Finacial Aid--Adult & Community Education

Financial Aid

If you are planning to attend a course eligible for federal financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to have your financial need eligibility determined. FAFSA applications are available in the ACE Financial Aid Office, or you may complete and file your application online via the FAFSA website.

There are four types of Federal Financial Aid:

Pell Grant—Based on financial need and does not have to be repaid. The maximum grant award for 2011-2012 is $5,500. See application procedure to the right.

Subsidized Stafford Loan—Based on financial need and repayment begins six months after you leave school. Maximum amount is $3500.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loan—Not based on financial need, payment begins six months after you leave school. Maximum amount is $6000.
Note: Subsidized and unsubsidized loans may be combined for a total maximum of $9,500.

PLUS Loan—For parents of dependent students only. Not based on financial need, repayment begins while the student is still in school. Maximum amount may not exceed the total cost of attendance less any other aid to be received.

Go to studentloans.gov to complete and sign a Master Promissory Note, or complete entrance and exit counseling for a Direct Loan.

Parents, go to studentloans.gov to complete a Plus Loan Master Promissory Note.

In order to avoid delays in receiving financial assistance, please apply for financial aid as soon as you have made the decision to enroll. Federal financial aid is not available for short-term career enhancement courses.

Financial aid assistance is available for potential and currently enrolled full-time students in the Adult Workforce Education programs. Financial aid may cover part or all of the tuition and may be available through Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Workforce Investment Act, Bureau of Workers Compensation, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, Trade Adjustment Act, Veteran’s Administration, and employer based tuition assistance.

To receive aid from any of the federal student aid programs, you must meet all of the following criteria:

Demonstrate financial need, except for some loan programs.

Have a high school diploma, GED or home school certificate.

Be enrolled as a regular student working toward a certificate in an eligible program.

Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.

Have a valid Social Security Number.

Meet satisfactory academic progress standards set by the school.

Certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.

Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and that you do not owe money from a federal student grant.

Comply with the Selective Service registration, if required.

Not be incarcerated in a federal or state penal institution.

Not have been convicted under federal or state law for the sale or possession of drugs.

Other Sources of Assistance

Other sources of assistance may be available for some full-time programs.

Workforce Investment Act—Based on income and employment status, you may qualify for additional funding through the Workforce Investment Act program. Information about the WIA program is available (in person) through JOBLeaders at 1111 East Broad Street.

For More Information

Please call the Financial Aid office at 614-365-6000, extension 244 or stop by the Customer Services office at Adult and Community Education, 2323 Lexington Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43211 for detailed Financial Aid information sheets.

Federal Financial Aid Online Application Procedure (Pell Grant)

Apply for a PIN at www.fafsa.ed.gov, This will allow you to “sign” the FAFSA electronically, meaning the entire application process can be completed online.

Fill out the FAFSA by clicking the “Start Here” button and then complete each page of the form.

Use 015235 as the Title IV school code for Adult & Community Education courses. This will allow the school to electronically receive the results of your application.

Review your answers carefully and, if necessary, correct them before submitting your FAFSA.

Sign your application. You can electronically sign your application using your PIN, print a paper signature page and mail in, or wait for a signature page to arrive in the mail.

IMPORTANT:
Submit your application by selecting the “Submit My FAFSA Now” button on the last page of the form. You will be taken to a Confirmation Page that shows a confirmation number and estimated EFC. Print a copy of the Confirmation Page for your records.

FAFSA Verification:
Approximately 1 out of 3 students who submit a FAFSA are selected for an official review in a process called Federal Verification.

Incomplete or conflicting information on your FAFSA may lead to Verification, or your FAFSA record may be chosen at random.

If your FAFSA record is selected for Federal Verification, the Financial Aid Office will request signed copies of federal tax returns, a completed Verification form, and/or other financial documents from you (and your parents or spouse). We will then compare your financial documents to your FAFSA information and, if needed, we will adjust your FAFSA information.

Until we complete Verification, we can not process Federal Stafford Loans or Federal Pell Grants. Please respond quickly to prevent delays in processing your federal aid.

Financial Aid Websites
The following websites help students to find financial aid and apply for scholarships. They also inform the public about the resources available through both the state and U.S. government.
fafsa.ed.gov	Electronically submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
fastweb.com	Find college financial aid, conduct a scholarship search and find internships and jobs
scholarships.com	This website is the largest independent online source for free college scholarship searches. Find college scholarship money and financial aid. Their database allows students to search 2.7 million scholarships and grants worth over $19 billion in aid.
studentloans.gov	This website allows students to complete and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN), complete entrance and exit counseling for a direct loan, and allows parents to complete a PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note.
scholarsite.com	The site allows one to search for scholastic financial aid quickly and accurately, without losing time and privacy by entering personal information.
cspohio.org	Cleveland Scholarship Program. Provides educational opportunity through a broad range of financial aid and advisory programs. Provides overview of services, programs, and contact details.