Middle Georgia State University (MGA) Office of Financial Aid Fall 2018 Open House

Contact Us Students have the convenience of having Financial Aid Staff on all 5 campuses. Meet with our representatives in person or call 877-238-8664. Contact us by email at fainfo@mga.edu. Our office hours are: Mon.- Thurs. 8:00am - 5:30pm Friday 8:00 - Noon

Preferred Application Deadlines MGA’s Office of Financial Aid processes all applications submitted after the preferred deadlines in date order. Spring 2019 October 1, 2018 Summer 2019 March 1, 2019 Fall 2019 March 15, 2019 (Document Deadline April 20, 2019)* *Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2019-2020 available October 1, 2018 (www.studentaid.ed.gov)

Financial Aid Checklist 1. Apply for FSA ID 6. Check SWORDS and accept or decline your loan awards 2: Complete FAFSA, MGA School Code: 001581 - Students selected for verification will upload necessary documentation to Campus Logic. The link for this site is at the top of our financial aid web page. 7. Complete student and /or Parent Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling: www.studentloans.gov 3. Complete the HOPE only scholarship application: www.gafutures.org 8. Know your status (Standards of Academic Progress(SAP), Pell Lifetime Limits, HOPE Limits, Aggregate Loans Limits…) 4. Check your student email and SWORDS regularly 9. Check your balance 5. Submit all additional documentation requested 10. Attend class

Types of Financial aid Grants Scholarships Loans Student Employment

Grants Grants are generally funds that do not require repayment. You MUST complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility. Pell Grant for undergraduate students, need based, Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) determines eligibility. Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is awarded on demonstration of most need and meeting application deadline basis to Pell Grant eligible students.

Scholarships Middle Georgia State University Foundation make scholarships possible by private contributions from alumni, faculty and staff, corporations, businesses, foundations and friends of MGA. Thanks to the generosity of these donors, the Foundation awarded $343,000 to deserving students last year. The 2019-2020 scholarship application process and deadlines will be posted at the beginning of the Spring 2019 semester. Scholarship Search Engines www.fastweb.com www.studentaid.ed.gov http://www.adventuresineducation.org/sbase/index.cfm Avoid Scholarship Scammers. Never pay for scholarship searches or applications.

HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship Complete Application at www.gafutures.org Your HOPE/Zell eligibility can be determined with the FAFSA application. However if you wish to be evaluated for the HOPE/Zell Scholarship only, then you may complete a GAfutures application Eligibility: US citizen or permanent resident alien Legal Georgia resident Comply with Georgia’s Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act Males must be registered with Selective Service Within Seven Year Expiration of Eligibility date HOPE Eligibility: Zell Miller Eligibility: Have a 3.0 high school GPA * Have a 3.7 high school GPA Maintain a 3.0 GPA at * Have a 1200 SAT Composite checkpoints Score or ACT Score of 26 * Maintain 3.3 GPA at checkpoints

Federal Student Loans must be repaid Require Entrance Counseling & MPN Subsidized Stafford Loans Unsubsidized Stafford Loans Parent PLUS Loans GRAD PLUS The government pays the interest while you are in school. The interest accrues while you are in school. Repayment generally begins 60 days after the final disbursement. No credit check required These loans are credit based. The current interest rate is 5.05% The current interest rate is 7.60% Must adhere to annual and aggregate limits. Can process up to cost of attendance. If parent is denied, then the student may request additional Unsubsidized Stafford Loan funds. Can process up to cost of attendance, if student borrower is approved.

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) To remain eligible to receive financial aid you must meet the standards specified for acceptable academic performance. Academic Performance: All students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA). The cumulative GPA is derived from all attempted hours. Progress Toward Degree Completion: A mandated minimum completion rate of 67% is the standard for acceptable progress toward degree completion Credit Hour Limit: A maximum number of attempted hours in which to complete a degree is established. This is 150% of the actual program time.

Student Employment Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) provides jobs for students with financial need. FWSP jobs are on campus Earn Federal minimum wage Typically 16 hours per week Student Assistant Program jobs are available to MGA students enrolled at least half time (6 semester hours). Check Human Resources webpage for available positions.

Know Where You Stand Check your student e-mail on a regular basis for updates on your financial aid. This is MGA’s official mode of communication to you. Visit your SWORDS account to view your award, accept or decline your loans, check your refund, and review your grades.

Thank you. Any questions?