Financial Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grants

The Pell Grant Program provides direct federal grants to undergraduate students who require financial assistance to meet educational expenses. The non-repayable awards are available to eligible students attending approved colleges and universities, vocational-technical schools, hospital schools of nursing, and other appproved postsecondary educational institutions. Awards to full time students for the 2002-03 academic year will range from $400 to $4,300.

To apply for a Pell Grant, the student and/or parents should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In a few weeks, the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) which will indicate whether or not the student is eligible for a Pell Grant. For other aid consideration, the student should forward the SAR to the postsecondary institution to be attended where the exact award will be determined.

West Virginia Higher Education Grant

Through this program grants are awarded (within limits of available funds) to qualified West Virginia undergraduate students who require financial assistance to attend approved public and private institutions of higher education. The amount of these grants fluctuates according to college choice. During 2002-03, the maximum grants at in-state public colleges and universities ranged from $350 to $2,278; awards at out-of-state colleges and universities are limited to $600, while the maximum awards at in-state private educational institutions are $2,718.

Students seeking grant assistance must complete both the Common Application for State Level Financial Aid and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To ensure full consideration, the FAFSA must be received by the Federal Student Aid Programs on or before March 1.

Federal College Work-Study Program

The Federal College Work-Study Program provides jobs for undergraduates and graduate students who need financial aid. It gives students a chance to earn a part of their educational expenses. The institutional aid office may assign recipients to employment on campus or with non-profit public and private agencies. Eligibility for work-study assistance and the amount each student may earn under this program is determined by the aid officer. A participant will be paid at least the current Federal minimum wage.

Federal Perkins Loan Program

This program provides students with five percent loans for educational expenses. Students who qualify may borrow $3,000 for each year of undergraduate study. Graduate and professional students can accumulate loan amounts up to $30,000. The financial aid officer is responsible for determining which students demonstrate need and the amount of the loan. Repayment begins nine months after leaving college and may extend over a ten-year period. To qualify for a loan, a student must demonstrate exceptional financial need and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

Eligible students may qualify for up to $4,000 per year in non-repayable grant assistance through the SEOG program. SEOG awards must be directed toward students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Graduate students are not eligible. The institutional financial aid officer determines those students who demonstrate the necessary eligibility requirements and identifies the amount each recipient will receive.

Federal Family Education Loan/Federal Direct Student Loan Programs

Eligible students may obtain these loans at a variable rate of interest not to exceed 8.25 percent from participating lending institutions such as banks, credit unions and savings and loan associations or directly through the college/university they attend. In West Virginia , the Federal Family Education Loan Program is administered by the West Virginia Education Loan Services, Incorporated. The Federal Direct Student Loan Program is administered by the college/university the student attends. For both programs the maximum loan for a dependent undergraduate is: $2,625 for entering freshmen, $3,500 for sophomores, and $5,500 for juniors and seniors. The total FFEL/FDSL debt a borrower can have outstanding as a dependent undergraduate is $23,000. The Federal Family Education Loan/Federal Direct Loan limits are $18,500 per year for graduate students. At least $10,000 of the amount must be in an unsubsidized loan. The cumulative subsidized ceiling is $65,500, including any loans made at the undergraduate level.

Students filing for the loan through their college/university must submit the FAFSA. Students applying for the loan through a lending agency must complete the FAFSA and the FFEL application.

Links to Financial Aid Sites

FinAid Page
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Postsecondary Education
FASTWEB Scholarship Search

 


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