Financial Aid

More than 80% of Georgia College & State University's undergraduate students receive financial aid
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Everyone can use a little help every now and then, especially paying for a college education. More than 80% of Georgia College & State University's undergraduate students receive financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, employment opportunities, and student loans. Come to the Financial Aid Office and let’s discuss your educational goals and how we can help you find the financial resources to reach them.

Financial Aid - Ask Thunder Virtual Advisor

 

 CODE OF CONDUCT CONSUMER INFORMATION GUIDE

 

Announcements

News

The GCSU Financial Aid application deadline in order to guarantee that applications are processed, and eligible financial aid is in place prior to the Fall 2024 balance being owed was July 1st. After this deadline, our office will continue to process applications and award aid as quickly as possible on a first come first serve basis.  Some students may have to utilize other resources to pay their Fall 2024 bills and then be reimbursed any eligible financial aid later in the semester once their financial aid eligibility has been determined.

Summer 2024 Hours

The Financial Aid Office is operating on a modified summer schedule through August 2, 2024 . Our office hours will be Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm and 8:00 am to 12:00 Noon on Friday.  During the weeks that there are holidays (Memorial Day, Juneteenth and Independence Day), our office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on all of the remaining days during those weeks.  

Nelnet Payment Plan

Georgia College & State University is aware of the financial burden of a college education.  In an effort to offer an alternative payment option, Georgia College & State University partners with Nelnet Business Solutions to offer our students and families a Tuition Payment Plan each semester.  This plan will allow students and families to avoid the traditional lump-sum payments and spread this payment into monthly payments.

The Nelnet Payment Plan option permits students and families to budget costs for tuition, fees, room and board that may not be covered by other financial aid.  The program is not a loan so there are no interest or finance charges, and there is no credit check.  The enrollment fee for this plan is a maximum of $75.00.  Monthly payments can be made from an automatic bank account draft or charged to a credit card.

For more details regarding the Tuition Payment Plan including enrollment deadlines and payment schedules, please click here.

If you have any questions regarding your award or difficulty accessing this information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.


Georgia College has completed the administering of the Federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF III) to eligible students.  Additional information can be found at:
Federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF)

  • The 2023-2024 Loan Interest Rates for Federal Direct Loans went into effect July 1, 2023.  Please see the "Loans" section using the link below for general information concerning loans along with current and previous interest rates:
    GENERAL LOAN INFORMATION AND INTEREST RATES
  •  In the December COVID 19 Relief legislation, Congress provided for new pathways to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for many students. Students who are eligible to participate in federal work-study programs or students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0 can qualify for SNAP under the new provisions. These students must contact their local Department of Human Services Division of Family & Children Services to begin this process. This change will last for the duration of the federal public health emergency. Your eligibility requirement may be verified by your local Department of Human Services Division of Family & Children Services. Please note that GC Financial Aid Administrators are not able to assist or answer any questions regarding this process.
  • REMINDER:  Only courses that are required for a student’s degree, major, or core courses can be eligible for Federal Student Aid. Courses used only to satisfy minor or undergraduate certificate requirements will not be used to determine your aid eligibility.  Your aid could be decreased if you are registered in courses not meeting these requirements. HOPE and Zell Miller are not impacted by this.  Course Program of Study FAQ
  • Visit Know More. Borrow Less. to learn more about the USG Chancellor's initiative to reduce student loan debt.
2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

You may have heard that the U.S. Department of Education made significant changes to the 2024-2025 FAFSA. These changes have resulted in delays by the U.S. Department of Education in fully processing 24-25 FAFSA files and sending them to colleges and universities.  Unfortunately, there have been some errors in the data files from the U.S. Department of Education and additional upgrades and testing have been required of our financial Aid systems. This is a nationwide issue that all colleges and universities are facing.  Due to these challenges at the US Department of Education, our need-based financial aid award packages have been delayed.

Georgia College & State University (like other colleges and universities across the country) is working diligently to test our systems, ensure data integrity, and will get award notices out to our students as soon as we can. We ask that you please remain patient during this process as we work with the U.S. Department of Education to expedite financial aid packaging. If you are only interested in applying for the HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarships, there is an alternative application to the FAFSA called the GSFApp. This application can be completed at GAfutures.org and is a one-time application that will carry over each year you are eligible for HOPE or Zell Miller.

The 2024-2025 FAFSA is open on studentaid.gov. The 2024-2025 FAFSA would be valid for Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025. Due to changes to the format of the FAFSA, some students and parents are unable to complete the FAFSA but should continue to check back on studentaid.gov as the Department of Education is working on addressing issues. GCSU adivses that students and parents pay very close attention to the questions being asked as corrections are not available until mid-March. GCSU will begin receiving FAFSAs mid-March and will process them as quickly as possible. The GCSU deadline for Fall 2024 to complete your FAFSA is July 1. More information on the FAFSA can be found in the How to Apply Tab. 

Update to PAWS

Students PAWS accounts have undergone an upgrade and some actions have now changed. Please see the below instructions for changes.

  • Your Bobcat DEN is now your Award Offer tab. This tab should have all of your award information.
  • In order to decline or adjust your loans, email financialaid@gcsu.edu from your Bobcat email. This is temporary and further instructions will be provided for the 2024-2025 aid year for this process. 
  • In order to find your Satisfactory Academic Progress hours and GPA, please email the financial aid office from your Bobcat email.
  • In order to find your Satisfactory Academic Progress hours and GPA, please email the financial aid office from your Bobcat email.

     
Summer Semester 2024

Georgia College Financial Aid Office does not require an additional application to obtain most financial aid for the summer semester.  The Financial Aid Office will automatically evaluate students’ eligibility who enroll for Summer Semester 2024 approximately March 20, 2024.  Students must have a complete 2023-2024 FAFSA and/or GSFAPPS on file in order to be reviewed for eligibility.  Students with complete files will be evaluated in the order in which they enroll in classes, with students who register first being evaluated first. No additional application is needed for summer term unless noted after the initial review for student loans. 
 

The Cost of Attendance on your online Offer Letter may not be reflective of your actual Cost of Attendance due to Summer having mini sessions.  Your calculated Summer Cost of Attendance will be reflective of your Summer enrollment and prorated based on you being enrolled one, two, or three months. The Cost of Attendance includes both direct and indirect costs.  Please contact your Financial Aid Advisor should you need additional details

Financial Aid Information

Sources available during Summer terms can possibly include:

  • HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships – for qualifying students
  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Stafford Loan (Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized)
  • Federal Work Study (FWS) - available in limited amounts

Federal Direct PLUS Loans – for Parents of Dependent Students and Graduate Students with approved credit decisions.  PLUS loan borrowers must complete an application for Summer term even if an application was completed for Fall and or Spring terms within the same aid year. Also, borrowers must complete an electronic master promissory note (MPN). The application and MPN can be completed at the Direct Loan website.  Applicants should be sure to complete the application for the current aid year and not the aid year that starts with Fall term.

  • Eligibility for aid will be based on data and supporting documents submitted for the 2023-2024 award year.  Summer Semester is the last term of the academic year.
  • Eligibility for Summer Aid is based on the enrolled hours at the time of the initial evaluation for the summer semester.  If you are initially enrolled less than half-time and then increase your enrollment status to at least half time (6 hours for undergraduate and 5 hours for graduate), please notify the Financial Aid Office via email at financialaid@gcsu.edu if you wish to pursue a Stafford or PLUS loan.
  • Pell Grant recipients that attended full-time for Fall and Spring semesters will qualify for Federal Pell Grant funds for the Summer term ONLY IF they are enrolled in 6 or more credit hours for Summer term.  Pell Grant award amounts may represent full-time enrollment eligibility, but actual disbursement will be adjusted according to actual hours enrolled.  Pell Grant recipients who did not attend full time Fall and Spring terms may have Pell Grant eligibility remaining for Summer terms.
  • Stafford loan borrowers that accepted and were disbursed their “annual loan limit” (based on class level) from the Subsidized/Unsubsidized programs will NOT qualify to receive additional funds for the summer semester.
  • HOPE Scholarship funds will be awarded based on the 2023-2024 year’s “per credit hour” rate which is $250.27 per credit hour.  Award may represent full eligibility, but actual disbursement will be adjusted according to actual hours enrolled as well as remaining attempted or paid hours allowed according to state regulations.
  • All HOPE and Zell Miller awards are preliminary until conclusive determination is made after Spring semester grade processing is completed approximately mid-May. Therefore, adjustments or cancellation of these awards may be necessary if recipients lose eligibility (i.e., GPA, 127 attempted or paid hours reached, etc.) and if already paid will become due immediately at the GCSU Business Office.
  • Students will be notified of their summer semester eligibility via their GCSU Bobcat email account with instructions for accessing the on-line offer letter via their PAWS account.  Please note that special messages regarding summer will appear at the top of the offer letter in green print.
  • Course Program of Study regulations state that only courses required for degree completion can be used to determine your aid eligibility for Federal financial aid programs such as loans, grants and work-study.  If a student is enrolled in courses not required for their degree, their financial aid will be adjusted accordingly and may owe a balance.
  • The Financial Aid Office reserves the right, on behalf of the college, to review and modify, including cancel, awards at any time because of changes in your academic status, academic program, resident status, enrollment status, etc.  All Financial Aid offers are contingent upon the availability of funds and the student’s eligibility at the time of disbursement.
  • “Actual” payments to student accounts for the Federal Loan Programs (Stafford and PLUS) will NOT be made until the start of the summer session that the student is enrolled at least half-time (6 hours for undergraduate and 5 hours for graduate).  Students may use the “authorized” payments of these loans to satisfy their bills at the Business Office and to charge purchases at the Barnes and Noble Georgia College Bookstore during designated dates.  However, students will NOT receive refunds (paper checks or direct deposit) for their credit balances of remaining aid after institutional charges are subtracted until “actual” payments are made.
  • Georgia College students who are planning on taking transient coursework with another institution and have been approved to do so by the Georgia College Registrar’s Office may qualify for financial aid.  Students are required to pay all costs at the host institution by the host institution's payment deadline and receive any aid eligibility through Georgia College as reimbursement.  If students are enrolled at GCSU and at a host institution, students may be required to pay out of pocket at Georgia College, if their enrollment at GCSU does not allow for disbursement of aid. 
  • HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship eligible students may receive HOPE/Zell Miller if attending an eligible institution.  HOPE/Zell Miller funds must be paid by the host institution. GCSU Financial Aid Office will send approved outgoing transient students a short questionnaire to complete via their bobcat email.  Once the questionnaire has been completed, GCSU Financial Aid will review student’s eligibility for HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarships and will notify the host institution of student’s eligibility.  The host institution may then award and disburse these funds based on their policies and the student's enrollment status.
  • In order for students to receive federal funds for transient coursework, a Consortium Agreement must be completed by the host institution.  Please note that some institutions will not participate in the consortium process which may cause student aid ineligibility. GCSU Financial Aid will review the courses enrolled at the host institution to determine aid eligibility based on courses required for the student’s degree program at GCSU and aid eligibility will be disbursed accordingly.
  • Please note that changes to your enrollment after you have been reviewed for financial aid eligibility, may result in funds having to be paid back to the Georgia College Business Office. 







     

 

HOPE Scholarship 2023-2024 and 2024-2025

Important update for HOPE Scholarship recipients for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025: At GCSU, the eligibility amount for the HOPE Scholarship will be $250.27 per credit hour. Students who are eligible for the HOPE Scholarship and are enrolled in 15 credit hours or more per semester will receive the HOPE Scholarship in the amount of their full tuition amount of $3754. Students who are eligible for the HOPE Scholarship and are enrolled in 14 credit hours or less per semester will need to take $250.27 and multiply the number of hours enrolled to determine how much they will receive in the HOPE Scholarship. Please see 4 examples below and contact our office if any questions.
 

15 credit hours x 250.27 = $3754                               
14 credit hours x 250.57 = $3503.78                         
13 credit hours x 250.27 = $3253.51                       
12 credit hours x 250.27 = $3003.24
 

FAFSA

Apply for Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the federal application that will allow GCSU's Financial Aid Office to review you for any federal grants, loans, work-study programs, and even state scholarships such as the HOPE/Zell Miller.

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GSFAPPS

Apply for HOPE

​The GSFAPPS is the alternative application for students to apply for the HOPE and/or Zell Miller scholarships only. It is completed via Georgia Student Finance Commission's website. You must create an account on this website to be able to access the application.

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