Financial Aid Office, Federal & State Financial Aid Programs
VSCC School Code for FAFSA is 009912

Volunteer State Community College | Student Services Division

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Federal & State Financial Aid Programs

VSCC FINANCIAL AID OFFICE
Office Hours - Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
230-3456 or 1-888-335-8722 ext. 3456
Fax Number - (615) 230-3487
email address: financialaid@volstate.edu

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is a federally funded program based on need as determined by FAFSA. The amount of the actual grant is based upon family contribution as determined by the federal government. You may apply for federal aid on line at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federally subsidized program, whereby direct gift aid is awarded to undergraduate students with the lowest EFC and as determined by the FAFSA. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are awarded as a part of the student financial award package.

Federal Stafford Loans

A Federal Stafford Loan is a variable low-interest loan made to students by a lender such as a bank, credit union or savings and loan association to help pay for their educational costs. These loans come in two types:

Subsidized

The government pays the interest while the student is in school, deferment, and grace period.

Unsubsidized

The student pays the interest while in school, deferment, and grace period.

Loan repayments begin six months after the student leaves school. The lender generally must allow students at least five years to repay their loan, and may allow up to ten years. Students are considered to have left school if their enrollment status falls below half-time (6 credit hours).

Annual Loan Limits Per Academic Year

• Freshman - $3,500.00
• Sophomore - $4,500.00

In order to apply for a student loan, you must first submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Federal PLUS Loan Program

The Federal PLUS Loan Program provides a source of loan funds to the parents of dependent undergraduate students. Plus borrowers are required to file the Free Federal Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA). Parents can borrow up to the cost of education minus other financial aid for the student. The interest rate on PLUS loans is at a variable rate not to exceed 9%. Repayment on both principal and interest begins within 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed. There is no grace period for these loans. Interest will begin to accumulate at the time the first disbursement is made.

Federal Work-Study Program

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is a federally funded program to provide funds for the employment of students who demonstrate need as determined by FAFSA. To participate in this program, students must be accepted for admission to VSCC and maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Students who qualify for the work-study program may be awarded up to 20 hours of work per week during the academic year and up to 37.5 hours of work per week during holiday or vacation periods. The average work load will be 10 hours or less per week and will be a part of their financial aid package.

Part-time employment is available on the campus in such areas as the library, laboratories, maintenance department, and faculty and administration offices.

Tennessee Student Assistance Awards

The Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA) Program was established by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1976. The purpose of the program is to provide non-repayable financial assistance to financially needy undergraduate students who are residents of Tennessee and are enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, at an eligible post secondary educational institution in Tennessee. Students must be enrolled at least half-time and complete a FAFSA application to be considered for the TSAA award.

Maximum award amounts are determined by the TSAC Board of Directors prior to the beginning of the fall term. No student will receive an award greater than the amount of tuition and mandatory fees assessed by the institution attended.

In order to apply for the state grant, you must complete a FAFSA application prior to March 1 for the upcoming fall term.

Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program

The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship program is intended to provide scholarship funds to offset costs associated with pursuing postsecondary education. The Lottery Scholarship program includes the HOPE Scholarship, Aspire Award, General Assembly Merit Scholarship, Tennessee Hope Access Grant and the Non-Traditional Hope Scholarship.

General eligibility requirements for each program include:

HOPE Scholarship

Applicants must submit a FAFSA, have an ACT Composite of at least 21 or a weighted high school GPA of at least 3.0 and graduate from a Tennessee High School OR have a GED score of at least 525 and an ACT Composite of at least 21. Home school students must have a 21 ACT Composite to be considered.

Aspire Award

Applicants must meet the general eligibility requirements for HOPE and the parents’ or independent student’s and spouse’s adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less on IRS tax form for the appropriate year.

General Assembly Merit Scholarship

Applicants must submit a FAFSA, have an ACT Composite of at least 29 and a minimum 3.75 weighted GPA. Home school students must meet these requires as well as complete 12 college credit hours (at least 4 courses) with a minimum 3.0 GPA at a Tennessee college or university while they are enrolled in the home school program.

Tennessee Hope Access Grant

Entering freshmen must complete a FAFSA, have a minimum weighted 2.75 high school GPA and 18 – 20 ACT composite. The parents’ or independent student’s and spouse’s adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less on IRS tax form for the appropriate year. This grant is non –renewable however the student can be eligible for the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship by meeting HOPE Scholarship renewal criteria.

Non-Traditional Hope Scholarship

Beginning with the Fall Semester 2005, a non-traditional student (age 25 years or older) who is an entering freshman may become eligible for a Tennessee HOPE Scholarship. In addition to the general HOPE Scholarship requirements, the non-traditional student must have an adjusted gross income that does not exceed $36,000 and attempt at least twenty-four semester hours achieving a 2.75 grade point average at the end of the semester in which the 24 hours are attempted, to be considered for a Tennessee HOPE Scholarship in subsequent semesters. The following rules also apply:

1. Student must apply for the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship using FAFSA
2. Maintains continuously enrollment in an eligible postsecondary institution as a full- or part-time student
3. Meets the applicable retention requirements
4. Maintains satisfactory progress in a course of study in accordance with the standards and practices used for federal Title IV programs at the postsecondary institution
5. Student must supply their income tax documents for the appropriate year.

Tennessee HOPE Scholarship Renewal Criteria

1. Eligibility shall be reviewed at the end of the semesters in which the student has attempted a total of 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 semester hours
2. Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 after 24 attempted semester hours
3. Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 after 48, 72, 96, and 120 attempted semester hours.
4. Must maintain the Academic Satisfactory Progress Standards

The Lottery Scholarship requirements are subject to change each July 1, pending legislative ruling.

Appeal Policy

If a student is deemed ineligible for TELS funding at Volunteer State Community College, they may appeal in writing to the Vice President for Student Services with documentation of their extenuating circumstances. The Vice President for Student Services will review the documentation and rule on the continuance of the TELS funding.

Student may appeal the Vice President for Student Services' ruling to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation's Executive Director for final ruling.

PC 191 Fee Waiver

Employees of any TBR or UT system schools are eligible to enroll in one credit class per term using the PC191 fee waiver. The eligible employee must complete a fee waiver application with their personnel office each semester. The fee waiver form should be forwarded to the VSCC Financial Aid Office prior to registration or no later than 10 days after the term begins.

TBR Employee Dependents (Children or Spouse Discount)

The dependent children (under the age of 26) or spouses of employees of TBR or UT schools are eligible to receive a 50% discount toward maintenance fees each semester. The eligible employee must complete and submit a new discount form for their dependent child or spouse each semester prior to registration or no later than 10 days after the term begins.

Public School Teacher/State Employee Dependent Discount

Dependent children (under the age of 24) of a certified public school teacher or a full-time State employee are eligible to receive a 25% discount toward maintenance fees each semester. The eligible employee must complete and submit a new discount form for their dependent child each semester prior to registration or no later than 10 days after the term begins.

State Employee Fee Waiver

Eligible employees of the Tennessee State Government may enroll in one class per term. This is called a fee waiver. The eligible state employees should obtain the necessary paperwork from their personnel office and forward it to VSCC prior to registration or no later than 10 days after the term begins.