There are five different groups of aid offered at Atlanta Metropolitan State College.
Loans
A loan is money borrowed from a commercial lender, a governmental agency, or a postsecondary school that must be repaid, which includes the amount borrowed plus interest, a service-cancelable loan will not have to be repaid. Be smart and borrow only what is needed for your educational expenses.
Federal Loans
Atlanta Metropolitan State College participates in the Federal Stafford Loan program which allows students who are enrolled half time or more (6 or more semester hours) to borrow money for educational expenses. Your eligibility will be reviewed for Federal Stafford Loan when you complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Should a student drop below 6 hours during the enrollment period, the lender is notified, and all remaining loan funds are canceled, when appropriate.
Every student who has a complete FAFSA will be offered a loan and will receive instructions on how to accept or deny the loan.
Federal Subsidized Loan
Subsidized means repayment on the borrowed amount (principle) is deferred and the interest on the loan is paid by the federal government while you are enrolled in school.
Federal Unsubsidized Loan
Unsubsidized means repayment on the borrowed amount (principle) is deferred while you are enrolled at least half time but you are responsible for paying the interest on the loan while you are in school; however, you can elect to postpone (capitalize) the interest payments while in school and the accrued interest will be added to your loan debt.
Federal Parent PLUS Loan
The parent PLUS loan is a loan for parents of dependent undergraduate students. Parents with a good credit history may receive PLUS loans. PLUS loan eligibility is not based on financial need, so these loans are made regardless of income level. PLUS repayment starts within 60 days after all loan funds are disbursed. Parents may use a PLUS loan to borrow the entire cost of attendance minus any other financial aid their child receives. The interest rate is variable, subject to change every July, but has a cap set by the government.
Grants
Federal Pell Grant
Students must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program and cannot have already earned a bachelor's degree. The Federal Pell Grant Scheduled Award is determined by the Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI) as calculated by the U.S. Department of Education through the financial aid application Process. Awards for part-time students (enrolled in fewer than 12 credit hours) are prorated based on the students' enrollment status. Your enrollment status for Pell Grant purposes is determined by the number of credit hours in which you are enrolled as of the end of the scheduled Drop/Add period for the term or the date you completed the Application Process, which ever is later:
- If you are enrolled full time (twelve or more credit hours), you receive your full eligibility for the term.
- If you are enrolled nine to eleven credit hours, you receive three-fourths of your eligibility for the term.
- If you are enrolled six to eight credit hours, you receive one-half of your eligibility for the term.
- If you are enrolled in fewer than six credit hours, you receive one-fourth of your eligibility for the term.
- A student cannot receive a Federal Pell Grant from more than one school for the same period of time.
- The Financial Aid Office must have received your electronic FAFSA from the U.S. Dept. of Ed. with a Pell eligible EFC or SAI before the end of your last term of attendance for the financial aid award year in order for you to be considered for the Federal Pell Grant.
A student may be eligible for PELL in the summer semester depending on their progress. Please check with the Financial Aid Office regarding eligibility.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are awarded to undergraduate students. Eligibility is based on Established Financial Need, and funding is limited to students with full Federal Pell Grant eligibility. FSEOG is awarded on an as available basis automatically to the students who completed their FAFSA early.
Federal Work Study
What is Federal Work Study?
The Federal Work Study Program provides jobs for undergraduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to each student's course of study.
How much will I make?
You'll earn at least the current federal minimum wage, but the amount might be higher. Your total Federal Work-Study award depends on when you apply, your level of need, and the funding level of your school.
Are Federal Work-Study jobs on campus or off campus?
Both. If you work on campus, you'll usually work in a job that is related to your course of study. If you work off campus, your employer will usually be a private nonprofit organization or a public agency, and the work performed must be in the public interest.
Can I work as many hours as I want?
No. The amount you earn can't exceed your total Federal Work-Study award. When assigning work hours, your supervisor will consider your class schedule and your academic progress.
Veterans
Veteran Benefits are processed through Veteran Affairs in the Building 600 suite 115.
State Aid
HOPE Scholarship and Zell Miller Scholarship
Georgia's HOPE Scholarship and Zell Miller Scholarship are available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarships provide money to assist students with a portion of the tuition cost at a HOPE Scholarship eligible college or university.
Georgia's HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships have program eligibility requirements, academic requirements, and a length of eligibility. Please visit www.gafutures.org for information about the application, program information, and requirements.
Note: Georgia public and private high school graduates can track their HOPE Scholarship status from high school graduation through 127 attempted hours of college credit in their GAfutures account at My High School HOPE GPA at www.gafutures.org.
