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Need help financing your education?

The Office of Financial Aid helps remove financial barriers and assist students in meeting the cost of attendance at Stillman College.

We realize that a college education will be one of the most important investments a student and their parents will make. We also realize that applying for financial aid can be a difficult process. Our goal is to provide students and parents with the necessary information and guidance to make the process as simple and manageable as possible.

Financial Aid provides resources and information about grants, employment and student loans, and counseling or assistance in completing the financial aid application (FAFSA).

Due to limited funds in some programs, The Office of Financial Aid is not always able to offer enough aid to meet each student’s financial need. However, alternative sources of assistance may be available to students.

The staff is working to streamline your application processing. Students should complete the FAFSA on or after October 1 each year and allow Financial Aid as much time to process applications as possible.

Deadlines

The deadlines to apply for financial aid assistance are:

Semester Priority Deadline to Apply Priority Deadline to Submit Documents SAP Appeal
Summer 2023
May 1, 2023
May 10, 2023
May 24, 2023
Fall 2023
June 1, 2023
July 31, 2023
August 20, 2023
Spring 2024
December 1, 2023
December 10, 2023
January 14, 2024

Completing the FAFSA and or submitting documents after the deadline date will still be processed and awarded federal financial aid (if eligible) but not guaranteed to be ready at the beginning of the semester. 

The deadline to submit the FAFSA and required documents is the end of the term or academic year for which the student is enrolled, whichever is sooner.

More Information:

How to

How to apply and complete the Financial Aid Process

1 – Apply to the College

Please visit the Admissions Office page to learn about completing and submitting your Admissions application.  The Office of Financial Aid will not be able to review your financial aid application until you have been admitted to the college.

2 – Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

To be eligible for federal and state financial aid assistance, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and list our School Code 001044.  The FAFSA can be completed online at www.studen aid.gov or by using an app on your smartphone starting October 1st the year before attending. Staff is available to assist students and parents in completing the FAFSA. 

The 2022-23 FAFSA will require 2020 federal tax information.  We recommend that students and parents use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer their tax information onto the FAFSA. If you didn’t use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool initially, you can go back and make corrections.

3 – Provide requested documents

Our office will contact you by email if any additional documents are needed to complete your file.  Needed documents are listed on My Stillman Self-Service.  Some students will be required to complete the process of verification. Verification is the process in which our office must verify that the information on the FAFSA is accurate. If you are selected for verification, you must complete the verification process before any awards will be finalized. The Office of Financial Aid will submit all changes required because of the verification documents. When you submit any documents to the office, please make sure that your name and student ID number is include on all documents.

4 – Review your Award Offer

When our office completes the file review, an award offer is made.  Students will receive an email when the award offer is available on My Stillman Self-Service.  You must log into My Stillman Self-Service and accept, reduce, or decline the funds offered, including student loans.  As our office becomes aware of additional forms of aid, we will revise your award offer as necessary.

Types of Aid

  • Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a Renewal FAFSA designating Stillman College (school code 001044) to receive FAFSA results.
  • Be a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
  • Be registered with Selective Service (males, 18 years or older only)
  • Be admitted or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree program.
  • Be making Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the Stillman College Office of Financial Aid.
  • Not owe a refund on a student grant or be in default on a student loan.

The type of aid we offer is in the form of:

Grants

Scholarships

Work Program

Loans

piggy bank with graduation cap

Grants

Grants are awards that are not repaid. Only undergraduates who have not previously received a bachelor’s degree are eligible. Most grants are awarded to those who apply for financial aid by the priority application deadline and exhibit exceptional financial need.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is calculated by the Department of Education based on the information listed on the FAFSA form, the number of credit hours per semester and your cost of attendance. If you are enrolled for less than 12 credit hours, the Pell award is calculated as follows:

PELL GRANT AWARD CALCULATION

SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS* PELL AWARD CALCULATED

12 or more hours

Pell semester award

9 -11 hours

75% Pell semester award

6 – 8 hours

50% Pell semester award

5 or less hours

25% Pell semester award
* Students will need at least 15 credit hours in order to graduate in 4 years.

Federal Pell Grant funds are not available for certificate, special admit, transient, second degree, non-degree, learning support, high school and graduate students. This grant is also limited to 12 full-time semesters.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is awarded based on your EFC number, determined upon completion of FAFSA, your financial need and funds available. FSEOG funds are not available for certificate, special admit, transient, non-degree, learning support and high school students. Students with the lowest EFC numbers receive priority.

Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education grant that provides up to $4,000 per year to students who agree to teach for four years at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families and to meet other requirements. If the service obligation is not met, the grant is converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

Federal Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

Like other federal grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant provide money to college or career school students to help pay their education expenses. However, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants have special eligibility criteria.

You may be eligible to receive the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant if

  • you are not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant on the basis of your Expected Family Contribution but
  • meet the remaining Federal Pell Grant eligibility requirements, and
  • your parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11, and
  • you were under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death.

Alabama Student Grant

The Alabama Student Grant is awarded to students that are a resident of Alabama that are enrolled in at least 6 or more credit hours for the fall or spring semester.  The award amounts vary. Students are required to complete the Alabama Student Grant application.

Alabama National Guard Education Assistance Program (ANGEP)

The Alabama National Guard Education Assistance Program award funds for tuition and educational fees for Alabama National Guard members.  Students must be active and in good standing with a federally recognized unit of the Alabama National Guard. Students are required to complete the ANGEP application.

Work-Programs

Part-time employment on campus allows students to earn money to pay for educational expenses.

Federal Work-Study Program

The Federal Work-Study Program provides part-time jobs for students with financial need.  Students are paid $8.00 an hour and are limited to 19 hours a week. Students must first work in order to get paid. Awards are up to $2000 a semester.

The requirements to be eligible for the Federal Work Study program are:

  • Complete the FAFSA by April 1st before the academic year starts;
  • Have a financial need determined by the Office of Financial Aid;
  • Enrolled in at least 6 credit hours for financial aid;
  • Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Federal Work Study

Loans

loan is money borrowed that must be repaid, with interest.  We encourage you and your family to consider the debt from educational loans carefully before accepting any loan offers. Review alternative options available to reduce the amount you borrow. To help you consider the debt from loans:

  • Calculate the total debt and monthly payments for loans accrued over the span of your entire educational career, not just one academic year.
  • Compare your total debt to your projected future income. Is this a wise investment? Will the payments be manageable?
  • Review ways to reduce your time in school. Taking 15 hours a semester, the educational program can be completed in 4 years.  Taking classes online at home during the summer would reduce your time in school.
  • Consider your loan co-signers, parents who are borrowing a Parent Plus Loan and others who may be borrowing on your behalf. Will their possible future debt payments be manageable?

Federal Direct Stafford Student Loans

Federal Direct Stafford Student Loans are guarantee and back by the federal government. Credit checks are not required. Interest rates on federal student loans are fixed and usually lower than on private loans. A loan fee is charged by the U. S. Department of Education and is paid from the loan disbursement. Both the interest rate and loan fee are subject to change. There are two types of Stafford Loans: subsidized and unsubsidized.

Federal subsidized loans require students to have a financial need and able to complete their program of study within 150% of the time needed to complete the program. The U.S. Department of Education will pay the interest on a subsidized loan during certain enrollment periods. Graduate students are not eligible for subsidized Stafford Loans.

Federal unsubsidized loans will charge interest while in school. The interest can either be paid or applied to the principle.

LOANS
Federal Student Loan Fixed Interest Rates

First disbursed:

Interest Rate

On or after July 1, 2021 and before July 1, 2022

3.73%*

On or after July 1, 2020 and before July 1, 2022

2.75%

On or after July 1, 2019 and before July 1, 2020

4.53%

*- Temporary 0% Interest extended through August 31, 2022.

The loan fee for federal student loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2022 is 1.057%. The amount is paid from the loan disbursement.

Federal Stafford Loans have yearly limits. The limits are:

Federal Direct Student Loan Yearly Limits

CLASSIFICATION Dependent Students (except students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans) Independent Students (and dependent undergraduate students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans)

First-Year Undergraduate Annual Loan Limit

$5,500-No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
$9,500-No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.

Second-Year Undergraduate Annual Loan Limit

$6,500-No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
$10,500-No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.

Third Year and Beyond Undergraduate Annual Loan Limit

$7,500 per year-No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
$12,500-No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.

Graduate or Professional Student Annual Loan Limit

Not Applicable (all graduate and professional degree students are considered independent).
$20,500 (unsubsidized only).

Subsidized and Unsubsidized Aggregate Loan Limit

$31,000-No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
$57,500 for undergraduates-No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. $138,500 for graduate or professional students-No more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study.

All students are required to complete the master promissory note, entrance counseling and the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (new for the 2022-23 school year). Please borrow responsibly.

The Federal Student loan is awarded during our awarding process. Loans are awarded based on need, after grants and scholarships are awarded. If awarded, students will have the option to accept, adjust or decline the federal student loan on My Stillman Self-Service. Students must be attending at least half-time (6 hours) at the time of disbursement for funds to disburse. Dropping below half-time will result in subsequent loan disbursements being canceled.

Federal Direct Stafford Parent Plus Loans

The Federal Direct Stafford Parent Plus Loan is made to parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. The borrower must be a parent of the student. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify.

The initial payment starts approximately sixty days after the loan has been fully disbursed to the student’s account. The borrower may choose to defer the payments.  A loan fee will be charged and taken out of the loan. Interest rates are variable but capped at 9%. Students must be enrolled for at least 6 hours.

graduate hugging dad
Federal Parent Loan Fixed Interest Rates

First disbursed:

Interest Rate

On or after July 1, 2021 and before July 1, 2022

6.28%

On or after July 1, 2020 and before July 1, 2022

5.30%

On or after July 1, 2019 and before July 1, 2020

7.08%

The loan fee for federal parent plus loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2022 is 4.228%. The amount is paid from the loan disbursement.

Private Loans

Many private lending institutions offer loans to students and families seeking assistance to meet expenses related to attendance at Stillman College. There are an increasing number of these loans and the terms of these loans change frequently. An alternative/private loan is not guaranteed by the federal government, requires a credit check and may require a co-signer.

When researching private loans, students should pay close attention to the borrower benefits, fees, interest rates and payment options.

Students should consider an alternative/private loan if:

  • They have reached the Federal Direct Loan borrowing limit
  • Have expenses that financial aid (Pell grant, federal loans, scholarships, GI Bill, etc.) does not cover
  • Have a balance from a previous semester to pay
  • Plan on doing a study abroad program in an upcoming term

The following are links to private lenders. You are not required to borrow with any of the lenders listed.  Students may borrow with any lender offering a private student loan. Stillman College does not discriminate against lenders and will certify loans from any private lender provided the student meets the lender’s eligibility requirements. Stillman College does not recommend or endorse any lender and does not receive any benefit from any lender.  It is up to the borrower to decide which lender is best.

Stillman College Student Loan of Conduct

Stillman College participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program which include the Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Student loans, and the Direct Parent Plus loans. To a lesser extent, private loans are also processed for students on an as needed basis. To comply with the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act (enacted August 14, 2008) Stillman College has a Student Loan Code of Conduct to serve as the formal guiding principles in ensuring the integrity of the student aid process and ethical conduct of Stillman College employees in regard to student loan practices.

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