STUDENT FINANCIAL AID
http://www.ncat.edu/~finaid/


Through the Student Financial Aid Program, the University makes every effort to assure that no qualified student will be denied the opportunity to attend because of a lack of funds. Students who demonstrate financial need and have the potential for success in the University may obtain assistance to meet their expenses depending upon available funds. Financial aid is awarded without regard to a student’s race, religion, color, national origin, gender, or disability. The University provides financial aid for students from four basic sources: grants, scholarships, loans, and employment.


The University student aid funds are administered in conjunction with a nationally established policy and philosophy of financial aid for education. The basis of this philosophy is the belief that parents are the primary and responsible resource for helping to meet educational costs, and student financial aid is available for filling the gap between the student’s resources and expenses.


The amount of the contribution expected from parents is related to consideration of a family’s net income, number of dependents, number in college and other financial information. The federal methodology is used to determine the student’s and parents’ expected family contribution (EFC). In order to be considered for federal, state and some institutional and private assistance, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are encouraged to apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.


The University utilizes the “packaging concept” of financial aid. Students who apply early with great need may expect assistance through a variety of sources, which may include loans, employment, scholarship and/or grants.


Typical Sources of Financial Aid


Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Federal Work-Study Programs
State Tuition Grant (Need Based)
Federal Perkins Loan
Campus Base Grant
Federal Direct Student Loans
Federal Direct Parent Loans to Undergraduate Students (PLUS)


Detailed information pertaining to federal and state programs may be found on the web at www.ncat.edu.


The University offers several types of Departmental and Institutional Scholarships. The majority of these scholarships are administered within the academic and athletic departments. Students interested in these scholarships should contact the academic departments or coach.


A student seeking consideration for financial assistance must complete the following steps:

  1. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to the Federal processor.

  2. Submit copies of income information or other documents, if selected for verification or information is requested, to the Student Financial Aid Office.

A student who completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid will be considered for all financial assistance at the University for which he/she is eligible provided funding is available. The priority deadline to have a completed application on file in the Student Financial Aid Office in order to receive consideration for assistance for any award year is March 15. Students must re-apply each year; financial aid is not an automatic process. A separate application must be completed for summer sessions.


Entering Students. A student entering the University as a freshman, transfer, graduate, or former student should apply for financial aid immediately after January 1 of any academic year. An award will not be made until a student is admitted to the University. Therefore, it is important that the admission procedure be completed as soon as possible. Any student who is admitted to the University as a “Special Student or Non-Degree Intent” student is not eligible to receive financial assistance unless he/she is working on completing Teacher Certification. The student must petition the Director of Admissions to have his/her status reviewed and changed, if applicable.


Graduate Students. A graduate student who applies for financial aid may be considered for loan assistance and campus employment. Information about graduate assistantships may be obtained from the Graduate School Office. To be considered for financial assistance, a graduate student must be admitted as a degree seeking student and maintain a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average to remain eligible for loans and work study.


All applicants must re-apply for financial assistance each academic year and separately for summer sessions.


Information about Other Financial Aid Programs


A student is encouraged to apply for sources external to the University. Any award from an external source must be reported to the Student Financial Aid Office to be included as a part of the student’s total aid. A student may be eligible for assistance from the following programs:

  1. North Carolina Student Incentive Grant (NCSIG) and the UNC Grant. Grant funds are available to North Carolina residents who are full and part-time undergraduate students and who have demonstrated financial need. Students must be full-time for the NCSIG. College Foundation Inc administers these programs. Students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by March 15.

  2. Vocational Rehabilitation. Grants may be provided to needy students who are physically disabled. A North Carolina student should contact the Vocational Rehabilitation Office nearest the student’s home or the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in Raleigh, NC.

  3. North Carolina Prospective Teachers’ Scholarship-Loan. Applications may be obtained beginning in mid-November for North Carolina students interested in obtaining funding for a career in teaching. Additional information may be obtained at   http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/scholarships

  4. North Carolina Veterans’ Scholarship. A full scholarship for four academic years at a state-supported institution may be awarded to children of deceased or disabled veterans or of veterans who were listed as POW/MIA. Interested students should contact the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs in Raleigh, NC.

  5. Rehabilitation Assistance for Visually Handicapped. Grants may be provided to full-time North Carolina residents who are visually impaired. Students must attend a North Carolina post-secondary institution. The amount of assistance is based on need. Interested students should contact the Chief of Rehabilitation Services, Division of Services for the Blind in Raleigh, NC.

  6. Nurse Scholars Program (NSP). The Nurse Scholars Program is a competitive, merit-based scholarship/loan program available to students entering the nursing profession. Applications can be obtained from the Student Financial Aid Office, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University School of Nursing and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority.

  7. ROTC Scholarships.  AFROTC/AROTC scholarships for four (4), three-and-a-half (3 1/2), three (3), two-and-a-half (2 1/2, and two (2) years may be available, based on Air Force/Army Officer accession needs, to men and women in selected engineering fields, selected scientific fields, selected non-technical academic majors, Navigator/Missile Launch Officer (for last 3H, 3, 2 1/2, or 2 years of a Bachelors Degree), pre-health professions (only for last 2 or 3 years of a Bachelors Degree), pre- medicine (Physician/Osteopath only), and nursing (only for last 2 years of a Bachelors Degree in Nursing). Interested students should contact the ROTC Office on campus.

  8. The Quiester Craig Scholarship Fund. An anonymous benefactor endowed this fund to provide academic scholarships for students majoring in Accounting. Named in honor of the School Dean, Dr. Quiester Craig, the recipients are determined by the Dean of the School of Business and Economics in consultation with the Chairman of the Accounting Department.

  9. Special Engineering Grants and Scholarships. Students admitted as Engineering Majors are reviewed as part of the admissions process for eligibility for several scholarship programs. Criteria include a high school record of distinction. These programs are supported by the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Inc. (NACME), R.J. Reynolds Company, and others. In addition, a variety of Corporations supports scholarship and Co-op programs, internships, and summer employment opportunities for engineering students who have attained outstanding scholastic records during their freshman or sophomore years and who have met other program-specific criteria.

  10. The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship Program. Applicants are chosen on the basis of high school grades, class standing, SAT scores, writing samples, community service, extracurricular activities, and references from teachers and members of the community. Recipients must be accepted for admission to the University. Applicants are screened by two committees, one from the applicant’s local school district and the other from the educational region in which the applicant lives. Candidates recommended by the selection committees are interviewed by the Regional Screening Committees. Recipients of Teaching Fellows Awards are named in April of each year. Financial need is not a selection criterion. The maximum award is $6,500 per year and is renewable for a total of four years of college. Applications are available from the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program and high school counselors’ offices. Additional information may be obtained at http://www.teachingfellows.org/.

  11. Ronald McNair Scholarships. Ronald McNair Scholarships are offered to economically or financially disadvantaged students entering the fields of physics or engineering. High school students are invited to apply for these scholarships as incoming freshmen. Interested students should contact the Department of Physics or Engineering at North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University. Minimum requirements for recipients are:

 A. A minimum load of 12 credits per semester.
B. A minimum gpa of 2.5.
C. Two letters of recommendation from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University faculty.
  1. North Carolina Student Loan Program for Health, Science, and Mathematics. Legal residents of North Carolina accepted as full-time students in accredited baccalaureate or master’s programs leading to a degree are eligible for this program. Studies must be in health (allied health, health sciences, clinical psychology, medical social work), mathematics (general, pure and applied mathematics, statistics, actuarial science), and science (agricultural sciences, renewable natural resources, computer and information sciences, engineering and engineering related technologies, life sciences, physical sciences, food sciences and human nutrition, dietetics/ human nutritional services). Recipients are selected according to interest, academic capabilities, motivation and financial need. Maximum loans range from $2,500 to $6,000 a year depending on the degree level. Loans are renewable annually on satisfactory academic progress. Students should request information and applications between December 1 and April 1 from the north Carolina student loan program for health, science, and mathematics in Raleigh, NC.
  2. Sigmund Sternberger Scholarships. Sigmund Sternberger scholarships are available to assist Guilford county students in attending the university. These awards are made to students who have the character, integrity, ability and desire to make a contribution to the community, but who are prevented from developing their full potential because, due to no fault of their own, they lack economic resources with which to develop their skills.
  3. The C.M. and M.D. Suther Scholarship Program. This award is available to a full-time North Carolina resident undergraduate who has a financial need. The student must be enrolled. The scholarship can be made either to a freshman who graduated in the top 25% of his/her high school graduating class or to an upper-class student with an academic average of at least a 3.0. Only one award is made each year and is nonrenewable. The Director of Student Financial Aid chooses the recipient.
  4. Dr. A. P. and Frances Dickson Scholarships. The A. P. Dickson scholarship is awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student who currently resides in Hoke county, North Carolina. The Director of Student Financial Aid on the basis of academic standing and financial need chooses recipients. Awards are nonrenewable and vary in amount according to income available from the trust.
  5. James Lee Love Scholarship. A Love Scholarship is awarded annually to a full-time North Carolina resident undergraduate student. The recipient is selected by the Director of Student Financial Aid on the basis of academic standing and financial need. Awards are nonrenewable and vary in amount according to income available from the trust.
  6. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State National Alumni Scholarship. The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University National Alumni Scholarship is a four-year scholarship for ten entering freshmen. Applicants are selected based upon nominations from the local alumni chapters. The alumni chapters distribute the applications and other criteria to the area high schools. To be considered for the scholarship, the applicant must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and a minimum SAT score of 1,000. The filing deadline for the scholarship application is December 1. In-state students who are selected will receive a maximum amount to cover the cost of tuition, fees, room and board. Out of state students who are selected will receive a maximum up to the cost of tuition, fees, room and board. The recipient must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average each semester for continued eligibility. Interested students should contact the Office of Alumni Affairs or one of the North Carolina local A&T State University Alumni Chapters.
  7. UNC Grant. The UNC Grant is intended to give needed aid to needy and well-prepared students who want to attend North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The UNC Grant will be used after all other need-based aid for which the student is also eligible has been included in the student’s financial aid package. The grant is also used to enhance the diversity of the University. The total scholarship award under the program shall carry a maximum value not to exceed $3,000.
  8. Nurse Education Loan Program (NESLP). The Nurse Education Loan Program is a scholarship loan based on the student’s financial need and the cost of attendance at the University. Awards are made on the basis of financial need and the promise to serve as a full-time nurse in North Carolina after completing the nurse education program. NESLP awards are available subject to continued legislative appropriation and allocation of funds. Applications can be obtained from the Student Financial Aid Office or North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University School of Nursing.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS


The Higher Education Act requires that in order to receive any Title IV Aid (Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Loan, Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) and State Assistance, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress towards a degree. The satisfactory academic progress applies to all terms whether or not financial aid was received.


Undergraduate Eligibility*


To be considered maintaining satisfactory academic progress, an undergraduate student must meet the following minimum requirements:

 

Cumulative

Minimum No. of

No. of

Grade Point

Credit Hours

Semesters

Average

Earned

1

1.40

12

2

1.50

24

3

1.60

36

4

1.80

48

5

1.90

60

6

2.00

72

7

2.00

84

8

2.00

96

9

2.00

108

10

2.00

124

*This standard is consistent with the University’s academic standards required for graduation.


 Satisfactory progress will be evaluated for all students (full or part-time) at the end of each academic year (end of spring semester). Students who enroll at the mid-point (January) of an academic year or attend one semester only will be evaluated at the end of the semester. Thereafter, these students will be evaluated at the end of the academic year. Students receiving the North Carolina Incentive Grant will be evaluated at the end of the academic year.


 Failure to earn the required grade point average and cumulative hours will place the student on financial aid suspension. Students who are suspended from financial aid must remove their academic deficiencies or have an appeal granted before reinstatement of aid. All students are encouraged to attend summer school to remove their deficiencies or make additional progress toward earning the degree. A student who does not enroll for a semester and re-enrolls will be evaluated at the time of re-admission.


 Students who enroll for one semester must earn the required grade point average and cumulative hours for one semester of attendance. Any student who attends for one semester and fails to meet the semester requirement will be placed on financial aid suspension and encouraged to attend summer school to get back on track.


 Students who are placed on probation for a semester must sign an action plan with the Student Financial Aid Office. Any student who fails to meet the requirement of the action plan will be suspended the following semester.


 Financial aid suspension students are reviewed at the completion of summer school.  If the deficiencies are removed after summer school attendance, the student will not be reviewed again until the end of the spring semester.


 A part-time undergraduate student is enrolled for less than twelve (12) semester hours. A part-time graduate student is enrolled for less than nine (9) semester hours. Part-time students must meet the same grade point average requirement for eligibility as full-time students and must earn 80% of the total credits for which they enroll. Students who attend with mix enrollment (e.g. full-time-first -semester and part-time-second semester) must earn 80% of the hours attempted for the year.


Failure to meet the minimum standards outlined will result in immediate financial aid suspension.


A student who has not received financial assistance in previous award years and subsequently applies for financial aid will be evaluated based on the policy listed above.


 An undergraduate student pursuing his/her first undergraduate degree will be considered for financial aid for no more than186 attempted hours of enrollment at the University. Withdrawing from class(es) after the add/drop period may affect the student’s ability to earn the required hours.


 All attempted hours are counted in determining the 186 hours limit, including transfer hours, whether or not financial aid was received or the course work was successfully completed.


Transfer students will be evaluated based on the above policy. Transfer credits include hours earned at institutions other than North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and will be used to determine the student’s classification and required grade point average. Transfer hours will be included in “total hours attempted” in determining the 186 hours requirement and to determine the cumulative grade point average required. Transfer students are required to earn the required number of hours depending upon enrollment status (full or part-time). To determine the number of semesters in attendance, accepted transfer hours are divided by 12 and will be added to full-time semesters at North Carolina A&T State University. If the remainder is 1-5 hours, it is not counted; if the remainder is 6-11 hours, it is counted as 1/2 of a semester. Hours transferred in after the student enrolled at the University will be used t o assist the student with removing deficient hours; however students must have the required grade point average based on the number of hours and semesters.


Second Degree Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and are pursuing another undergraduate degree must present a letter from the Academic Advisor, Dean or Department Chair indicating that the student is working on a second degree. The letter must include the student’s name, social security number, the total number of hours to complete the second degree, the total number of hours used from the first degree, the list of courses required and the anticipated date of completion for the second degree. Second-degree students cannot exceed the aggregate loan limit for an undergraduate student. Second-degree students must maintain a 2.0 annually and pass the required number of hours as all other students.


Teacher Certification Students must maintain a 2.0 annually and pass the required number of hours as all other students.


Dual Degree/Double Major Students must maintain progress as stated above. These students must pass the required number of hours and maintain the required grade point average as all other students.


Withdrawal (W grade), which is recorded on the student’s transcript, will be included as credits attempted and will have an adverse effect on the student’s ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students who officially withdraw from the University must make up the deficit hours and are encouraged to attend summer school to remove the deficient hours.


The successful completion of a course is defined as receiving one of the following grades: A, B, C or D. Courses with grades of F, I and W will not qualify in meeting the minimum standard.


An Incomplete (I) grade indicates that a student has not finished all course-work required for a grade and is included in the cumulative credits attempted. An incomplete will not count as hours passed until a final grade is posted in the Registrar’s Office.


Repeated courses – A student who has received a failing grade in a required course at this University must repeat and pass the course unless otherwise indicated by the Registrar or Dean. The Student Financial Aid Office will follow the University’s policy on repeated course. Repeating a course with a passing grade (D or higher) may negatively affect the student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress.


Change of Major – A student may change from one degree to another during attendance at the University. Students who change from one major to another are still expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress and complete the course work within the time frame or hours limitation stated unless an appeal is approved.


Audited courses do no count as either attempted or earned hours.


Hours Enrolled – The number of credit hours in which the student is enrolled on the day following the published last day to add/drop a class will be used as official enrollment for financial assistance purposes; full-time status is 12 or more hours. If a student withdraws from classes after the date cited above and reduces his/her enrollment below the awarded status, (the number of hours recorded as of the add/drop date) the student will not meet the minimum number of hours to be earned in one academic year.


NOTE: Hours earned by Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is considered towards meeting the semester hours requirement only for a student’s first academic year.


Re-admitted students will be reviewed on their previous academic records in order to determine eligibility for assistance, whether or not financial aid was received.


Suspended students who are allowed to return to the University must attend and pay for the semester of re-admission unless an appeal is approved. Denial of financial aid does not prevent students from attending the University, if they are otherwise eligible to continue their enrollment. Students who enroll at the University, without benefit of financial aid, may request a review of their academic records after any term in which they are enrolled to determine whether satisfactory academic progress has been met. If the standards are met, eligibility is regained for subsequent terms of enrollment in the academic year.


It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of his or her academic standing each semester. Although the Student Financial Aid Office will make every effort to promptly notify students of the cancellation of their awards, students are responsible for obtaining their grades and determining if they meet the criteria for continuation of their awards.


PROBATION – A first year student will be placed on probation if they are no more than 6 hours deficient and the grade point average is no less than a 1.00.


RE-ESTABLISHING SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS


Any student whose financial aid has been terminated may reestablish satisfactory progress by any of the following methods:

  • taking courses during the summer session(s)

  • repeating failed courses

  • removing incomplete grades

Cumulative grade point average can only be increased by attendance at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Deficient hours may be made up by successfully completing course work at NC A&T State University or at another institution. Before enrolling at another institution, the student must secure the proper approval(s).


Summer School


Satisfactory Academic Progress for Summer School will be based on the student’s current eligibility status. Students who are suspended from financial aid are encouraged to attend summer school to remove their academic deficiencies. Financial aid for summer school is not available to students not maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Students attending summer school to remove deficiencies must contact the Student Financial Aid Office for evaluation of their progress after summer school grades are posted. Evaluation is not an automatic process; however, removal of deficiencies automatically makes the student eligible for financial aid.


A student who is not suspended prior to a summer session will not be suspended because of performance in that summer session. Students will not be suspended at the end of a summer session. All students will be given the opportunity to attend summer school to improve their gpa. Summer session enrollment at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will not be counted as a semester despite the number of hours enrolled.


APPEAL PROCESS


Students denied federal and/or state financial aid for failure to meet the satisfactory academic progress standards are advised in writing of their right to appeal the decision. A letter is mailed to the student’s permanent home address on file in the Registrar’s Office. A student may request reinstatement of his or her financial aid based on extenuating circumstances by writing a letter of appeal to the Director of Student Financial Aid. Approval of an appeal for satisfactory academic progress will be considered if the student has suffered undue hardship, such as death of an immediate family member, injury or illness of the student, change of major, or other special circumstances that may have prevented the student from performing his/her academic best. Students should submit documentation to support the request for a waiver.


All appeals should be addressed to the Director of Student Financial Aid and on file in the Student Financial Aid Office no later than the deadline date established. All appeals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.


If an appeal is approved, the student must:


Sign a Satisfactory Academic Progress Action Plan with the Student Financial Aid Office, which indicates the stipulation of the appeal. The student should schedule an appointment with their Academic Advisors or Academic Deans to develop an academic plan of action.


Students will be notified, in writing, of the Financial Aid Administrator or Student Financial Aid Committee’s decision within three weeks of the request. Normally, only one appeal is granted to a student; however, in extreme cases, a second appeal may be granted. Two appeals will be the maximum granted.


Students who disagree with the Financial Aid Administrator’s decision may request an appeal before the Student Financial Aid Committee.


Unsatisfactory Progress Notification


Students who do not meet the requirements of the satisfactory academic progress policy will be notified by mail of their suspension from financial aid at the end of the academic year. The letter will be mailed to the student’s permanent home address.


Students who are granted an appeal and do not meet the requirement(s) will be notified at the end of the semester in which the appeal was approved and eligibility was not met.

 

 

Expenses and Financial Aid

 

 

 

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