or the Tuition Installment Payment (TIP) Plan. Additionally, American Express and e-check are available online through your Panther Central Student Account. If you request loans or scholarships, you should contact the Financial Aid Office at 863-784-7134 prior to registration to confirm the status of your request. All fees are subject to change.

Student Obligations

If you have outstanding obligations with the College, you will be unable to receive further fee-based services from the College until your debts have been satisfied in full. Such services include registration and library services. All delinquent accounts may require an additional fee. Note that:

Fees for Adult Education Courses

Adult Education students enrolled in the Adult Basic Education (ABE), English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), or GED^® program will be charged a flat, or “block” tuition rate per term. This fee may be waived. Tuition rates for Florida residents and non-Florida residents are specified in the SFSC Schedule of Classes.

Fees for Corporate and Community Education Courses

Fees for Corporate and Community Education courses vary depending upon the number of hours of instruction and are listed in each class activity announcement. Programs operated through Corporate and Community Education include:

• Driver Education Program
• Parents, Children, and Divorce
• Lifetime Learners Institute

Call the Corporate and Community Education Office at 863-784-7388 for the Schedule of Classes and fees.

Insurance Fees

Several courses offered by SFSC require that you be insured while enrolled in the courses. Insurance fees are in addition to other special or lab fees. See Schedule of Classes  for current fees listings.

Lab Fees

Many courses offered by SFSC require you to use expendable resources or special equipment. If you are enrolled in these courses, you will be charged a lab fee to pay for these costs. To determine lab fees for courses, check the current searchable Schedule of Classes available on the website.

Tuition and Fee Deferments for Veterans and/or Dependents

If you are a veteran and/or dependent who has provided all required documents for eligibility to be certified for your Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits, you may be permitted to defer your tuition and fees (no books and supplies) once per term. This period may be as much as 60 days. Deferments must be paid on the due date whether or not you have received a benefit payment or had a payment posted to your account. Consult the Veteran School Certifying Official at 863-784-7128 or 863-784-7410 for further information.

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

The College has a policy in place that will allow a covered individual to attend or participate in a course of education, pending VA payment, providing the individual submits a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance and is therefore in compliance with the requirements of 38 U.S. Code Section 3679(e) and Section 103, Public Law 115-407.

Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, Public Law 116-315. The law requires schools and training providers to be financially responsible, instead of the student, for the benefits paid directly to an educational institution. This applies to tuition and fees payments under the Post 9/11 GI Gill (38 USC 3685(b). As a result, the student will be responsible for any debt this may create to the school and training provider.

Financial Aid

SFSC’s financial aid program provides financial assistance to eligible students to attend college. This assistance may come from one or any combination of grants, scholarships, loans, or student employment. Financial aid is awarded on the basis of your academic ability or special talent, demonstrated financial need, and the availability of funds from federal, state, institutional, and/or local sources. Financial aid awards will not be processed until you have been admitted to a degree program or eligible certificate program. For information and assistance to apply for financial aid, visit our financial aid webpage at southflorida.edu/current-students/financial-aid-scholarships.

Eligibility Criteria for Federal Financial Aid

To qualify for federal financial aid, you must meet the following basic eligibility requirements.

New Students - You must apply to the College by submitting an Application for Admission to the Office of the Registrar.

Former Students - If you return to SFSC, you will remain under the same SAP standards (see Satisfactory Academic Progress Information section) from which you left. If you are not meeting the SAP standards, you may be ineligible to receive financial aid but will have the option to appeal to have your financial aid reinstated. See “Regaining Eligibility Through the Appeal Process” under Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). NOTE: If you have attended another institution since you left SFSC, refer to “Transfer Students.”

Transfer Students - You must have all transcripts from previous institutions received and evaluated, you must be accepted and classified as degree seeking, and you must meet the standards of academic progress before financial aid will be awarded. These standards are based on your entire academic record, at all schools attended and hours as determined to be applicable to your SFSC degree, regardless of whether or not you received financial aid.

Failure to list all prior institutions you attended could result in your financial aid being cancelled.

Federal regulations stipulate that the maximum timeframe for an undergraduate student cannot exceed 150% of the published length of an academic or a certificate program. Therefore, once you reach the maximum timeframe, you are no longer eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate student. However, you may appeal if you believe you have extenuating circumstances that may have caused you not to complete your program within the 150% timeframe. See “Regaining Eligibility Through the Appeal Process” under SAP.

Applying for Financial Aid

To be given the greatest consideration, you should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) prior to April 15, the SFSC priority date. If the priority date is missed, you should still apply as soon as possible to be considered for financial aid that is still available, such as Pell Grants, loans, etc.

ALL STUDENTS MUST APPLY OR REAPPLY YEARLY FOR FINANCIAL AID. AWARDS ARE NOT RENEWED AUTOMATICALLY.

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) by applying online at fafsa.ed.gov. The College code for SFSC is 001522. We use the FAFSA^® information to determine if you are eligible to receive aid from state, federal, work study, and direct loan programs. Apply as soon as possible after October 1, each year. You should not wait to be admitted to SFSC before applying for financial aid.
2. Complete an application for admission to SFSC. Your academic records (e.g., high school transcript, GED^®, and college transcript) and other supporting documents must be submitted to the Admissions, Registration, and Records Office as specified by Admissions personnel. If you previously attended any other postsecondary institutions, the above information must be received by the Admission Office before the Financial Aid Office (FAO) can determine your eligibility for aid.
3. Before beginning the FAFSA^®, if you don’t already have a FSA ID and password, you can apply for one at fsaid.ed.gov. Students and all contributors must create a FSA account to complete and sign the online FAFSA. The FAO will receive your Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) from the processor as long as SFSC code 001522 is listed as one of your colleges on the FAFSA^®. You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) within 3-5 days via your email address, if you completed the FAFSA^® online. If you do not receive your SAR within this time, you may want to call the processor at 800-433-3243 from 8 a.m. through midnight (Eastern Standard Time) or check online at fafsa.ed.gov.
4. If you are selected for a process called Verification, you will be requested by the FAO to submit additional information. Forms that you may need to complete are available via SFSC Financial Aid webpage at southflorida.edu/current-students/financial-aid-scholarships/forms. The College FAO can accept copies of tax returns to verify tax information. To obtain an IRS tax return transcript, go to IRS.gov and click on the “Get a Tax Transcript” link under Tools. Make sure to request the “IRS tax return transcript” and not the “IRS tax account transcript.” You can choose “Get Transcript ONLINE” or “Get Transcript by MAIL.”
5. The Student Aid Report (SAR) indicates your Student Aid Index (SAI), which is used to determine your eligibility for financial aid. The SAR also lists the information you reported on your FAFSA^®, and if selected for verification by the federal processor, you will see an asterisk (*) to the right of your SAI. Take the time to review your SAR information for accuracy.
6. To apply for a SFSC Foundation Scholarship, you must complete the online SFSC Foundation Scholarship Application from our webpage at southflorida.edu/current-students/financial-aid-scholarships.
    

   The deadline dates are:
   Fall Term Awards	July 3
   Spring Term Awards	November 1
   Summer Term Awards	April 1
   High School Graduates:
   Fall Term Awards	April 1



7. If you are applying for a Direct Student Loan, applications are available via the SFSC Financial Aid webpage at southflorida.edu/current-students/financial-aid-scholarships/loans.
8. If your financial aid file has been considered “complete,” a provisional award letter will be emailed to your student email account. Awards listed on your award letter are tentative and are not final. Awards can be either adjusted or cancelled at any time due to ineligible program code, enrollment, academic standing, and/or availability of funds.
9. Notify the FAO if you are expecting the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.

Follow up on your application! You are responsible for following up on your financial aid application. Do not wait until classes begin. You can use your Panther Central login to view your financial aid status and awards.

If you need assistance in completing financial aid forms, you should contact the FAO at 863-784-7134. You have the right to understand how your financial aid award is determined and the FAO is always willing to discuss any financial aid decisions with you to promote a better understanding of the financial aid process.

Early filers with a complete file will be given first priority in determining eligibility to receive one of the Florida Student Assistance Grants (FSAG and/or FSAGCE), the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work Study (FWS), and Florida Work Experience Program (FWEP).

Grants, Scholarships, Work Study, and Loans

Financial aid comes in many forms, such as grants, employment, loans, and both internal and external scholarships. Grants are considered gift aid and do not have to be repaid. Only undergraduate students who have not previously received a bachelor’s degree and who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for the grant programs.

Federal Pell Grant

Grant is provided by the federal government to students with demonstrated financial need. Students who are enrolled less than half time may qualify to receive a Pell Grant if the Student Aid Index (SAI) meets the standards established by the federal government.

Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU)

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime is NOW limited by a new federal law to be equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. For more information on Pell Grant eligibility visit southflorida.edu/current-students/financial-aid-scholarships/grants.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

This grant is provided by the federal government to assist students with the highest level of need. You must be enrolled at least half-time to be considered for this grant. These funds are very limited and are awarded to students who meet the priority date as listed in the catalog and as funds are available.

Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)

This grant is awarded to a Florida resident who is a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, and who meets state-mandated criteria. You may be full-time or part-time to receive this award. To maintain eligibility for renewal the following school year you must complete all coursework enrolled in and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA during the academic year in which you received this award. (Credit hours earned in the previous summer may be counted in determining your renewal eligibility.)

Florida Student Assistance Grant - Career Education (FSAG-CE)

This grant is awarded to a Florida resident who is a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. You must be enrolled for a minimum of 180 clock hours per term, maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and complete all coursework enrolled in.

Florida Bright Futures (BF) Scholarship Program

This program includes several state-funded scholarships based on high school academic achievement. It is for students who enroll in an eligible Florida postsecondary educational institution within two (2) years of graduation from a Florida high school. Students who are receiving the Bright Futures Scholarship must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 non-remedial credits and must be a degree or certificate seeking student.

• BF Withdrawals Repayment Procedure - You will be required to repay the cost of any course funded by BF that you withdraw from after the drop/add period of each term. Your repayment for the cost of withdrawn courses is required to renew a BF award for a subsequent academic year.
• BF Transient Student - You must complete the transient enrollment process to have dual hours included in your award.

For additional information, visit the Florida Department of Education website at floridastudentfinancialaid.org.

Federal College Work Study (FWS)

is provided by the federal government to assist students with financial need and who express an interest in working part-time jobs on or off-campus. You may work up to 20 hours per week at the minimum hourly wage. Selection is based on financial need as determined by the federal government (other considerations: available positions, funds, and job interviews). Contact the Career Development Center at 863-784-7410 for information on available positions or to be placed on a waiting list.

Florida Work Experience Program (FWEP)

This is a need-based program funded by the state of Florida to provide eligible SFSC students experience working on campus that will complement and reinforce their educational and career goals. You may work up to 20 hours per week at the minimum hourly wage. Selection is based on financial need as determined by the federal government, satisfactory academic progress, available positions, funds, and job interviews.

Federal Direct Student Loan Program

The Direct Loan Program was created to simplify federal student loan delivery and provide borrowers with flexible repayment options with a single loan holder. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institutions. South Florida State College is a participant in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. As a new and returning student requesting a loan, you must first apply for all federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) at fafsa.ed.gov. Two types of Federal Direct Student Loans are available:

• Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loan - This loan is based on financial need and requires you to have unmet financial need. The federal government will pay the interest on your behalf while you are enrolled in school at least half-time.
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan - This loan is not based on your financial need. The federal government does not pay the interest on your behalf while you are enrolled in school. You, the borrower, are responsible for the interest that accrues and capitalizes within 60 days of your first disbursement. You must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours or 8 occupational credits per term. Though this loan is non-need-based aid, the amount combined with other aid cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.

Federal Plus Direct Loan

This loan is a parent loan for undergraduate dependent students (PLUS). Parents of dependent students may borrow on behalf of their children. Although income is not a factor, the borrower cannot have adverse credit history. To receive the maximum financial assistance, you should first apply for other types of financial aid by completing the FAFSA^® at fafsa.ed.gov. Loan amounts must not exceed the cost of education less other financial aid. Parent loans must be repaid over a 10-year period with interest beginning 60 days after disbursement.

Borrowing Basics for Federal Direct Student Loans -

• Eligibility Requirements - All students, including transfer students from other institutions, must meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress to be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Student Loan at SFSC.
• How Much Can I Borrow? How much you may borrow each year depends on your enrollment, cost of attendance, and other financial assistance received. There are limits for each federal student loan, depending on the type of loan and your grade level in school. Refer to the financial aid webpage for current loan limits.
• How Much Should I Borrow? You should borrow as little as possible to meet your need. Because it is relatively easy to obtain student loans, you might borrow more than you really need. You will have to repay that money - with interest.
• What are the Interest Rates on Direct Loans? Refer to the financial aid webpage for current interest rates on the different types of loans.
• First-Time Loan Borrowers - If you are a first-time borrower, federal regulations require a 30-day delay before you receive your loan check (typically 30 days from the start of the term). You must also complete the required loan entrance counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov and Financial Aid Literacy Review on our website at financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/resources/fin-lit-guidance.pdf.
• Time Limit for Receiving Loans - If you are a first-time borrower on or after July 1, 2013, there is a limit on the maximum time period (measured in academic years) that you can receive Direct Subsidized Loans. This time limit does not apply to Direct Unsubsidized Loans or Direct PLUS Loans. If this limit applies to you, you may not receive Direct Subsidized Loans for more than 150% of the published length of your program. This is called your “maximum eligibility period.” Your maximum eligibility period is based on the published length of your current program. You can usually find the published length of any program of study in our College Catalog.
• Loan Disbursement - Loans are required to have a minimum of two disbursements: the start of each term for two-term loans or mid-point for a single-term loan.
• Borrower Responsibilities - You must inform SFSC and the Federal Government of any changes that take place in your name, your permanent address, the name and address of an expected employer, an address of your next of kin, and if your enrollment status falls to less than half-time.
• Repaying Your Loans - After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you have a six-month grace period before you must begin repayment. However, if you receive a Direct Subsidized Loan that was first disbursed between July 1, 2012 and July 1, 2014, you will now be responsible for paying any interest that accrues during your grace period. If you do not pay the interest during the grace period, the interest will be added to your principal balance.
• Exit Counseling - SFSC is required to conduct exit counseling for every student who borrowed a Direct Loan and has ceased to be enrolled at least half-time. You will receive exit counseling information via our webpage, via studentaid.gov and/or by mail. It is important that you complete exit counseling to understand repayment options and your rights and responsibilities as a borrower. It is also important that you make your full loan payments on time either monthly or according to your repayment schedule. If you fail to make your payments on a timely basis, you can face serious consequences that will impact your future finances.

Federal Teach Grant

The U.S. Department of Education’s TEACH Grant Program provides grant funds to postsecondary students who are completing or plan to complete coursework that is needed to begin a career in teaching. You must agree to serve for at least four years as a full-time, highly qualified teacher in a high-need field, in a school serving low-income students. To receive a TEACH grant, you must meet the following criteria:

• Complete the FAFSA^®, although you do not have to demonstrate financial need.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate in a postsecondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the TEACH Grant Program.
• Be enrolled in coursework that is necessary to begin a career in teaching or plan to complete such coursework.
• Meet certain academic achievement requirements by maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25.
• TEACH Grant recipients are required to complete initial and subsequent counseling before completing the Agreement to Serve (ATS).
• Sign the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve.
• Exit Counseling is required when you graduate or cease attending.
• Visit studentaid.gov or the Financial Aid Office for additional information.

Occupational Scholarships

If you are interested in a Career Certificate program, contact your high school guidance counselor or the SFSC Financial Aid Office to determine your eligibility for an occupational scholarship.

Performance/Participation Scholarships

Your outstanding abilities in academics, athletics, music, performing arts, and other skill areas may make you eligible for this program. Contact the activity sponsor in the department where your specialty is assigned.

Top 10% Academic Incentives

These are awarded to graduates from a high school in SFSC’s service district in the top 10% of the class.

Tuition Installment Payment (TIP) Plan

To help meet your education expenses, SFSC is pleased to provide the Tuition Payment Plan. TIP is available at all campuses and to all students at SFSC. TIP allows you to pay your tuition in monthly payments. The earlier you enroll, the more payment options you have. You may enroll in the TIP plan through your Panther Central account. TIP is administered for SFSC by Nelnet Business Solutions. For more information, pamphlets are available in the Advising and Counseling Center, the Cashier’s Office, and the Financial Aid Office.

SFSC Foundation Scholarships

Through the support of our local community, the SFSC Foundation is able to award numerous scholarships to students attending the College each year with the opportunity for enhanced access to an affordable, quality education, training and experience you will need to excel as tomorrow’s leaders. The scholarship application is online at southflorida.edu/support-sfsc/foundation-scholarships then click Scholarship Application on AwardSpring. Although the specific criteria vary among the types of Foundation scholarships, students enrolled at SFSC with 6 credits hours or more in a bachelor’s degree, associate degree, credit certificate, or vocational certificate program may apply for a scholarship. Some areas of emphasis in qualifying include academic achievement (GPA of 2.75 or higher), financial need, residence, specific high school graduation, and enrollment. Almost all scholarships require the completion of the FAFSA^® at fafsa.ed.gov. For specific information on each of the scholarships listed online, contact the Financial Aid Office at 863-784-7134.

Local Scholarships

Various local groups and organizations select recipients for their scholarships. These awards are coordinated by or through the Financial Aid Office.

Occupational and Vocational Scholarship Application

The Occupational/Vocational Scholarship is a need-based program designed to help you enroll in Career Certificate (C.C.) and non-credit Continuing Education Programs (or courses). In general, these are non-credit workforce development courses as defined by the Florida Statutes. You must have financial need as determined by the FAFSA^®; therefore, you must complete the FAFSA^® at fafsa.ed.gov. If you are receiving payment of tuition and fees from other programs, you may not be eligible for the Occupational/Vocational Scholarship. If you are receiving the federal Pell Grant and/or other assistance, you may be eligible, depending on the amount and type of assistance or your individual circumstances. If you are receiving payment of tuition and fees from sources outside of the Financial Aid Office (e.g., WIA, Vocational Rehabilitation), you may not be eligible. The Financial Aid Office determines eligibility based on the official FAFSA^® information as well as other financial resources that may or may not include the Pell Grant. To be considered for this scholarship for financial assistance you must apply each term during the regular registration process by completing the Vocational Scholarship Application in the Financial Aid Office.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Information

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations as outlined in Section 668.34, 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) require that you meet minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress and moving toward the completion or a degree of certificate within a given timeframe to be eligible to receive financial aid funds. The minimum standards at SFSC are applied to all Title IV Federal Financial Aid Programs administered by the College, except those programs whose eligibility requirements are restricted to institutional funds or outside donor restrictions.

The SFSC Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) must include the student’s total academic history, which includes credits taken at SFSC, dual enrollment/transient and transfer hours, etc. and applies to all terms of enrollment periods regardless if you received financial aid in prior terms or not. Certain state and locally administered financial aid programs have a more stringent academic progress standard.

In these cases, the more stringent academic progress standards will be applied in addition to the College standards.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Contain qualitative measures of progress (GPA and completion rate) and a quantitative measure of progress (maximum timeframe) to complete the degree/certificate program. You must meet all parts of the standard to maintain eligibility. All parts are cumulative in their measurement.

1. You must meet the SAP performance requirement of at least a 2.0 annual and cumulative GPA. SAP is reviewed at the end of each term.
2. You must make progress toward your degree or certificate. The minimum progress toward your degree or certificate requires you to successfully complete 67% of all hours attempted including transfer hours regardless of whether you received financial aid or not. This may include college credits and occupational credits.
3. You must complete your educational program within a given timeframe. The maximum timeframe is 150% of the normal credits required for your degree or certificate program. For example, if you are in a 60-credit hour program you can attempt up to 90 credit hours (60 hours times 150%). An example of a normal vocational program is approximately 45 credit hours; 150% of that program is 68 credit hours. This includes all college coursework; all transfer credits whether or not financial aid was received, and whether courses are applicable toward your current degree program. If you have been accepted into our bachelor’s program which is 120 credits, 150% of 120 credits will allow you to take up to 180 attempted hours.
4. If you have reached the maximum attempted hours of 90 credits or 180 credits (for bachelor’s program) in an academic program or reach 150% of the published length of the educational program (clock-hour), you may not be eligible to receive financial aid.
5. If you are a first-time SFSC student with course history (e.g., transfer of dual enrollment hours) that does not meet the standard of satisfactory academic progress, you will not be eligible to receive financial aid until you have met the standards as defined above.

If you believe you had extenuating circumstances beyond your control, you may appeal. See “Regaining Eligibility Through the Appeal Process.”

A term is defined as any of the major terms: fall, spring, and summer. First and second summer flex sessions are treated as one term for financial aid purposes. An enrollment period is defined as the term or portion of a term for which you enroll.

Successful completion is defined as any course completed with a final grade of A, B, C, D, or S. Courses for which you receive grades of W, I, F, N, U, or X, as well as the previous attempt(s) of repeated courses regardless of previous grade, are counted as courses attempted but not successfully completed.

Failure to meet the minimum standard of progress as outlined above will result in the following action(s):

• Financial Aid Warning - This occurs at the end of the term for which you fail to meet satisfactory academic progress as outlined above. In a Warning status, you retain your eligibility for financial aid as long as you are permitted to enroll. While you will continue to receive financial aid at the end of the term, it is your responsibility to restore your academic standing for financial aid by the end of the next term in which the Warning status was given. You will be notified via your student email account of your Warning status.
• Financial Aid Suspension - This occurs at the end of the Warning status term for which you failed to meet satisfactory academic progress as outlined above. In suspension status, all eligibility for financial aid will be cancelled for future terms until you meet the SAP Standards. You will be notified via your student email account of your Suspended status. You may appeal your financial aid suspension if you believe your loss of financial aid eligibility was due to extenuating circumstances (see “Regaining Eligibility through the Appeal Process”). If your appeal is approved, and you are not expected to meet Standards of Academic Progress within the probationary term, you will be required to sign a Financial Aid Academic Plan (FAAP) placing you on Financial Aid Probation. You will continue on probation as long as you successfully comply with all contingencies within the FAAP that you sign as part of the SAP Appeal. Once you meet the minimum SAP requirements, you will no longer be on the FAAP.
• Financial Aid Probation Requirements - Your progression will be monitored during the probationary period at the beginning and end of each term to ensure you are following all contingencies within your approved appeal and successfully matriculating through your program of study. Disbursements will not be made for a term unless it is verified that you were successful during your prior term.

Maximum Timeframe

As a financial aid recipient, you must earn your degree within a maximum number of attempted credit hours or clock hours after you first enroll at SFSC. Once you reach the maximum timeframe of 150% of your degree/certificate program, you are no longer eligible for financial aid. Federal regulations stipulate that the maximum timeframe for an undergraduate student cannot exceed 150% of the published length of an academic program and/ or a certificate program. If you reach a point when it is clear that you will not be able to meet the quantitative standard (the maximum timeframe) by graduation, you may become ineligible for aid. See a financial aid advisor if you have questions or need assistance.

All attempted hours are counted to determine academic progress. This includes transfer hours, hours attempted for which you did not receive financial aid, repeated courses, incomplete courses, withdrawals, and coursework that may have been exempted from calculation of the academic GPA under the Forgiveness Policy.

Transfer Student Hours - All transfer hours that are accepted by the SFSC Registrar will be included when determining your eligibility. Thus, hours accepted toward your educational program at SFSC will be counted as both attempted hours and completed hours when calculating maximum timeframe for SAP purposes. If you are a transfer student with hours above the 150% (based on what hours have been accepted) maximum timeframe, you may not be eligible to receive financial aid. See a financial aid advisor if you have questions or need assistance.

Remedial Coursework - Federal funding for remedial coursework will be limited to 30 credit hours regardless of whether or not you received financial aid for the remedial (college preparatory courses) credit hours. Once you have attempted 30 credit hours in remedial courses, you will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid for additional remedial hours. Remedial coursework for determining your SAP will be included in the evaluation of GPA and 67% completion. However, remedial hours may be excluded from the maximum timeframe determination.

Regaining Eligibility Through the Appeal Process - If you believe extenuating circumstances prevented you from meeting the required standards of progress as outlined above, you may appeal to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee by completing the “Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal” form. This form is available on our website at southflorida.edu under the Current Student tab, then Financial Aid Forms.

If you desire to file an appeal to be reviewed for the current term, you should come prepared to pay all tuition and fees awaiting the decision of the committee. If the decision is favorable, your financial aid will be reinstated. All appeals must have the following as applicable to your circumstances:

• A letter written by you describing mitigating circumstances that prevented you from achieving satisfactory progress. Mitigating circumstances that may be considered include: family difficulties, such as divorce or personal illness; serious illness or death within immediate family, or other circumstances beyond your reasonable control.
• Proof that the mitigating circumstances you describe actually occurred (such as police report, death certificate or obituary, letter from a physician, copies of appointments, etc.).
• Your condition or mitigating circumstances must be resolved allowing you the ability to complete coursework successfully or an appeal will not be granted.
• You will be limited to one maximum timeframe appeal and will be required to successfully complete 100% of all coursework. If approved, a FAAP will be required and you will not be allowed to change your program of study without an additional appeal. For this appeal, you must explain why you have not met graduation requirements and describe what actions or plans you have taken or will take to make sure you graduate in the near future.

A committee reviews the appeals and determines whether there are sufficient reasons to allow your financial aid to be reinstated. You will be notified in writing of the committee’s decision. If your eligibility to receive financial aid for an additional term is granted, you will be placed on financial aid probation, must sign an FAAP, and meet all contingencies therein. If you fail to keep the agreement of your FAAP, you will be placed back on suspension.

If you are placed back on financial aid suspension and you do not have mitigating circumstances to support why you failed to meet the agreement of your approved appeal, you may regain your eligibility for financial aid by enrolling in courses at your own expense and bringing your cumulative GPA up to a 2.0 or higher and your cumulative Completion Rate to at least 67%. This may not apply to the maximum timeframe status.

Other Important Satisfactory Progress Information

The decision of the SAP Appeal Committee is final and not normally open for further consideration. However, if your appeal is denied and you believe your mitigating circumstances warrant a second look, you may submit a written request for a review of the appeal to the vice president of student services.

Exceptions to the Appeals Process - The financial aid director or designee can waive the appeal process in certain limited situations. If you reach 150% of your degree program, but have less than one academic year to complete this program, you may continue to receive financial aid at the discretion of the financial aid director or designee provided your Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used has not been met and you meet all other standards of progress measurements. The financial aid director or designee may also refer you to the SAP Appeal Committee. NOTE: This is a one-time option and does not apply to multiple associate degrees or certificates.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Financial Aid Rights and Responsibilities

As a student and potential recipient of financial aid at SFSC, it is important that you read and understand the following student rights and responsibilities pertaining to financial aid.

Student Rights:

Financial Aid Student Responsibilities - It is your responsibility to:

Questions concerning financial aid programs and other student rights and responsibilities should be directed to the Financial Aid Office at 863-784-7134.

Refund and Return of Title IV (R2T4) Policy

Refund Policy

You must officially drop a course to obtain consideration for a refund. Refunds must be requested within the Drop with Refund Period at the Office of the Registrar (see College Calendar for drop with refund deadlines). Refund exceptions to this rule must be requested in writing to the Academic Appeals Committee and be based upon documented reasons beyond your control. Changes in your schedule may involve application of the refund policy. For example: If you drop a class during the refund period and add another, you will have the money applied toward the added class. For more information on refunds, contact the Cashier’s Office at 863-784-7258.

Fees paid by check will not be refunded until your check clears the College’s bank. Refunds are paid by college check or paid by crediting the credit card that paid the fees. Refunds are processed two to four weeks after the end of the Drop with Refund Period.

Refunds for College Credit Certificate and Career Certificate Courses

Fall, spring, and summer terms: 100% refund when official drop is received by the Office of the Registrar by the last day of the Drop with Refund Period during normal operating hours.

Special Refunds

The College will issue or apply 100% refund for courses for the following schedule changes:

Written documentation is required before any of these changes can be made. Exception to the College refund policy is made pursuant to the federal rules and regulations.

Federal Title IV Policy on Withdrawals and Return of Financial Aid (R2T4)

Congress governs what happens to your federal financial aid when you completely withdraw from school in any term. The policy pertains to all federal grants and loan programs, including the Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Loans, and the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). It does not affect Federal Work Study.

This law assumes that you earn federal financial aid awards in direct proportion to the number of days of the term attended. If you receive more aid than you earn, the unearned excess funds must be returned to the Department of Education. However, if you receive less aid than the amount earned, you may be able to receive those additional funds. NOTE: Federal award checks not cashed will revert to the granting federal program 180 days after they are issued regardless of eligibility.

Return of Federal Financial Aid Calculation Method

Return of Title IV (R2T4) funds are calculated as follows: The portion of federal grants and loans you are entitled to receive is calculated on a percentage basis by comparing the total number of days in the term to the number of days completed before withdrawal.

For example, if 30% of the term is completed, 30% of the scheduled aid is earned and 70% of the scheduled awards remain unearned and must be returned to the federal government. The total number of calendar days in a term excludes any scheduled breaks of more than five days. After the 60% point of the term, you have earned all (100%) of the aid. If withdrawal from the College occurs on or before completing 60% of the term, you may have to repay any unearned federal money that was already disbursed. A withdrawal date will be determined by the College when one of these four occurrences:

Any award money you are required to return is designated as a federal grant overpayment. Unearned federal aid (the amount that must be returned to the appropriate programs) will be returned to the following programs in the following order as prescribed by federal rules and regulations:

If the return of unearned federal aid causes any portion of tuition and fees to become a liability to the College, the College will bill you the new balance due. You will lose Title IV eligibility unless you return the amount of unearned aid (overpayment) in full to SFSC within 45 days from the date SFSC notifies you of the overpayment. After the 45th day of an unpaid balance, you will be referred to the U.S. Department of Education.

Over Awards

An over award occurs when your award package has exceeded either the unmet need or cost of attendance, depending on the type of aid that has been awarded. To prevent over awards, it is extremely important to notify the Financial Aid Office of any potential awards not already listed on your financial aid award summary on your Panther Central account. In the event of an over award, your award package is reduced to eliminate the over award, which may result in a repayment of the over award.

Refunds/Academic Appeals

Refunds requested for academic appeals can only be granted for refunds not involving Title IV financial aid. Federal law currently does not provide for an appeal of this repayment policy.