The Financial Aid Office administers student financial aid programs, which provide financial assistance for students who, without such aid, would be unable to attend Central Alabama Community College. Financial aid is designed to assist in the financing of the student’s educational expenses. Eligibility for assistance is based primarily on financial need. Need may be defined as the difference between the total cost of education (expenses such as, but not limited to, tuition, fees, housing, food, room, board, books, supplies – see https://www.cacc.edu/coa/) and the amount which the student and the student’s family can afford to pay as determined by the U.S. Department of Education Federal Methodology Calculation using the data on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA application is found online at www.studentaid.gov. Central Alabama Community College's Federal School Code is 001007 for all campus locations. Financial aid workshops are offered at area high schools and at Central Alabama Community College locations each year to assist students and parents in understanding financial aid options. Priority deadline dates to ensure processing of financial aid are as follows: fall semester June 1, spring semester November 1, and summer semester March 1.
Central Alabama Community College is approved to participate in the following programs: Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Federal Student Loans, Federal Parent PLUS Loans, Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Community Service College Work-Study, Alabama Student Assistance Program Grant (ASAP), Special Rule Pell Grant (formerly the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) and the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship, Vocational Rehabilitation, Workforce Investment Act, and Trade Adjustment Act.
In addition to the above listed programs, Central Alabama also participates in institutional scholarships, privately sponsored scholarships, and benefits for veterans and dependents of veterans.
A brief overview of the basic programs administered by the Financial Aid Office is as follows:
Federal Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants are offered to eligible students who need money to pay for their education after high school. A Pell Grant is not a loan and does not have to be paid back as long as all requirements are being met. The offer of a Pell Grant is calculated using the U.S. Department of Education Federal Methodology Calculation. The offer is dependent upon the student’s, and/or family of the student’s, financial circumstances, the student’s cost of attendance, and the student’s enrollment intensity of financial aid eligible credit hours each term. To be considered for a Pell Grant, a student must be an undergraduate student who does not already have a bachelor’s degree. Application is made directly to the U.S. Department of Education by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov. Pell Grants are not automatically renewed from one academic year to the next. Therefore, all Pell Grant recipients must reapply each year. In accordance with federal regulations, a student will only be eligible to receive 12 full-time semesters of Pell Grant funding during the student’s lifetime. For more information about Pell Grants, contact the Financial Aid Office.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
FSEOG program is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Pell Grant recipients with the lowest student aid index (SAI) calculation from the FAFSA will be considered first for a FSEOG. Just like Pell Grants, the FSEOG does not have to be repaid as long as all requirements are being met. To receive a FSEOG, a student must be an undergraduate student who does not already have a bachelor’s degree. Financial need is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.studentaid.gov). Students need only to complete the FAFSA and any required documents to receive consideration. Since funds are limited, not all eligible students will receive this grant. For additional information about the FSEOG grant, contact the Financial Aid Office.
Federal Student Loans
The U.S. Department of Education administers the Direct Loan program. Subsidized loans are offered on the basis of financial need. Interest is deferred prior to repayment beginning and during authorized periods of deferment. Unsubsidized loans are not offered on the basis of need. Interest is charged from the date the loan is disbursed until the loan is paid. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of six financial aid eligible credit hours in an eligible program. Parents can borrow a Federal Parent PLUS loan to help pay the educational expenses of their dependent undergraduate student who is enrolled in a minimum of six financial aid eligible credit hours in an eligible program. Parents must have an acceptable credit history to receive a Federal Parent PLUS loan.
Interested students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.studentaid.gov) and complete any required documents before receiving consideration for a Federal Direct Loan. Central Alabama offers to students who meet eligibility requirements a Direct Loan at the federal base limit. Students who need to borrow additional funds up to the academic year level and have remaining eligibility may complete a Direct Loan Additional Request Form online at www.cacc.edu on the financial aid webpage, financial aid forms for the appropriate aid year. Borrowers at Central Alabama Community College (Central Alabama) are required to complete loan entrance counseling, a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and, if required by CACC or the U.S. Department of Education, Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (ASLA) at www.studentaid.gov prior to disbursement. Funds are sent directly to Central Alabama and posted to the student’s account. Balances due to the student will be disbursed by the Central Alabama Community College Business Office after all institutional charges have been paid. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of six financial aid eligible credit hours to be considered for loans. Federal student loan disbursement is based on a student's enrollment intensity and is subject to the U.S. Department of Education's Schedule of Reduction (SOR) guidelines and requirements.
Central Alabama Community College, per federal regulation requirements in HEOA 489 amended HEA Section 485B, will submit Federal Direct Student and Parent Plus Loans to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). NSLDS is accessible by authorized agencies, lenders, and institutions.
Federal Work-Study
Federal Work-Study is part-time employment on and off campus. It allows students to earn a portion of the money which is needed to finance their education. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.studentaid.gov), any required documents, and a Central Alabama Community College Federal Work-Study Application to receive consideration. For more information about Federal Work- Study, contact the Financial Aid Office.
Special Rule Pell Grant in HEA Section 401(c)
The FAFSA Simplification Act changed eligibility for what were formally called “Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant” (IASG) and “Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act (CFH).” Beginning with the 2024-2025 award year, students who meet the eligibility requirements for Pell Grants under the “Special Rule” in HEA Section 401(c) will receive a maximum Pell Grant Award, regardless of their calculated SAI. To receive a Pell Grant based on eligibility under the Special Rule, a student must be: the child of a parent or guardian who died in the line of duty while either (a) serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001; or (b) actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer (generally includes a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employee, Emergency Management Civil Defense Agency employee, Chaplin, others defined in Section 1204 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Acts of 1968) and less than 33 years old as of January 1, prior to award year for which the applicant is applying (e.g., for the 2024-2025 award year, a student must be less than 33 years old as of January 1, 2024, to be eligible.) Student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov and any required documents to confirm eligibility. For more information concerning the Special Rule Pell Grant, contact the Financial Aid Office.
Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP)
The Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP) is a state aid program that provides financial assistance to Alabama residents for postsecondary education at participating colleges within the State of Alabama. Students make application by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.fafsa.gov or www.studentaid.gov), and any required documentation to be considered. To be eligible, students must have demonstrated financial need. The student must be enrolled in at least six financial aid eligible credit hours each semester to receive consideration for this grant. Since funds are limited, not all eligible students will receive this grant. For more information concerning the ASAP program, contact the Financial Aid Office.