Financial Aid Defined

1. Financial Aid Defined Debbie Springsguth

2. Finding Money for College • Federal student aid • State student aid • Student aid from colleges • Scholarships from other sources

3. What is financial aid? • Money to pay for college or career school • The money may come from a number of sources: • Federal Pell Grant • Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant • Federal Work-Study • Direct Stafford Loans • Parent PLUS Loans • College Savings Plan • State Grant Programs

4. Federal Grants • Pell Grants • Need-based grants awarded to students pursuing their first post-secondary degree. Eligibility/award amount is determined by the U.S. Department of Education. • Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants • Limited fund, campus-based grant program available to students who demonstrate high financial need and are Pell Grant recipients. The institution, within federal guidelines, determines amount of award.

5. State Grants • WI Higher Education Grant • The Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG) Program provides grant assistance to undergraduate, Wisconsin residents enrolled at least half-time in degree or certificate programs at University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College, and Tribal institutions. Awards are based on financial need. • Wisconsin Tribal / Indian Grants • Awards under this program are made to Wisconsin residents who are at least 25% Native American and are undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in degree or certificate in Wisconsin. • Awards are based on financial need with a limit of ten semesters of eligibility.

6. State Grants • Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program • The Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant provides grant assistance to the most financially needy and educationally disadvantaged Wisconsin resident students attending colleges and universities in the State of Wisconsin. First-time freshmen students are nominated for the TIP Grant by the school financial aid offices or by counselors of the Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs (WEOP). To continue to receive the TIP Grant, students must be enrolled consecutive terms and continue to show financial need.

7. State Grants • Wisconsin Hearing and Visually Handicapped Student Grant • A need based grant awarded to Wisconsin Undergraduate students who have a severe hearing or visual impairment. • Wisconsin Minority Retention Grant • Awards under this program are made to Wisconsin resident minority undergraduates, excluding first year students, enrolled at least half-time. According to the statutes, a minority student is defined as a student who is either an African American; American Indian; Hispanic; or Southeast Asian from Laos, Cambodia, or Vietnam admitted to the U. S. after December 31, 1975. Awards are based on financial need.

8. Other State Aid • Wisconsin Nursing Loan • The Wisconsin Nursing Loan provides loans to Wisconsin residents who are enrolled at least half-time at an eligible in-state institution that prepares them to be licensed as nurses, either RN or LPN. • The student who participates in this program must agree to be employed as a licensed nurse in Wisconsin. • For each of the first two years the student works as a nurse and meets the eligibility criteria, 25% of the loan is forgiven. • The balance remaining after forgiveness must be repaid at an interest rate of 5%. • If the student does not practice nursing and meet the eligibility criteria, the loan must be repaid at an interest rate of 5%. • If funds are available, eligible students will be contacted by the Financial Aid Department to apply for this loan.

9. Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarships • Academic Excellence Scholarships are awarded to Wisconsin high school seniors who have the highest grade point average in each public and private high school throughout the State of Wisconsin. • The number of scholarships each high school is eligible for is based on total student enrollment. • In order to receive a scholarship, a student must be enrolled on a full-time basis by September 30th of the academic year following the academic year in which he or she was designated as a scholar. • A total of $2250 is awarded, $1125 is funded by the state and $1125 is funded by WCTC. • Students awarded this scholarship by their high school will be asked by HEAB to notify them of what school they plan on attending. • HEAB will notify WCTC shortly before school starts and will add this scholarship to your award offer.

10. WCTC Foundation Scholarships • What are WCTC Foundation Scholarships? • These are scholarships that benefit students from almost every program area. There are also specialty scholarships that benefit students with disabilities, non-traditional students, minority students, and more. • You do not need to apply for financial aid to apply for WCTC Foundation Scholarships! However, a few scholarships have financial need as a criterion and if you wish to be considered for those you must apply for financial aid.

11. Veteran Benefits • Veteran's Education Benefits • Any student who served in the armed services of the United States, either regular services, Selected Reserves or National Guard may be eligible for some form of financial assistance. • Dependents of veterans may be eligible for benefits also.  This assistance may come in the form of the Federal GI Bill, Wisconsin state sponsored tuition grants or tuition remission.

12. Private Scholarship • Students are encouraged to apply for private scholarships. • Websites that help you find scholarships are: • www.fastweb.com • www.petersons.com • www.collegeboard.com