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SCF Bradenton – Building 1

AskFinAid@SCF.edu

941-752-5037

SCF Venice – Building 100

AskFinAid@SCF.edu

941-752-5037

Hours of Operation

  • Bradenton Campus
    Monday and Tuesday
    8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
    Wednesday thru Friday
    8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Venice Campus
    Monday thru Friday
    8:00 a.m. – 4:30 pm

You may view your current financial aid status through your MySCF portal.

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Home Paying for College Financial Aid

Financial Aid


College is a significant investment, and the value of a State College of Florida education is unmatched. The amount you can spend is influenced by your personal financial situation. At SCF, we’re here to help students and their families who demonstrate financial need or possess academic or special talents. Our goal is to provide opportunities for students to achieve success in higher education through various forms of financial assistance, including grants, scholarships, loans, and part-time employment.

Important Dates for Spring 2024

DateDescription
April 3, 2023Registration begins for Spring classes.
OngoingFinancial Aid determines Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) from Spring 2024. Changes to a SAP status may impact a student’s financial aid eligibility for future semesters.
January 2, 2024Financial Aid bookstore authorizations for the full semester begins.
January 8, 2024Classes begin
January 19, 2024Financial Aid bookstore authorizations for the full semester ends.
February 2, 2024Financial Aid refunds will begin to be made available. Please visit the cashiering website for more information concerning refunds.

Additional Bookstore Dates

Flex StartsBookstore Authorization
Flex A2/5/2024-2/23/2024
Flex B3/4/2024-3/22/2024

Disbursement of Aid

Students will not receive all of their refund in one disbursement, if either of the following applies:

  1. One or more of their registered courses have not officially started prior to disbursement of aid.
  2. Student has a one semester loan. Loans must be disbursed in two payments per Department of Education regulations. The second disbursement will be made after the midpoint of the semester.

Reminder: Students must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) at time of disbursement to remain eligible for Direct Loans.


Where do I Begin?

Applying for Financial Aid

The first decision most of us make in college is about your need for financial aid. To apply for financial aid, we have created a step-by-step checklist to help you through this application process. It is designed to help you proceed through the proper steps.

To apply for federal financial aid, you need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The information you provide determines whether you qualify for federal and state grants and federal loans based on financial need.

You should apply for admission to State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) to be considered for Financial Aid. To qualify for financial aid, you must be a degree-seeking student. You must submit all academic transcripts from prior schools attended and allow time for evaluation.

We strongly encourage students to file their FAFSA application as early as possible. You will need the College’s Federal school code 001504 in your FAFSA application. 

  1. Create an FSA ID

    The FSA ID is your electronic signature for federal student aid and will give you access to your online records with the U.S. Department of Education. Your will be asked to create a username from 6 to 30 characters long. Choose a username that you can remember but make it difficult for others to guess. It can be any combination of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters. You will be asked to create a password. If you are a dependent student, your parents must also apply for an FSA ID. Only the owner of the FSA ID should create and use their account. Never share your FSA ID! You may also request a duplicate FSA ID or change your FSA ID on this website. If you already have a Federal Student Aid PIN, you will be able to enter it and link it to your FSA ID. You can still create an FSA ID if you have forgotten or do not have a PIN.

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

    This is your application for financial aid at SCF. The school code for SCF is 001504. Be sure to apply as early as you can for Priority consideration is given to students who apply by May 1st.

  3. Check your FAFSA

    Results After you have submitted your FAFSA the Student Aid Report (SAR) will be available in 35 business days. Be sure to read the COMMENT section carefully. Follow all directions on the SAR to submit corrections or additional information. You will need your FSA ID if you need to make corrections.

  4. Apply to SCF

    You can apply online to SCF and pay the application fee. After the application is completed you can then submit additional documents that are required: High school transcripts, residency documents, and official transcripts from other colleges.

  5. Review SCF Requirements

    Your financial need determines your eligibility for financial aid. Students must be degree seeking in A.A., A.S., Bachelor’s degree or financial aid eligible certificate program. All students must have a high school diploma or GED certificate. Most financial aid programs require at least half-time enrollment (6-8 credits per term). Full time student = 12+ credits per term. Three-quarter time student = 9-11 credits per term. If you attend less than full-time during any term, your Cost of Attendance and financial aid award amounts will be adjusted. This could result in a reduction or removal of loans or other financial aid.

  6. Check your Financial Aid Status and SCF student email regularly

    Login to your SCF email to check on the status of your financial aid. It is very important to check your student email for important communications regarding your financial aid. All Official Communications From Scf Financial Aid Are Only Sent To Your Scf Email.

  7. Apply for funds you do not have to repay

    Scholarships Scholarships are provided through the SCF Foundation, corporations and private donors. They require a completion of an application. Some may require an essay or a letter of recommendation, but do not let that stop you from applying. Grants Grants are awarded by federal, state and institutional sources and do not have to be paid back. Grants are based on financial need and require that you complete a FAFSA. Applications submitted by May 1 are given priority consideration for many types of aid. Student Employment Students that are interested in employment should check at the Career Resource Center to determine job availability college-wide. You must meet and maintain institution requirements. Apply early for limited positions.

  8. Determine if student loans are necessary

    Student loans must be repaid! If you do not need to borrow student loans, do not take on un-necessary debt. If you do need to borrow, only borrow what you need to cover your education. Smart loan choices today = financial freedom tomorrow. Loan awards may be reduced, even after disbursed which can create a debt to SCF if eligibility requirements are not maintained and/or a student’s Cost of Attendance is exceeded. If a student has received any financial aid, including but not limited to student loans, they must inform the financial aid office of such aid received as it may impact award eligibility at SCF. Failure to do so may cause an award to be reduced unexpectedly when the over award is identified.

    All loans are disbursed in two payments. This is also true if you are only enrolled in Fall or Spring term only. The second installment is delivered at the midpoint of your loan period.
    Per Federal regulations, first-time, first-year Stafford borrowers cannot receive disbursements until 30 calendar days after the first day of class in their first term of enrollment. IF you are a first-time Stafford Loan borrower, you must complete Loan Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note.

    SCF provides additional resources to help you understand your loans and student journey. This FREE, easy-to-use loan management and planning tool can help you learn how to afford to finish your education. GradReady is a great tool to learn how to balance your school, life, and finances.


Eligibility 

To be eligible to receive federal student aid, you must:

  • Be a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States.
  • Have a valid Social Security Number. (Students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are exempt from this requirement.)
  • Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed homeschooling.
  • Be enrolled in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or eligible certificate.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
  • Not owe a refund on a federal student grant or be in default on a federal student loan.
  • Register (or already be registered) with the Selective Service System, if you are a male and not currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. (Students from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau are exempt from registering; see https://www.sss.gov for more information.)
  • Not have a conviction for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, work-study, or loans). If you have such a conviction, you must complete the Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet to determine if you are eligible for aid or partially eligible for aid.

Other conditions affecting eligibility:

  • Must demonstrate financial need for certain programs
    • Federal Pell Grant
    • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
    • Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
    • Federal College Work Study Program
  • Once you have a bachelor’s degree or a first professional degree, students no longer qualify for:
    • Federal Pell Grant
    • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

Other requirements may apply. Please contact Financial Aid for more information.

Additional Information

  • Federal aid is available for up to 30 remedial credits. Once a student attempts 30 remedial credits, federal aid will be awarded for college-level credits only.
  • Official transcripts from all prior schools must be received and evaluated by SCF before you are eligible to receive financial assistance. In order to be degree-seeking at SCF, you must have a high school diploma or GED.

Receiving Funds and Refunds 

It is the student’s responsibility to understand the attendance policies of all courses they are enrolled in. See disbursement dates for each term.

Tuition and Fees

SCF deducts tuition and fees from your financial aid award directly. If your award is less than the cost of tuition and fees, you must pay the difference by the tuition due date. For more information on Tuition, fees and payment options visit the Tuition page.

How Remaining Funds are Applied 

Any remaining credit balances after tuition and fees and books are paid, refunds are disbursed to SCF students according to your refund preference selection. BankMobile and SCF have partnered together to make this an easy process. For more information see Refunds. 

Loan Disbursements

All loans are disbursed in two payments, even if you are enrolled in Fall term or Spring term only. The second installment is delivered at the midpoint of your loan period.

Student Employment Pay

Students working through student employment programs receive checks bi-weekly through their supervisor or directly deposited into their bank accounts. See Student Employment.

Please note: If you are a financial aid recipient and you are thinking about dropping your classes or withdrawing from the College, please consult a FINANCIAL AID COUNSELOR before hand to discuss the status of your financial aid. 

SCF students receive a 100 percent refund on all tuition and fees for classes dropped prior to or during the add/drop period for each term. Any refunds will first be credited to any financial assistance received. 

SCF’s tuition refund policy is separate from the federal requirement to return unearned aid when a student withdraws. Whether or not the student receives a tuition refund has no bearing on the amount the student may be required to repay under the Return of Title IV Funds requirement. 


Financial Aid Policies & Procedures

It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the policies listed below.

 

To receive funds administered by the Financial Aid Office at the State College of Florida, Federal Regulations require that students must be making progress toward completion of an eligible degree or certificate program at a reasonable rate.

All three of the following cumulative requirements must be met each term, or the student will not be eligible for financial aid:

  • Minimum Cumulative Financial Aid GPA (Financial Aid GPA is a cumulative GPA of all courses on your transcript, including remedial coursework. This is not the same as the academic GPA.)
  • Completion Ratio (Pace)
  • Maximum Time Frame.

These standards for satisfactory academic progress reflect any student who is receiving financial aid and working toward a degree or certificate. For more information about the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) please visit the SCF Policies, Procedures and Rules and reference Rule 6HX14.406, Procedure 4.06.01.

This policy applies to any federal aid recipient who withdraws from all courses prior to completing more than 60% of the enrollment period (fall, spring or summer semester) for which they received federal Title IV funds. The term “Title IV funds” refers to the following federal financial aid programs offered at the College:  Federal Pell Grants, Federal Direct Stafford Loans – Subsidized and Unsubsidized, Federal PLUS loans and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).

The Return of Title IV Funds policy mandates that students who officially or unofficially withdraw from all classes may only keep the financial aid they have “earned” up to the time of withdrawal. State and institutional programs require similar treatment. Financial aid funds that were disbursed in excess of the amount “earned” must be repaid.

If a disbursement has already been made to you, it is the Student’s responsibility to repay all funds due. The amount of federal aid that you must repay is determined via the Federal Formula for Return of Title IV funds (Section 484B of the Higher Education Act). This law also specifies the order in which funds are to be returned to the financial aid programs from which they were awarded.  Funds are returned in the following order: Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans, Subsidized Direct Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant and FSEOG. The difference between the amount of aid disbursed and the amount of aid earned will be used to calculate how much you must repay.

Students who wish to withdraw should follow SCF’s official withdrawal process. Students receiving federal funds may be required to repay aid determined to be “unearned.” The earned/unearned calculation is based on the percentage of days the student attended during the term in which they withdrew. The amount of aid the student has earned is determined on a prorated basis. That is, if the student completed 30 percent of the term, the student earns 30 percent of the aid received. Once the student has completed 60% of the term, the student is considered to have earned all of their aid.

The difference between the earned federal aid and total aid received equals the amount of “unearned” federal funds. Unearned federal funds are subject to repayment. Federal regulations require Title IV aid to be refunded in the following order:

  1. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan
  2. Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan
  3. Federal PLUS Loan
  4. Federal Pell Grant
  5. Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant
  6. Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant

If the student does not receive a passing grade at the end of the term, the Return of Title IV (R2T4) Funds calculation will be done after grades are posted for the term and it will be assumed the student unofficially withdrew at the 50 percent point of that term. Unless the class participation is available.

Any loans funds the student must return, the student (or their parents for a PLUS Loan) may repay in accordance with the terms of their promissory note(s).  For grants, the law requires the student return 50 percent of any grant funds they receive. Any amount the student is required to return is a grant overpayment. SCF will repay any grant overpayment to the applicable federal program on the student’s behalf and the student will be billed by SCF for any funds returned on their behalf.

SCF will notify the student when an R2T4 calculation is performed due to either an official or unofficial withdrawal and the student may be billed for any outstanding obligations by the student failing to earn Title IV funds, for which Federal funds were disbursed. Students are not eligible for further aid until all repayments have been made.

Questions regarding the process for withdrawing should be addressed to the Office of the Registrar.

Questions regarding refunds and/or repayments should be addressed to the Financial Aid Services office.

If you stop attending all classes during a semester and do not go through the College’s withdrawal process, you are treated as an “unofficial withdrawal.”  If you unofficially withdraw, or your academic transcript reflects unsuccessful completion of all courses, SCF will calculate your aid based on a last date of attendance.  The last date of attendance is determined by documentation of an academic–related activity, including notification from the faculty.  If there is no last date of attendance recorded, SCF will recalculate based on 50% of the term.

At the end of each semester, the College identifies all students who did not pass at least one class. Information from instructors and departments will be used to document your last date of attendance. Using that information, you will be reviewed under the Return of Title IV Funds calculation. This date will also be reported to NSLDS and your enrollment status will be updated.

Financial aid applications selected for “Verification” by the US Department of Education (DOE). Are required is a process to confirm the accuracy of the information supplied by the applicant and/or parent(s) on the Free Application for Federal Student aid (FAFSA). State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) must also resolve discrepancies on students’ financial aid applications.

If your file is selected for the verification process, or if there are discrepancies on your application information, certain information must be proven. This includes household size and number in college, taxable and non-taxable income, asset information, etc. If your FAFSA is selected for verification at any point in the process, you will be required to complete and provide a Verification Worksheet and, at a minimum, your signed federal tax returns (for those required to file) to the Financial Aid Service Office before aid can be processed or disbursed. We will notify you of your outstanding requirements on MySCF.

Follow the instructions on the Verification Worksheet very carefully, as failure to submit all required documents will cause processing delays. Make sure your SCF student Id number is on all copies of all documents you submit to the Financial Aid Services Office.

If you are a dependent student you will also be required to submit a signed copy of your parent(s) federal tax returns.

If you are an independent student and you are married, you will also be required to submit a copy of your spouses signed federal tax returns if you filed separately.

The Financial Aid Services Office has the right to request additional information in order to complete the verification process. The required verification forms may be downloaded from the Financial Aid Forms section of this Web site and through MySCF. Only submit the verification worksheet if requested.

If your tax information, or information provided on the verification worksheet, differs from the information you provided on your FAFSA application, a correction will be sent to the Central Processor. The Processor will send a corrected SAR to you and corrected information to the College. The correction may result in a change to your award(s). If so, the award(s) will be adjusted accordingly. Stafford Loans cannot be processed, nor can any grant funds be disbursed, until the verification requirements are satisfied and the process is complete.

If the amount or type of aid changes, you will receive a revised notification via MySCF.

Financial aid administrators have, under the law (section 479A of the Higher Education Act), the ability to make adjustments on the basis of adequate documentation, and on a case-by-case basis, to address circumstances not reflected in a student’s original Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Professional judgment will be exercised upon presentation of proper documentation in the cases listed below, a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be recomputed using the new information. The circumstances in which professional judgment may be used are:

  • divorce or separation of student or parent;
  • death of parent or student’s spouse;
  • permanent disability of a wage earner;
  • permanent retirement of a wage earner;
  • change in employment status (i.e., new job pays materially less);
  • unemployment of a wage earner; or
  • permanent loss of untaxed income or benefits

Professional judgment will not be exercised for any reason other than those listed above without the approval of the Director and/or Coordinator of Financial Aid Services.

If you believe you meet one of the circumstances above applies to you, and you are not already eligible to receive the full Pell Grant award for the aid year in question, please contact the Financial Aid Services Office on the Bradenton or Venice campuses.

There are situations where students and/or parents willfully falsify or misrepresent information for the purpose of obtaining financial aid that a student is not eligible for. As administrators of Title IV programs and funds, the College is obligated to ensure processes are in place to protect against fraud by applicants or staff.  The Financial Aid Services Office is required to have a policy of referral when confronted with actual or suspected cases of fraud and abuse [34 CFR 668.53(a)(5), 668.14(g)].

Policy for Fraud

Individuals who willfully submit fraudulent information and/or documentation to obtain financial aid funds will be investigated to the fullest extent possible. All cases of fraud and abuse will be reported to the proper authorities.

Procedures for Fraud

If a financial aid officer suspects or determines intentional misrepresentation of facts, false statements, or alteration of documents which resulted or could result in the awarding or disbursement of funds for which the student is not eligible, the information shall be reported to the Director of Financial Aid Services for further review and possible disciplinary action. If the Director determines or suspects fraud, all information will be forwarded to the Vice President of Educational and Student Services, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Education, and/or the local law enforcement agency. Note: The regulations require only that the College refer the suspected case for investigation, not that we reach a firm conclusion about the propriety of the conduct.

The Financial Aid Services Office must identify and resolve discrepancies in the information received from different sources with respect to a student’s application for Title IV aid. These items include, but are not limited to:

  • Student aid applications
  • Need analysis documents (e.g., Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) and Student Aid Reports (SARs))
  • Federal income tax returns
  • Documents and information related to a student’s citizenship
  • School credentials (high school diploma)
  • Documentation of the student’s Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Compliance with the Selective Service registration requirement and other factors related to students’ eligibility for Title IV funds

Some forms of financial aid fraud include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Forged signatures on an application, verification documentation or master promissory notes
  • Falsified documents – including reporting members that are not part of your household
  • False statements of income
  • False statements of citizenship
  • Use of fictitious names, addresses, SSN
  • False claims of independent status

Cases of fraud will be reported to the Office of Inspector General:

Inspector General’s Hotline: 1-800-MIS-USED
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline

Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1510

Florida Dept. of Education

Students unable to resolve a conflict at the campus level may submit their concern to the State of Florida Department of Education. Click Here

The classes that you are enrolled in as of the census date will determine the amount of grant funding you will receive. If you increase your enrollment level after the census date. your grant will not be increased. If you decrease your enrollment level after the census date, your grant will not be reduced. If you drop all courses, we are required to reduce your federal aid based on the percentage of the semester that you have completed.

Students are not allowed to receive financial assistance for classes which they were reported as a NO SHOW. The student’s financial assistance will be adjusted based on the enrollment status. This applies to online classes as well as regular in classroom classes.

If you have a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, or work study) you will receive a worksheet in the mail with your SAR (Student Aid Report). You can use the worksheet to determine whether the conviction affects your eligibility for federal student aid

The Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group is where individuals can turn after trying other ways to resolve a federal student aid dispute. For more information, please click here.


Net Price Calculator

This calculator is intended to provide estimated net price information (defined as estimated cost of attendance – including tuition and required fees, books and supplies, room and board (meals), and other related expenses – minus estimated grant and scholarship aid) to current and prospective students and their families based on what similar students paid in a previous year.